Restore INDEX>DAT file icon

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pesche
  • Start date Start date
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Pesche

Hi,

My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS MEDIA
PLAYER icon.

I think it happened when I mistakenly tried to use WMP to open a
non-WMP file that was created when I recorded some video. So now, even
though INDEX.DAT is not associated with any programme (as you're not
supposed to open it), it has a WMP icon, and I cannot change it back.

Can anyone help?

Is there a way of doing it through Windows?
Is there any software?
Would a system reset help?

I have Windows XP SP2

Thanks!

Pesche
 
Pesche said:
My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS MEDIA
PLAYER icon.
Click to expand...
it has a WMP icon, and I cannot change it back.

What have you tried?
 
On 24 May 2006, Pesche wrote
Hi,

My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS
MEDIA PLAYER icon.

I think it happened when I mistakenly tried to use WMP to open
a non-WMP file that was created when I recorded some video.
So now, even though INDEX.DAT is not associated with any
programme (as you're not supposed to open it), it has a WMP
icon, and I cannot change it back.

Can anyone help?

Is there a way of doing it through Windows?
Click to expand...

As jmatt asks, what have you tried?

The standard way is to go into Control Panel>Folder Options>File
Types; scroll to the "DAT" file type; change the program for
opening it to, say, Notepad or WordPad; select the option to
always use that program to open .dat files; and Windows should
assign the associated icon.

Doesn't that work? (It does on my system.)
 
Hi,

My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS MEDIA
PLAYER icon.

I think it happened when I mistakenly tried to use WMP to open a
non-WMP file that was created when I recorded some video. So now, even
though INDEX.DAT is not associated with any programme (as you're not
supposed to open it), it has a WMP icon, and I cannot change it back.

Can anyone help?

Is there a way of doing it through Windows?
Is there any software?
Would a system reset help?

I have Windows XP SP2

Thanks!

Pesche
Click to expand...

Hi Pesche,

Sounds as if you accidentally "associated" the extenstion (.DAT) with WMP;
the easiest way to check and correct that would be:

1. Open Windows Explorer (not: Internet Explorer!)
2. Go to the "Tools" menu
3. Open "Folder Options"
4. Click on the "File Types" tab
5. Check if the .DAT extension is listed;
6. If so: Select it, the click the delete button.

Menu items may slightly differ in name and place, since I took this from a
W2K station (don't use XP).

If you'd like to use an association manager, a good start to look is:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_FILEUTILITIES.php?sortby=Ware
 
Hi Harvey,

The problem is that the "DAT file type does not appear in the list of
File Types.
When trying to open a DAT file, I am able to select and change the
programme for opening it, but I CANNOT change the icon for the file.
However, I AM able to change icons for file types that ARE listed in
the File Types.

Pesche
 
Hi,

I've tried creating a new file with a DAT extension on my desktop and
playing around with properties etc, but whatever I do -- change
programme for opening it (although it's not supposed to be opened and
I'm not even bothered about doing that) -- the WMP icon remains.

I've tried going through the File Types list in the Folder Options in
My Computer, but DAT is not listed there. I've tried creating it and
then changing the icon, but it doesn't stick or stay in the list.

Any ideas?

Pesche
 
Thanks Harvey,

I've tried that, but the problem is that the "DAT file type does not
appear in the list of
File Types.
When trying to open a DAT file, I am able to select and change the
programme for opening it, but I CANNOT change the icon for the file.
However, I AM able to change icons for file types that ARE listed in
the File Types.

Pesche
 
Pesche said:
Hi,

My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS MEDIA
PLAYER icon.

I think it happened when I mistakenly tried to use WMP to open a
non-WMP file that was created when I recorded some video. So now, even
though INDEX.DAT is not associated with any programme (as you're not
supposed to open it), it has a WMP icon, and I cannot change it back.

Can anyone help?

Is there a way of doing it through Windows?
Is there any software?
Would a system reset help?

I have Windows XP SP2

Thanks!

Pesche
Click to expand...

Have you tried going to a restore point prior to the occurrence of the
problem?

You might also go to Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > File Types.
Check for DAT. If there is no entry for DAT you could make one with NEW and
make Notepad (or whatever you choose) as the default program. This will of
course apply to all .dat files. ADVANCED allows a change of icon.

===

Frank Bohan
¶ Enter any 11-digit prime number to continue.
 
Pesche said:
Hi,

My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS MEDIA
PLAYER icon.
Click to expand...

