I have a file named NTUSER.dat which is quite large. What program can I use to open it? I tried using Microsoft Word and all I get are small squares and Y's. Any suggestions?

Word wont read .dat files, it looks like a novell system file, storing user preferences So it probably is not mean to be read by any common applications Khalsa -- [If one door closes, another opens]

This is your Registry settings for your username. There are several Ntuser.dats in the profiles folders in \Documents and Settings and only one, Default User\Ntuser.dat, will open but with the squares and Y's but this may be just general settings. You might be able to read between the squares to make out some of the words. Your username folder should have a Ntuser.bak that will open in Wordpad, the other *.dat files cannot be opened at all or even copied while in a Windows environment it seems. I have a tool that converts most of these charactors into readable English in Notepad/Wordpad with a hex offset value and I don't even have to open the file, it peeks into the file, same for all files except those other Ntuser.dat's. But as this info is in your Registry anyway, just look in there..... It's even got every folder and file that I use or have deleted listed in there, including apps and desktop shortcuts etc..... Basically, it's your user profile settings.