Tips to open MCO file
Can't open the MCO file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MCO files as well as a list of programs that support MCO files.
MCO file extension
| File Name |
Live Messenger Winks Format |
| File Developer |
Microsoft |
| File Category |
Misc Files |
The MCO file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MCO files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MCO file on each system platform.
What is MCO file?
The MCO file has been categorized as Misc Files. It was designed by Microsoft. Additionally, the Misc Files category contains 6033 of other files. Live Messenger Winks Format appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use Windows Live Messenger to handle this file. This is a program created by Microsoft Corporation.
How to open MCO file?
An often recurring problem with Live Messenger Winks Format is that MCO is not associated with the correct program file. This causes the file MCO to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MCO file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install Windows Live Messenger
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Windows Live Messenger is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Windows Live Messenger into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file MCO with Windows Live Messenger. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open MCO files.
Programs to open MCO file
Remember to download programs supporting MCO files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Windows Live Messenger with MCO files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the MCO file still does not use the Windows Live Messenger program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Windows Live Messenger application as the default for handling the MCO file.
Step 3. Update Windows Live Messenger to the latest version
If, however, after binding Windows Live Messenger with Live Messenger Winks Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Microsoft Corporation website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MCO file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The MCO file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to MCO files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file MCO or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected MCO files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the MCO files changes over time. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged MCO files. You can restore the file from a backup or use Microsoft help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted MCO files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. It is best to move MCO to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file MCO to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the MCO file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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