Topic: what are DAT. Files & engines and how do I update them

[Eva Ann]

Hello from Kiwiland,

My cousin always asks me difficult questions. The subject heading I've used is the question she asked me. I'm not sure what dat files are. Are they the copies of sites you've been to, cookies etc. What is a dat engine? Can you help please?
Eva Ann

[Sandra]

Hi Eva Ann, DAT files are just data files, I cant think which programs save as .dat files off hand but to update them it would just be a case of overwriting them when you save the work you did on the original .dat file.
I have never heard of a dat engine though  

I did notice recently that for some reason if I added a new contact to my Outlook Express address book that it added a .dat file to my desktop which I couldnt open unless I changed its name to a .txt extension and opened it with Notepad, then it was the details of the contact that I had added :doggie:

[Sandra]

I moved the thread here Eva Ann as I think that its more appropriate and I deleted your duplicate post, I hope that hasnt confused you  

[Adept]

Hi Eva Ann,

DAT files are the downloadable files which  update your anti-virus scanner on a regular basis.

The DAT engine is the program which uses the information in the DAT file to scan your PC for viruses

[Simon]

Sean, is it not also related to 'index.dat', the records kept of opened files / documents and internet pages?

[Tony]

Hi there,

and welcome on board Eva,

I'm sat here looking at my Kiwi calendar [Beehive and Parliament buildings Wellington]Got two Kiwi calendars this year from friends and family out there.

I bet your cousin has got McAfee anti-virus software.

[WhiteDevil]

.DAT files are used mainly by P2P programs such as Kazaa, Morpheus, iMesh and eDokey. They save the music file to a .DAT as they download, then convert the entire file to a .mp3, .exe or .jpg (etc, etc) when finished...

[Eva Ann]

Thank you Sandra. Sorry not to have found this answer of yours till today. Feel a bit like Rip Van Winkle but am finally awake! :-[

Eva Ann

[Eva Ann]

And belated thanks to everyone else who helped with answers.

An embarrassed but grateful Eva Ann in Kiwiland :-[

[Sandra]

Thats ok, its a long way from New Zealand to the UK  

[ketamininja]

AS you have seen from all the answers above, a DAT file can be quite a few different things.

It does indeed mean DATA file. And it can be any type of data. It is usually, but not always, a temporary data holding area until the data is required (most popularly in P2P programs... the dat file is the file as it downloads, when finished it changes to the real file type).

Yes DAT files can be for McAfee, and a DAT engine is part of McAfee Virus Scan, but in this instance it refers to DATABASE ENGINE...