MikeM123
asked on
What programme do I need to open .dat files please?
I have beensent emails containing .dat image files (from someone I know)- how do I open these please?
If it is an image file then use Paint Shop Pro, it will open almost all image files (99%)
Just because you recieved the file from a "friend" does not mean it is safe, especially if they are simply forwarding it to you.
If they are just sending you the file then ask them to send it as a .jif file.
Just because you recieved the file from a "friend" does not mean it is safe, especially if they are simply forwarding it to you.
If they are just sending you the file then ask them to send it as a .jif file.
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It sounds to me as if the emailing process has split the content apart and sent part of it along with the email as an attachment. This type of thing happens frequently.
Either that, or your friend hasn't a clue how to actually save images to standard file types such as .bmp, gif, jpg, png, or whatever.
One important thing here is to make sure that this file doesn't have a HIDDEN file extension. RIGHT-Click on it and select "Properties". Does it say .DAT at the "MSDOS Name" field. If NOT, then be very suspicious.
If you aren't already seeing ALL the file extensions, then make sure until you get this resolved, that you have set the system to "Show ALL files" and to "Show file extensions for known file types". (Start > Settings > Folder Options > View tab).
A .DAT file does NOT have a default file association to open with a particular program in Windows because it shouldn't be OPENED. All kinds of applications create .DAT files (as demonstrated by caza13's listing), and they need to ACCESS the files rather than actually OPEN them.
As stated by Gonzal13, you can use NotePad to TRY and see the content, but it is normally all goggledegook.
1. Save the attachment somewhere like your desktop
2. Scan it for viruses
3. Hold the SHIFT key and then RIGHT-Click on the file
4. Select "Open With"
5. UNCHECK the box that says "always use this program to open files of this type"
6. Scroll Down to Notepad and double-click it.
It will open in Notepad if it is small enough, but otherwise will prompt you to open in Wordpad.
If this IS a .JPG image file that has been RENAMED as a .dat file, then you should see right up at the top left of the dense symbols "JFIF".
If it was a .bmp file (windows bitmap), then the top line will normally show a "BMÆ".
A renamed .GIF file will show "GIF89" on the top line.
If you DO see any indication that the files may have been image files, then try and right-click and rename the file as whatever file type it shows. Now try and open them in Paint Shop Pro or the freeware IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm).
Could it be that either yours, or your friend's Internet Service Provider has a limit on the attachment size allowable, and that your friend is sending you an image with a file size that exceeds this limit. If he doesn't know too much about saving and optimising images to reduce file sizes, then this is a strong possibility. Most ISP's set a limit somewhere around 1 MB, and a scanned image or one from a digital camera can easily exceed this if scanned or taken at medium to high resolution. The .BMP and .TIF file types are always large because they are not compressed like most other file types.
One of the safest ways to inspect files that are not normally legible if opened in NotePad is to
Either that, or your friend hasn't a clue how to actually save images to standard file types such as .bmp, gif, jpg, png, or whatever.
One important thing here is to make sure that this file doesn't have a HIDDEN file extension. RIGHT-Click on it and select "Properties". Does it say .DAT at the "MSDOS Name" field. If NOT, then be very suspicious.
If you aren't already seeing ALL the file extensions, then make sure until you get this resolved, that you have set the system to "Show ALL files" and to "Show file extensions for known file types". (Start > Settings > Folder Options > View tab).
A .DAT file does NOT have a default file association to open with a particular program in Windows because it shouldn't be OPENED. All kinds of applications create .DAT files (as demonstrated by caza13's listing), and they need to ACCESS the files rather than actually OPEN them.
As stated by Gonzal13, you can use NotePad to TRY and see the content, but it is normally all goggledegook.
1. Save the attachment somewhere like your desktop
2. Scan it for viruses
3. Hold the SHIFT key and then RIGHT-Click on the file
4. Select "Open With"
5. UNCHECK the box that says "always use this program to open files of this type"
6. Scroll Down to Notepad and double-click it.
It will open in Notepad if it is small enough, but otherwise will prompt you to open in Wordpad.
If this IS a .JPG image file that has been RENAMED as a .dat file, then you should see right up at the top left of the dense symbols "JFIF".
If it was a .bmp file (windows bitmap), then the top line will normally show a "BMÆ".
A renamed .GIF file will show "GIF89" on the top line.
If you DO see any indication that the files may have been image files, then try and right-click and rename the file as whatever file type it shows. Now try and open them in Paint Shop Pro or the freeware IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm).
Could it be that either yours, or your friend's Internet Service Provider has a limit on the attachment size allowable, and that your friend is sending you an image with a file size that exceeds this limit. If he doesn't know too much about saving and optimising images to reduce file sizes, then this is a strong possibility. Most ISP's set a limit somewhere around 1 MB, and a scanned image or one from a digital camera can easily exceed this if scanned or taken at medium to high resolution. The .BMP and .TIF file types are always large because they are not compressed like most other file types.
One of the safest ways to inspect files that are not normally legible if opened in NotePad is to
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Thank you, LeeTutor and modulo
c:\windows\notepad Just change from *.txt to all files. Sometimes DAt files contain viruses and are not used normally used for a picture. Images normally do not come in *.Dat endings. I am a very cautious person. If you have Norton Antivirus and it is updated. it normally checks for a virus. What is possible, is that a person working through a Pc that happened to have your e-mail address and sent letters out with viruses. I received one about a month ago. Norton Firewawall prevents that problem.
gonzal13(Joe)
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