Question about changing file extensions

zonic505 · 09-06-2009, 10:03 PM

So I learned how to change a picture's file type from .gif to .jpg a few days ago via making the computer show the file extensions in Folder Options & then changing the name of the file from .gif to .jpg. Now the question I have is if I do this to, say, a video file that's .avi, .flv, or some other non-iPod/Zune/PSP format & change it to a .mp4 file w/o converting it, would it work? I can't test it since my PSP's current memory stick has no room for another video & I don't have a MP3 player until possibly next week when the Zune HD is released.

**helix eternal** · 09-06-2009, 10:20 PM

It definitely wouldn't work with a .flv, it might work with a .avi but it depends on what the file format was before it was converted to .avi in the first place because .avi is a container. I'm not sure exactly how it works, though.
The easiest way to find out is just make a dummy copy of the file, change the extension, and see if it works!

zonic505 · 09-07-2009, 08:04 AM

Gotcha. Most of the video I have are .avi, so it's always a pain to convert them to MP4.

Once I get my memory stick or Zune HD (which ever comes 1st), I'll try it out & post my results.

**dieKatze88** · 09-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonic505

So I learned how to change a picture's file type from .gif to .jpg a few days ago via making the computer show the file extensions in Folder Options & then changing the name of the file from .gif to .jpg. Now the question I have is if I do this to, say, a video file that's .avi, .flv, or some other non-iPod/Zune/PSP format & change it to a .mp4 file w/o converting it, would it work? I can't test it since my PSP's current memory stick has no room for another video & I don't have a MP3 player until possibly next week when the Zune HD is released.

Thats not changing a picture's file type. its changing its perceived file type. That file that you "changed to jpg" is still a gif file, and that's how its loaded.

Now, most picture viewers are smart enough to realize that people do this, and compensate by reading the headers.

this will not work with videos. You *MUST* convert those. In fact, don't rename video files. Stop that. Thats stupid and will confuse anyone you share those videos with.

MediaCoder - more than a universal audio/video transcoder

here. This will properly convert videos and its free.

zonic505 · 09-07-2009, 09:30 PM

Well, I know it's still a .gif file. See, what I did was just changed the end of the name of the file from .gif to .jpg to trick a site into letting me have a .gif avatar into thinking it's a .jpg.

I didn't rename any video files & didn't plan to until I learned if it would work/be ok. & now that I know it won't work, I won't do it.

I mostly just convert videos to my PSP (& if I like it enough, to my (hopefully soon to own once it's out) Zune HD) & I have some converters already, but once I get a chance this week, I'll try out that MediaCoder one.