Question re: Freeware & Windows XP

[flyerorange]

Hello.......I just put FS2002 on my new computer, using Windows XP.  Everything works fine.  I want to install some freeware i.e. callsigns, new planes, panels, etc.  

Last night, I activated my Microsoft Office 2003.  I notice that a lot of FS2002 files are now part of Microsoft Outlook Configuration, such as the cfg files.  It gives the warning that playing with these files within the Microsoft Office can damage the computer.  I will not do anything until I'm sure.  Is it deemed safe to do this, or is it possible, and should I open those files with another program?  Very confused.  I'd appreciate any help.  Thanks.   :-/

[Sytse]

Hi flyerorange,

It's perfectly save to alter those files. As long as they are part of FS 2002. The only thing you can mess up is FS 2002 and not your entire computer. Office tells you it's not save because windows also has some .cfg files and you certainly don't want to mess with those.
However, you don't need to alter any .cfg files if you just want some new aircraft and panels. I'm not sure why you asked...

[flyerorange]

Hello Pigeon,

Thanks for the assistance.  I want to install the callsigns file from page 1 of Miscellaneous, on FS2002.  It's a cfg file, so that warning came up about damaging my computer, so I stopped there.  But I guess it goes through Microsoft Office Outlook now.  There are also aircraft and panels I will do, but I really like having all the callsigns in there!  

[Sytse]

oh... don't know anything about callsigns... sorry. You'll have to wait until someone else responds. Good luck!

[flyerorange]

As far as the callsigns, I know they will work, I was just unsure about that warning from Office.  I think you answered the question I wanted in your first reply.  It sounds okay to alter a FS2002 cfg file, as long as I don't mess with any other non-FS2002 files.  

Thanks again.  

[microlight]

flyerorange,

I also have Office 2003 installed, and all my .cfg files have the Office logo attached too. What the program does is tell the PC that it's responsible for editing the.cfg files - typical megalomanic software. Media Player does the same - it makes itself the default player for many different files. (As does Real Player if you don't tell it not to during setup.) It doesn't mean that if you edit the .cfg files with Notepad, you'll do something unmentionable to your PC.

You can change the 'open with' settings if you want to, by right-clicking a .cfg file and use the 'choose program' option.

[Hagar]

Just to clarify. This is all a matter of File Association. The file icons tell you which program they're associated with, in other words if you double click on the icon the file will open in that program. When you ran Office for the first time it obviously associated itself with CFG files. This doesn't mean they can't be opened in other programs. For FS CFG files do as Microlight suggested. Right-click on the CFG file. select Open With & choose Notepad from the list of programs. Leave the option box unchecked if you wish to leave them associated with Office.

[flyerorange]

I have successfully downloaded my callsigns, and have left the cfg files for Office to open, which appears to have gone fine.  I can always switch it to Notepad, but thus far I'll leave it alone.  Thanks a lot for the help.