Convert a Unix file to a windows folder?

wizard-fred March 2, 2011 at 13:23:03

You expect a Mac or Win machine to open a Unix executable? You probably used a compression or archiving program. Which one? What file was created? If you still have the files on the external drive it would be easier if you copied them to your Mac.

Thanks for responding! A little background is needed, methinks - I was trying to print a document I keep on my portable hard drive. The document was in a folder and all of this was Windows stuff and Microsoft Word. I plug in the hard drive to a school Mac and I can't recall what happened, all I remember is the folder refused to open. When I went home and plugged in my drive instead of a folder called "A2", A2 being the year I'm in, there was a single file called A2 which my Windows computer couldn't read. Upon checking the type of file on the school Mac again, I discover it's a Unix Executable File. I have literally no idea what a Unix Executable File and I didn't use any sort of compression software. Is there anyway to turn a Unix Executable File back to a Windows folder? On a side note, what actually is a Unix Executable File? No one I've talked to has any idea. Once again, thanks for responding.

wizard-fred March 3, 2011 at 19:05:46

What is the file extension and size? An executable is an equivalent to exe, com. or bat.

ijack March 4, 2011 at 01:04:53

The only thing that marks a Unix file as executable is its permissions; file extensions are irrelevant. I'm afraid that it looks as if your directory has been corrupted and I doubt that you will be able to recover the documents now.

fmwap March 4, 2011 at 01:25:23

On OS/X, if a file doesn't have an extension, then Finder lists "Unix executable file" - it may not really be that at all. i.e., to Finder: file.txt - Is a text file file.jpg - Is an image file - Is a "unix executable file" - no extension If you want to see what it really is, open terminal & type: "file /Volumes/label/path/to/the/file" and it will give you reliable information.

I really appreciate all your help. I've left the files with the school computer technician, if he can't recover them then no one can. Thanks again!