application/octet-stream ????

[fernie]

I'm trying to open an email attachment from 1999 with an application/octet-stream file. The file has info that I really need to access.

Any ideas how I can open this file? Do I need to install a special program? Anyone out in Terbland able to help a computer luddite?

Fernie

 

[fernie]

Where's Sasha the computer whiz when you need one. Damn.

Fernie

 

[joebear]

what is the file extension ?

you can google the file extension and find out what programs are associated with it.

you can try use a viewer, like quick view plus that supports multiple files even if the files extension is not known.

 

[fernie]

I have not been able to understand the Google stuff. The file extension is octet-stream

Fernie

 

[Cashanova]

application/octet-stream should be an executable file but it could be a file you don't want to execute. i.e. a virus

It should only be a matter of determining what program to open it with.

Being a "computer luddite" one could assume you are on Internet Explorer and Outlook Express?

Do you have an updated antivirus? a firewall?

Were you previously able to open/access the file?

If you are confidant of the source and contents of the file you can save the attachment to your hard drive where you should then scan it with an up-to-date antivirus program just to be safer.

After saving the file to your hard drive what file extension does it show. e.g. .doc or .pdf or .exe or .bin or .txt or .dat

Disclaimer: Of course, take these actions at your own risk as I assume no responsibility for what may or may not happen.

 

[censored]

application/octet-stream should be an executable file but it could be a file you don't want to execute. i.e. a virus

application/octet-stream can indicate arbitrary binary data (including but not only executables) but it can "also specify an unrecognized charset" (RFC 2046).

http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2046.txt
http://www.freesoft.org/CIE/RFC/1700/19.htm

The common UNIX utility "strings" will display printable strings in binary files (if the file is in fact binary). This would be a safe way to both see what type of file you're actually dealing with (the UNIX "file" utility would also do that for you) and to extract text from it if it is in fact a binary file. You can find a Windows version of "strings" at

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~markhurd/SomeProgs.html

The cygwin environment also provides a "strings" implementation for Windows, along with a host of other useful UNIX tools.

http://www.cygwin.com/

--
Cen