index.dat files

I was wondering if you needed special software to view these files (specifically history.ie5) Since my system is down, I was hoping somebody could navigate to the following directory and see if the file is viewable in plain text.

E:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\history\history.ie5\index.dat

Thanks guys

 

you can try to change the file name to index.txt and open it in notepad, or you can open microsoft word, file, open, and browse for the file you want to open, I just tried this and it would not list any .dat files so this is not really a good way, I read it online,

 

Dont even need to rename the file, just click 'open with', & choose notepad. Check 'always use this for this type of file' (<- words to this effect), this way, all of 'em (.dat files) will open with notepad, if you want to see whats in 'em, , , ,

-c-

 

Late reply but..

This worked for literally every index.dat file I tried except the one at the location I posted earlier. Could you do me a solid and see if you are able to read it on your machine?

 

Would you be able to change the name of an index.dat file though? Wouldn't it be "locked" by the system? I really have no clue haha.

 

Copy, paste, (to somewhere else, obviously!), uncheck 'attributes', rename, (*.txt-doc), open??

Files, even 'code' has allus opened in notepad for me,

 

thank you very much!

Random noob question but..

I was just messing around looking at the creation dates of the files. I noticed that index.dat in the cookie folder had the same creation date as the folder itself, which makes sense because I've never deleted it. But for the temp internet files index.dat file, the creation date was in 2009 and the temp internet files folder was created in 2007.

I've never deleted it manually, so why wouldn't index.dat file be the same as the folder? Is malware known to delete these files, forcing a new one to be created next time you use internet explorer?

 

There are plenty of file-unlocker software (LockHunter, NoVirusThanks File Governor, etc.)...or the Windows File Protection Switcher 8.0.