File Type Registration Problem

[HTFiddler]

I just discovered a webpage that has a bunch of links to .m4v file
types. Initially, they opened with Quicktime, however I prefered
Windows Media Player (WMP), which plays these MPEG-4 files just fine,
and is my preferred player.

So I went to Windows Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types, and
made the change there. I then downloaded the .m4v file to my hard
drive. Now, if I open the file from my hard drive, it opens with
WMP. If I put a link in a webpage to this same file on my hard drive,
it opens with WMP. So far so good.

However, if I click on a link in a webpage whose target is an .m4v
file on a server, it still opens with Quicktime. I can't find any way
to tell MSIE v6 to open .m4v with WMP. My Windows File Type
registration is still for WMP, and they still open with WMP when I
open a file on my hard drive.

Anyone know what is going on here?

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Post by HTFiddler
I just discovered a webpage that has a bunch of links to .m4v file
types. Initially, they opened with Quicktime, however I prefered
Windows Media Player (WMP), which plays these MPEG-4 files just fine,
and is my preferred player.
So I went to Windows Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types, and
made the change there. I then downloaded the .m4v file to my hard
drive. Now, if I open the file from my hard drive, it opens with
WMP. If I put a link in a webpage to this same file on my hard drive,
it opens with WMP. So far so good.
However, if I click on a link in a webpage whose target is an .m4v
file on a server, it still opens with Quicktime. I can't find any way
to tell MSIE v6 to open .m4v with WMP. My Windows File Type
registration is still for WMP, and they still open with WMP when I
open a file on my hard drive.
Anyone know what is going on here?

The server is sending a different Content-type.
By default IE ignores the file extension implied by a URL
in favour of the Content-type, checked by "MIME sniffing".
You can change this using an option in the Security Settings
Miscellaneous section.

BTW thank you for posting from Google Groups with Plain text.
Many posters from there seem to be using Quoted Printable for
some reason. Plain text makes it much easier for users of real
newsreaders to compose replies which quote the OP.

---

[HTFiddler]

Post by Robert Aldwinckle
The server is sending a different Content-type.

OK

Post by Robert Aldwinckle
By default IE ignores the file extension implied by a URL
in favour of the Content-type, checked by "MIME sniffing".

Not sure what Content-type and MIME sniffing mean.

Post by Robert Aldwinckle
You can change this using an option in the Security Settings
Miscellaneous section.

So I just looked in Control Panels: Folder Options, Internet Options,
and Security Center, and find no Security Settings, Misc section. I
did see in Internet Options, a Security tab, but nothing resembling a
Misc. section. So where is it hiding?

---

I also got this advice over at

Post by Robert Aldwinckle
Have you checked the MIME type settings in Quicktime?
Open the QuickTime applet from the Control Panel.
Click on the Browser Tab
Click on the "MIME Setting..." button
Uncheck the Mpeg Video and Mpeg Audo items

He is also talking about MIME, but to be honest, I still don't know
what MIME is. Sounds like he is offering a QuickTime specific MIME
fix, and you are offering a global fix, which would be my preference.
In other words, I would like the extensions in the web pages to open,
based on my Folder Options, File Type associations.

Post by Robert Aldwinckle
BTW thank you for posting from Google Groups with Plain text.
Many posters from there seem to be using Quoted Printable for
some reason. Plain text makes it much easier for users of real
newsreaders to compose replies which quote the OP.

Thx for the compliment ... don't have any idea what I did right or
how, but thank you anyway!