Text encoding problem?

[Brian Davis]

Any computer experts out there, or at least someone who can suggest a solution to the following?

I am meeting problems in opening already downloaded documents and in downloading new documents from the internet.

For existing documents, I get a page of gobble–de-gook (code, miscellaneous characters). Under File Conversion, I’m prompted to ‘select the encoding which makes your document readable’ with options Windows(default), MS-DOS or other, the latter being different languages. I’ve tried them all but still get a page full of code, NOT the text I want.

Also, in trying to download text documents from the internet, I get a message ‘invalid menu handle’.

Guidance appreciated. Thanks.

[BobHelm]

No help yet Brian...but I couple of questions.
What operating system are you using? Windows? XP, Vista, 7?
What browser are you using? IE (version), Firefox, something else?
When you say downloading text....Do you mean a .txt document, text written on a web site (a bit like 'cut & paste' ), or some other sort of text - like an Abode file...
Are you trying to download a file to your pc, or something actually still on the web??
Sorry.....

[Brian Davis]

Thanks for the prompt response. You've nothing to be sorry about! - it's myself who should realise further info required.

I use XP and (now) Firefox, rather than Internet Explorer.

EXISTING documents, which I previously downloaded but only get 'rubbish' when I now open are 'pdf' files. For example, there is an English version of the Thai Immigration Rules, which was posted on Thai Visa website, if I recall. Also, Uk pension info from that UK website.

Also, when I try and download something new from a website and save it as a Word document (perhaps information on air conditioners from Wikipedia) i get the 'invalid menu handle' comment.

Hope that's a bit clearer.

[BobHelm]

Try this first Brian - it sounds like, somehow some file associations were lost.
Open My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > File Types
Make sure that pdf is associated to Adobe & the Word Document extension (can't remember what it is) is associated to Microsoft Office Word.
If they are already then we have a bit more of a problem...

If it is an actual pdf file (& not an internet site short cut) sounds like an Adobe problem with it. Have you downloaded a new version of Adobe, or has your current version 'gone missing'?? Windows is giving you options when you want to open a pdf file, it should not - it should already associate pdf with Adobe & open automatically. Sounds like your best bet might be to download a new version of Adobe (it is free) & then you should be OK. The latest version of adobe is rather a LARGE file though, there are alternatives - just depends what you are 'comfortable' with.
The invalid menu handles is similar to the pdf problem, in that Windows is looking for something that it cannot find. Normally people get this type of message when they have deleted a program, but, somehow Windows is still associating the file extension with a program that it can no longer find.
If the simple "File Association" bit has not worked it almost sounds like you might have to re-install Office as well - not something to undertake lightly...

[BobHelm]

Brian I have just read on the net that corrupted temporary internet files can also cause this error message. If the file extensions are Associated & you can see both the Adobe & Word program files as being installed then it would be worth running something like CCleaner to get rid of all the old temporary internet rubbish on you computer, before you start re-installing stuff!!

[Brian Davis]

Bob, thanks again for your interest/help.

It appears the problem has been resolved by installing Adobe. Of course, my knowledge is such that I didn't know it had to be there anyway! Maybe I uninstalled it previously in one of my 'tidying-up' exercises. I can now open and READ my existing documents; no more jibberish. I believe ok with new stuff too.

So, please let me know when you're opening your Computer Consultancy office, hopefully about 200 meters from me - and I'll give you a hand moving in!

Incidentally, I do have AVG and 'clean' everything regularly.

Thanks.

[BobHelm]

Ah, just glad it is working now Brian and the solution was not too onerous.
I do have a few beefs with Microsoft (but all the others are the same as well) just they are the 'kings of the Operating Systems - or like to convince the public of such when they want them to fork out the dosh for the system.
Error messages on computer systems are there as a way to end the program (lazy programmers ) and not to help the poor sod who has the problem.
Take the useful information you got Brian - why did it not say, you are trying to open an Adobe file & do not have Adobe installed?? It has all the information to do so, but sod the user!!

[Brian Davis]

Ah, just glad it is working now Brian and the solution was not too onerous.
I do have a few beefs with Microsoft (but all the others are the same as well) just they are the 'kings of the Operating Systems - or like to convince the public of such when they want them to fork out the dosh for the system.
Error messages on computer systems are there as a way to end the program (lazy programmers ) and not to help the poor sod who has the problem.
Take the useful information you got Brian - why did it not say, you are trying to open an Adobe file & do not have Adobe installed?? It has all the information to do so, but sod the user!!

The point in your penultimate sentence did occur to me too. That WOULD have been user friendly, particularly to those who might never be considered computer literate.