Odd VLC File: 1586.ram

[silverbonn]

Hi, "all,"
New to the forum (first time poster) but not to VLC.
Something else new to me is getting used to Win7 (but is NOT a Win 7 issue, per se) AND using a magicJack (but again, am pretty sure is not related to magicJack either).
Bottom Line? I'm not exactly sure what's going on but since the file in question has a VLC cone in front, thought I'd start here.

First, what prob'ly IS germane is my 'puter seems to be having "driver ID issues." My DVD player is recognized as such, including its location (D drive) but my USB ports are screwy. (Am pretty sure THAT's the result of the magicJack install. Shows as "F:" an "optical drive when it's just an ordinary USB port.)

Because of the above (& I know the driver issue is not for YOU to solve), I've often gotten files in my download folder that should've be d/l'd directly to the program in question.

One file recently appeared in my downloads folder w/ a VLC logo in front -- "1586.ram". Can anyone tell me what it is/what to do with it? Any/all help appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
silver

[kdean]

That's a Real Audio file. RAM files usually just contain a link to the actual audio file, so you could open it in a text editor.

[silverbonn]

Wow! That was fast! (Thanks!)
I'd Googled and found it to be a real audio extension (the reason I posted was coz o'my drive screw-up, feared "ram" might actually have something to do with RAM, so didn't want to touch it).
Don't mean to sound like a dolt but...
1- Since it DOES have a VLC cone in front, should I put it somewhere IN the VLC program and if so, where? (I don't have real media player in my 'puter.)
And since I've "got you on the line" since you obviosly know the "ins & outs" of VLC like a pro, one more question?
2- Have another VLC file in the same d/l folder, "vlc-1.2.0-pre3-win32.exe" that upon a G-search, learned it to be "the portable VLC player." The VLC version I'm using was d/l'd 12/8/'10 but *IS* the same version.
Is the "Portable Media Player" a different TYPE of VLC player, (Uses less memory/resources, etc.) or just a new ad slogan/selling point added "recently"? (Am in advtsg and usually remember such things. Don't remember having seen that phrase used by VLC before.)
PS: Tell your sweetie you get extras points for helping out a befuddled stranger. (Tell her/him you deserve an ice cream sundae WITH extra cherries on top... unless you can come up w/ something better ;-D)
Again,
Many, *MANY* thanks!

[kdean]

1. I haven't used a RAM file directly with VLC so I'm not sure how it handles it, basically because I haven't come across one in years. Try double-clicking and if it's starts streaming some audio, then it works.

2. Not sure about the portable thing, but the file name looks to be one of the pre-release builds of 1.2 which was later renamed 2.0. You're better off using the 2.0 version from the website or the soon to be released 2.0.1 which can try a pre-release of via the 2.0.0 Nightlies. http://nightlies.videolan.org/build/win32/?C=M;O=D

[silverbonn]

Thanks, 'darlin', will do!
"You 'the MAN'" (or woman or "C: None of..." )
Have an ABUNDANTLY joyful day!

Love & Light,
Silver