JasonH

Ironically enough, Palm just released a Vista-compatible Palm Desktop version
yesterday, so I was able to uninstall the offending program, restore the
registry, and install the new version. Most importantly, my .dat files
aren't crashing my system anymore.

Thanks a lot for your help, dean-dean. I owe you a virtual beer.



"dean-dean" wrote:

> Restoring your .dat extension to the Vista default won't hurt anything, and
> is advisable. Yes, your PalmOne made a shell extension for .dat files,
> particularly in regards to Mail, but it's not compatible with, nor does it
> work, in Vista. Vista handles these thumbnails differently.
> "{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}" is an old thumbnail preview value
> for creating thumbnails for .eml,.nws, .htm and .html. I'm not sure how
> your .dat files got involved. As a matter of fact, I think Microsoft
> discontinued using it because of a the security risk (Web View Script
> Injection Vulnerability) it caused with Webvw.dll; Vista no longer uses
> "Web View", but rather "Previews and Filters".
>
> At any rate, removing the shell extension should not harm your PalmOne. In
> PalmOne's Options/Preferences, or in its "Photo Suite", can you turn the
> shell extension off (looking for something along the line of "Show
> Preview...")? Can you uninstall the Photo Suite apart from PalmOne? Are
> your picture files (.jpg's, etc.) associated with Photo Suite?
>
> To restore your .dat file extension, open C:\Windows\System32\regedt32.exe,
> by right-clicking on it and choosing Run as Administrator. Go to
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dat
>
> and, in the LEFT-hand pane, select the .dat key, and delete it. Leave
> Registry Editor open.
>
> Open Notepad.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dat]
> "NoOpen"="
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
>
> Copy the above and Paste it into Notepad (not including the dashes) and save
> it as dat.reg (no .txt extension).
>
> Back in Registry Editor, on the menu, choose File, and then Import.
> Navigate to wherever dat.reg is, and select it. Click Open in the dialog.
> Close Registry Editor. Log Off, and then back On. Your .dat files should be
> back to normal, and Explorer, hopefully, won't crash.
>
> Now sometimes, when you open a photo program, it may re-write the registry
> keys it thinks it needs. You might want to keep an eye on the .dat key in
> the Registry, to check for that behavior.
>
>
>
> "JasonH" <JasonH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1B926F0E-E80A-4CF4-886E-4E26194F339F@microsoft.com...
> > dean-dean, you called it. I finally found the ArcSpl.ax file on my
> > computer
> > -- it was installed along with Palm Desktop back in February as part of
> > their
> > photo suite, and it's located under C:\Program Files\palmOne.
> >
> > But when I go into regedit: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dat, there's an extra
> > subfolder "ShellEx" with another subfolder
> > "{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}". The (Default) key is present in
> > all 3, but I can't delete any of them. I get "unable to delete all
> > specified
> > values." I've also not been able to successfully dis-associate my DAT
> > files.
> >
> > I wasn't expecting to see that "ShellEx" subfolder -- do you think I can
> > safely delete it? Or just substitute the key you suggested? I don't
> > really
> > care if I lose the Arcsoft functionality, but I don't want to create
> > additional problems.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "dean-dean" wrote:
> >
> >> Well, this is interesting. Somewhere on your computer there's a file
> >> named
> >> ArcSpl.ax, which is somehow involved in your crashes. If you could
> >> right-click on that file, and open its properties, on the Details tab,
> >> can
> >> you tell what company made it or what program it might be involved with?
> >> It's not a Vista OS file. Try looking under C:\Program Files\Common
> >> Files\arcsoft\mpeg engine.
> >>
> >> Anyway, having your .dat file extension associated with a program may be
> >> key, too. Explorer is trying to create a picture of a .dat file,
> >> possibly,
> >> and normally that file has no program association. (It might be better
> >> putting a shortcut to Notepad in Sendto, and looking at an un-associated
> >> .dat file that way, if you're so inclined). Why it's picking on
> >> OESpamFilter.dat, I dunno.
> >>
> >> If you want try un-associating the .dat file extension, in the registry
> >> Editor, go to
> >>
> >> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dat
> >>
> >> and, in the right-hand pane, right-click and delete the value
> >> "(default)",
> >> under Name, (which will have the value "dat_auto_file", under Data).
> >> Otherwise, you could make a .reg file in Notepad with this:
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
> >>
> >> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dat]
> >> "NoOpen"="
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Copy the above into Notepad (not including the dashes) and save it as
> >> dat.reg (no .txt extension). Close Notepad, then open dat.reg, and allow
> >> the Merge.
> >>
> >>
> >> "JasonH" <JasonH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:BBC11B52-F0B3-4237-BCAD-26D2FBDD55E0@microsoft.com...
> >> > Okay, through a clever use of the Extra Large Icons setting, I've
> >> > managed
> >> > to
> >> > figure out that the cause of my problem is the OESpamFilter.dat file.
> >> > If
> >> > that file is onscreen as a thumbnail or attempts to register in a
> >> > folder
> >> > thumbnail, it crashes Windows Explorer. The problem is not general to
> >> > .dat
> >> > files -- I can have any other .dat file onscreen and nothing happens.
> >> > It's
> >> > only OESpamFilter.dat.
> >> >
> >> > Windows won't let me delete or even hide this file (access is denied).
> >> > If
> >> > I
> >> > copy that file to some other location, it still crashes WE the same way
> >> > (though at least I can delete those copies).
> >> >
> >> > What can I do about this? I've tried to change the default program for
> >> > .dat
> >> > files (it had been Notepad), but to no avail.
> >>
>
>