[moonmlns]

I have a ibook, G3, running 10.2. when i download a program (like windows media ) it shows up on the desktop. when i click on it, it creates another file on the desktop. when i click on that one it says it can't find application to open the file. i assume that for some reason the download program isn't saving the program as a program, but rather as another file of some kind. this is way beyond my computing abbilities.

[ghporter]

Welcome to the MacNN Forums!

Unless you have the proper program to run Windows Media Files (Windows Media Player for Mac) you CANNOT run Windows Media. WMP is free, but not the best tool around. Read in the Applications forum about alternatives to WMP.

[moonmlns]

It's not just wmp it's ALL programs that i download. if it were one program i wouldn't need to be here. I have a couple friends that know mac and they haven't figured out the problem. I'm hoping that someone with more knowledge can help trobleshoot.

[TETENAL]

A Mac can not download Mac programs directly (for some technical reasons), it can only download documents. Therefore all programs must be packed in some kind of archive format. If they are older programs they might be in a .sit or .sitx archive. You need StuffIt Expander to decompress those and you might lack that.

In addition to that, you might try an Archive & Install of the operating system.

[moonmlns]

thanks. I have stuffit expander but i'll try reloading the operating system and see if that helps.