Solved My files have the file type at the end of the file name?

Turned the PC on this morning and all my files (audio , picture and video) now have the file type at the end of the file name so instead of cars42 it reads cars42.mpg same for all other file types, Why?
Also, had 2 new desktop icons "Desktop.ini" which open in wordpad as some directory log.
But now every folder now contains a desktop.ini file some have thumbs.db file.
Also, "This PC" has several device driver icons appeared which are empty but ask for a disc to be inserted, they read ie: CF/MD (E and SM/xD (F, aswell as a G: and H: , i've no idea.
I have not changed any file specs, it just appeared today.
I have many thousand files and need them to be short for work, i don't want the added .mpg,.jpg, .mp3 etc added.
Do i just system restore? how did this all happen though, Was it an update?
Also, Another seperate issue my PC takes several minutes to shut down though this has happened for most of the time i've had this PC which is only 3 months.
Using W8.1 on XPS 8700, how do i solve it? how to prevent it? TIA

Hello Shau, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It sounds like you may have mistakenly set to show known file extensions. The tutorial below can help show you how to turn this off.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/30434-file-name-extensions-hide-show-windows-8-a.html

You also set to show hidden OS files (ex: desktop.ini). The tutorial below can help show you how to not have them show anymore.

Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide - Windows 7 Help Forums

Go to Control Panel/ Folders and check the options marked in red.



Jim

Brink, i followed the instructions, did all coreectly i believe.
The in attempted show / hide known file extensions but it failed, it came up witha message "Windows script host" Can not find the script file an error c:/ Windows/Toggle_show_Hide_Known_File_Extensions.vbs".
Maybe i didn't do it right?

Jim, how do i get to that with w8.1?

In addition to the above, you can also do this:

Thanks topgundcp, that worked easy.
Thanks for all your advice guys, i guarantee i did not mistakenly check any box yesterday it may have been an update or other unknown reason that caused it.
I also unchecked hidden files from view in folders and those empty E,F,G folders don't show as are all the desktop.ini files and thumbs.db.