Cant read files... encoding

Help My files are not readlable.  When I try to open them a window comes up that says File Conversion with the name of the file and then

Select the encoding that makes your document readable

Chinese was the language selcted, under the box marked other encoding. I couldnt find english so I switched the box to Windows (default)  MS-DOS is the other box

My only choice under windows is Western Euopean or Wang Taiwan, so I picked western European (windows).... Ok i know i screwed it up. Help me get the files back.....   Im not computer literate so please be nice....