GIMP :: 2.8 Not Accepting ABR Files When Download To Brushes Folder

I typically use GIMP 2.6. Computer crashed recently so now I've downloaded 2.8. When I download ABR files into the brushes folder, the program won't start. It wigs out and doesn't work. I copied abr files just fine into my GIMP 2.6. Why is this happening?

I even went so far as to find GIMP 2.6 on the web for download. But the same problem. There are strange 'VBR' files now that didn't used to be in my old brush folder but are suddenly there now.

(and 'gimp doesn't accept abr files' my old 2.6 accepted them JUST fine. No fancy converter or anything).