Can happen sometimes due to codec issues perhaps. Dat files are
also a type of video file as you probably know. Something got
disordered shall we say. Happened to me and it just repaired
itself. I never even looked at the file types dialog to see if
it was in there until now and it's not. Can you use TweakUI to
reset file associations? I don't have XP but that can be done on
98/Me. You might want to try Windows File Association Editor:

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/rhaminisys/fileasoc.html

I've never used it but it sounds like it could do the job after a
little study. Oh yeah, it's free.

Good luck.
 
Frank,

I've tried that. But when I get to "Advanced", I'm asked to assocaite
DAT with a file type, and I'm unsure what to choose from that endless
list ("Associated File Type".

Even if I create new, DAT, one, it won't stay in the list.

Pesche
 
Hi,

I've realised the video file association, as that's the context within
which it happened.
I haven't found a way of doing it with TweakUI, but I'll keep trying.
Also thanks for the Windows File Association Editor link -- will also
try.

Pesche
 
Pesche said:
Hi,

I've realised the video file association, as that's the context within
which it happened.
I haven't found a way of doing it with TweakUI, but I'll keep
Click to expand...
trying.

In 98/Me it's the repair tab and select repair associations. Of
course that would change all your associations back to their
default so if you've changed some it's a big step.
Also thanks for the Windows File Association Editor link -- will also
try.
Click to expand...

It's a nice app. I just dl'd it and you can easily edit all the
file types listed in your file types tab. Just make sure you know
what you're doing. There's a lot of info in the help file. I
wouldn't worry about this too much. It has little if any effect
on your system afaik. It might just take care of itself.
Perhaps a program you installed recently had something to do with
video files and that in some way got the association set to wmp.
Perhaps if this happens and you try to disallow the program to
take over wmp associations it just might slip one in in under the
radar like a video dat file and wmp gets it as a bonus.

Here's something I'd try. I'd go into options in wmp and uncheck
all the types in the file associations tab. Then I'd reboot or
whatever and check them back again.
Probably won't work but worth a try cuz it's easy. Just make
sure you record what you had.
 
Thanks,

WMP unchecking and rebooting and re-checking didn't do the trick, as
expected.

Pesche
 
Frank,

I've tried that. But when I get to "Advanced", I'm asked to assocaite
DAT with a file type, and I'm unsure what to choose from that endless
list ("Associated File Type".

Even if I create new, DAT, one, it won't stay in the list.

Pesche
Click to expand...

While reading this thread, I checked one of my .dat files and
found the Media Player Classic icon established. I went to this
registry key and deleted the entry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\datfile\shell\open\command

The icon changed to a blank file icon like all my exe files.

I also deleted the entry on the following key. Not sure which
deletion actually changed the icon.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\.dat


BoB
 
Pesche said:
My INDEX.DAT files (in Cookies) have ended up with a WINDOWS
MEDIA PLAYER icon.
Click to expand...

OK, I've read through all the other suggestions and noted that they
didn't work for you. How about trying something a little more radical?

Uninstall Windows Media Player. That should get rid of the rogue
association. Then download it from Microsoft, and install it again,
hopefully leaving a clean system free of .DAT associations.

Personally, having got rid of WMP I would just leave it permanently off
and install Media Player Classic instead, but that's an entirely
different story :-)
 
rj65 said:
OK, I've read through all the other suggestions and noted that they
didn't work for you. How about trying something a little more radical?

Uninstall Windows Media Player. That should get rid of the rogue
association. Then download it from Microsoft, and install it again,
hopefully leaving a clean system free of .DAT associations.
Click to expand...

Maybe a simple reinstall on top might do the trick.
 
Thanks BoB,

Just to be on the safe side:
Did you delete the WHOLE entry, or just part of it?
That might just do the trick!

Pesche
 
While reading this thread, I checked one of my .dat files and
found the Media Player Classic icon established. I went to this
registry key and deleted the entry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\datfile\shell\open\command

The icon changed to a blank file icon like all my exe files.

I also deleted the entry on the following key. Not sure which
deletion actually changed the icon.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\.dat
Click to expand...

BINGO!!!

I had the same problem (WinXPH/SP2) with the WMP icon for .dat files,
although in file associations, .dat files showed notepad (actually
metapad as notepad replacement) as the icon and would open in
notepad/metapad on double click.

I left the first key alone.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\datfile\shell\open\command

as drilling down one more level showed my notepad association, which I
wanted to keep.

On the second key,

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\.dat

that directory(?) contained a "Perceived File type = video" (or
something very close.) I deleted ONLY the "Perceived file type"
entry, and thw WMP icon was gone, and .dat files still open in notepad
by default.

THANKS BoB!

(Give it a try, Pesche, and let us know if it works for you.)
 
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