I have just done a clean full install of XP Pro. I have some files on a cdr that I have downloaded from the net. These are .exe files that normally automatically prompt for destination folder to uncompress in. What happens on my computer now is that the files are represented by a window icon, like when the file does not have a program associated with it. When I double click (or even just single-click) on icon, my cdrom light remains lit and the computer freezes and completely stops responding. I have downloaded all Windows Updates as of 1/20/02. These files seem to open fine on other XP computers and opened fine when I had Win Me. My cdroms are a dvd toshiba and a HP 9100 burner. I have the same problem with both cdroms. Can someone please shed some light an please let me know if more info is needed. thanks!!

Does the CD and the files on it work on other computers, or did the files work and automatically ask for destination directory before they were burned to CD??

the files on the cd work fine on other pc's running XP, ME or 98. Normally: you double click on file the .exe file straight from the cd and it prompts you to select a destination folder.

The only other thing I can think of at this time is making sure you have Winzip installed on XP and that your not relying on the native zip function of Windows to unzip. I say this as I do not know if the files in question have built in winzip support because they are actually .zip files made into an executable.

Are the files on the cd read only?

Sounds like you do not have compressed (zip) file support activated (installed) In fact I am certain that is the problem...

Thanks for the responses!! I browsed the cdrom with a Win Me pc and was able to see the the files I was not able to see with Win XP. The files are .exe files created with WINRAR, a compression aplication that is downloadable for free from the net. BUT, by this time I had allready reformatted the pc with the fresh Win XP upgraded install. AND, when I reinstalled XP, this time the files were viewable without the need of downloading WINRAR. The only thing I did different the second time reinstalling XP on a Win ME base was select FULL INSTALL rather than UPGRADE. NOW, I have to just ponder: 1.Why Windows Updates seem to freeze halfway into the download? 2.Why certain web pages are very slow to load? 3.Isn't Microsoft's product testing thorough enough for this "glitches" to become known and fixed before releasing the finished product? 4.Where am I going to get the money for a new SOUNDCARD, SCANNER and WEBCAM that is compatible with XP? Mine are only a year old and allready obslete?!?