FAQ - File Extension Errors

Among the various errors that you may come across on your Windows computer, file extension errors are quite common. In this short article we will not get into all the technical details of these types of errors, but we will provide you with a short FAQ to help you deal with Windows file extension errors more effectively.

So, what is a file extension?

A file extension is a three-letter combination that is used to designate the type of file and determine the program to be used to open it. It is the suffix part of a filename and is preceded by a period, but the Windows Operating System usually hides the common extensions to keep things tidier.

What are the various types of files extensions?

There are many types of files on a given system. While you maybe familiar with what the .doc, .pdf, and .txt files represent, other file extensions might not be so well known to you. Therefore, lets look at some file extensions that you might not be familiar with:

• .mapimail file extension - This file extension is related to the Microsoft Outlook email client and is associated with the ‘Mail Sent to Drop’ utility. The purpose is to send an email only by right-clicking on the mail file and providing the destination email address.
  
  
• .mui file extension - This extension is related to a particular set of system files responsible for system-wide settings of language. Also called the MultiLanguage User Interface, this system works to provide the many alternative languages which can run under the Windows Operating System.
  
  
• .icl file extension - This file is related to the Icon Library tool used by image manipulation programs such as ACD See and IrfanView, and has mostly to do with icon selection and editing.

What causes file extension errors?

There may be many reasons for these errors to occur, but the causes can be narrowed down to the following culprits:

• Missing applications
• Corrupt files
• Malware infections
• Wrong hardware platform
• Wrong software platform

How do I get rid of these errors?

Once you have an understanding of the basics of file extensions and the causes of file extension errors, working to solve these errors is a fairly simple task.

You need to keep these following points in mind if you want to avoid these errors in the future:

• Install the application that is required to open the particular file type; a simple search on the Internet is what is required usually to identify the program required to access a particular file type.
• Use file repair software to repair and restore damaged files.
• Use robust antivirus and anti-malware tools to perform full system scans to weed out any infections.
• Make sure that all the software on your computer is compatible with your operating system and with any other software you might have installed.
• Make sure that only compatible and supported hardware is installed on your PC.

Extension errors may be common but they are easy to fix, generally without the need for any expert assistance.

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