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Software for reading .dat

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Original Message
Name: jasnbec
Date: September 7, 2004 at 07:20:18 Pacific
Subject: Software for reading .dat
OS: Win XP
CPU/Ram: 4CPU / 768MB Ram
Comment:

Can someone please tell me what I need in order to be able to open and read a .dat file? I am trying to read messenger archives and they are .dat and nothing I have will open them.


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Response Number 1
Name: Bryco
Date: September 7, 2004 at 08:26:54 Pacific
Subject: Software for reading .dat
Reply: (edit)

I would think the Messenger program should be able to read them.

From: http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=dat

Quote:
Can be just about anything: text, graphic, or general binary data. There is no specific structure for a .DAT file. You can use an editor like EditPad Pro to look inside a .DAT file and possible determine its contents and relationship with a program.
End Quote

Also, if you have it, QuickView can read them but it may not be worth looking at it with it. You will have to scroll many, many pages to get past the coding before you see any text.

QuickView, if you have it, can be found by right clicking on the .dat file and selecting "Quick View" or "Quick View Plus".

HTH
Bryan


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Response Number 2
Name: jasnbec
Date: September 7, 2004 at 19:03:56 Pacific
Subject: Software for reading .dat
Reply: (edit)

Thank you kindly Bryan, I know how to access them 'inside' Yahoo! I was actually saving them to a disk and wanting to access them 'outside' of Yahoo! I figured it out tho.


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Response Number 3
Name: sonyguyus
Date: October 4, 2004 at 21:54:42 Pacific
Subject: Software for reading .dat
Reply: (edit)

how did you read yahoo .dat files outside of yahoo. I tried that editpad pro, but all i saw was jibberish.


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Response Number 4
Name: Faris_B
Date: January 4, 2006 at 02:18:08 Pacific
Subject: Software for reading .dat
Reply: (edit)

I personally use Super WinSpy. It's great for reading .DAT files.
http://www.acesoft.net/winspy/

Click on download, then select the 3rd option down that is called WinSpy, it's free, the 1st 2 aren't. It also reads the INDEX.DAT files in the temporary internet files incase you want to know what sites were visited on your computer.

Faris,


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