what software do i need to read .dat files?

[WebDesignerChick]

Hi,

This is probably a daft question to most of you.

I'm working with a system that is frankly: incomplete.

I had to reformat my disk a few months ago, and I lost tools like office, word and loads more, I probably don't know half of them.

Then my son slightly damaged my motherboard by smashing usb hub (its a crap compaq laptop); so I've not bothered purchasing these tool packages again until I have a new computer.

However I'm still working with this god forsaken machine... I've recieved an email in connection with radio publicity for my site; attached to the email was an application form in .dat format, but my machine wont even download the attachment because it doesn't have the correct tools to read it... (unless it's because of my antivirus); anyway which software do I need to read this file type?

[Refalm]

Welcome on our wonderful forum.

*.dat files are usually files you may find on a VCD disc or some kind of back-up program.
I believe the attatchment you received was a virus.

Btw, if you don't have Microsoft Office, neither do I. I can get it at my school for

[insomnia]

Try a Knoppix Live CD to revive your laptop.

[WMD]

.dat could be anything, really.  It (obviously) stands for "data," and that qualifies as just about anything.

My advice, look at the email, and see if it mentions it.  Also, the filename could give a hint.  Or, ask the person who sent it.  

[worker201]

In my experience, I have found dat files to be text based.  ArcGIS, CAD, and a few others use them that way.  Just bits of table data that can be awked.  But, there were a bunch of viruses going around that used dat files.

Try opening it in a text editor, if you think the file is safe enough to download.  Notepad will work, but I suggest that you (and everyone else) replace Notepad with EditPad (http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html).