# m3u files **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005 "2002-06-20T03:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/1 "2002-06-20T03:55:22Z")
I had to reformat and reinstall Windows 98SE. Before I did that, I saved my music files (which were in m3u format) on floppies so that I could put them back on the hard drive after reinstalling 98. I put them back on the hard drive, but now when I try to play them in Winamp or Media Player the titles come up but the cursor just scans over them and refuses to play them. Any suggestions for how to correct this problem? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/2 "2002-06-20T04:11:17Z")
Do they have the little windows thing beside them? If they do, windows doesn’t know what they are. You will need to associate the file with a program. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/3 "2002-06-20T05:00:26Z")
How many floppies did you end up using? If it was any less than 2 or 3 for every file, you did not save any music at all. AFAIK the .m3u extension is merely for playlists, not the actual music. You should be able to open the file up in notepad and read it like a table of contents. Unless you have the actual music files somewhere else, the chances are very good that none of your music collection exists on your computer anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/4 "2002-06-20T06:25:35Z")
Umm… sorry to break this to you but m3u files are just a list of the names and locations of all your songs so winamp could find them. the actualy songs are in mp3 format and each would span maybe 2 - 3 floppies. Unfortunatly, you have lost all your music :(. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/5 "2002-06-20T23:58:29Z")
Thanks for the answers. Well, at least I still have a list of what I lost, so that maybe I can download them again someday. I know that **Napster** is still nopt operational. Does anyone know when they might be again (legally, I mean)? Also is there another **Napster** -like site where I might find my tunes again. They are mostly very old rock songs and even if I had to pay, I’d like to have them back. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/6 "2002-06-21T04:22:02Z")
There are such programs out there, but discussion of them here is frowned upon by the powers that be. You’ll have to get more information elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/7 "2002-06-21T05:05:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Quasimodem > \*\* > I know that **Napster** is still not operational. Does anyone know when they might be again (**legally, I mean)**? > > Also is there another **Napster** -like site where I might find my tunes again. They are mostly very old rock songs and even if I **had to pay** , I’d like to have them back. > \*\* Smeghead, I love ya babe, and thanks for your answer, but if you’ll re-read the post, you’ll see that I have seen the error of my ways, and am willing to pay for what I unwittingly “stole” before I realized it. 🙂 Quasi ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/8 "2002-06-21T05:45:32Z")
Try Kazaa or Audio Galaxy for music. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m3u-files/115005/9 "2002-06-21T05:53:11Z")
I know [CDNow](http://www.cdnow.com) used to have a “Custom CD cutting service” whereby you could give them a list of songs (from their selection) and they would send you a CD with them on. Not sure how varied the songs were, or even if it’s still an option, but it’s probably worth checking out.