filelist.dat and Internet Explorer

[Multibooter]

Internet Explorer v6.00.2600 of 20-Aug-2001 (full source, with all the foreign language support modules) can be downloaded (76.7MB) from http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/browsers.evolt.org/browsers/ie/win32/6.0/ie60.exe

Double-clicking on the downloaded ie60.exe creates the folder \IE 6.0 Full\, containing the installation source. ie60.exe is an "UnZipSFX 5.32 of 3 November 1997, by Info-ZIP (Zip-Bugslists.wku.edu)", wku.edu stands for "Western Kentucky University", so this is probably an unofficial repack. It extracts the identical stuff contained, for example, in the folder \SUPPORT\MSIE\ of the Norton SystemWorks Professional 2004 CD, minus filelist.dat [which is on the NSW 2004 CD], plus IEAK6.EXE, plus CDINST.INI. The timestamp of ie60.exe, as displayed by MiTeC EXE Explorer, is 12/3/2019.

When you click on the extracted \IE 6.0 Full\Ie6setup.exe, the installation of Internet Explorer 6 starts.

Before the installation there is no file "filelist.dat" in the installation source \IE 6.0 Full\, after the installation the file "filelist.dat" was added to the installation source \IE 6.0 Full\.

filelist .dat is 22 bytes long, with the following content:

[General]

Version=1

The file modification date of filelist.dat is the respective installation date of Internet Explorer 6.0

What is the purpose of filelist.dat? I am very wary of software which modifies the installation source. In addition .dat files raise a red flag with me, like the index.dat files, which are pre-rootkit, "cloaked" log files by Microsoft.

What would happen if Internet Explorer 6.0 were installed from a CD (read-only media), containing the folder \IE 6.0 Full\, with or without filelist.dat? Can Internet Explorer be installed from a CD without filelist.dat? Do any good things happen if Internet Explorer 6 is installed with a changed value of Version in filelist.dat, e.g. '0', maybe '1' means YES, '0' perhaps NO??

Edited May 20, 2012 by Multibooter

[submix8c]

Download the attached and look at the contents to better understand some things...

Compare to yours...

The particular file in question pertains specifically to selections during "full download" (to tell IESETUP what it downloaded and has to work with). In your case, it's "empty" and is a COMPLETE set (the "default" when no other entries inside).

edit - FYI, I have the last FULL IE6SP1 English...

_save-D_VPC-98SE.zip

Edited May 20, 2012 by submix8c

[Multibooter]

[filelist.dat] ... pertains specifically to selections during "full download" (to tell IESETUP what it downloaded and has to work with). In your case, it's "empty" and is a COMPLETE set (the "default" when no other entries inside).

Thanks submix8c,

this explanation and the sample files solved the question.

I'll leave filelist.dat, created during the installation, in the installation source, so that there is no potential issue during the installation from a CD. When the installation source is located on the HDD, filelist.dat is not required in the installation source, the installer creates it there. If the installation is from a CD, as with the NSW 2004 CD, filelist.dat is probably required for the installation to proceed.

FYI, I have the last FULL IE6SP1 English...

I prefer this initial build v6.0.2600.0000, if I have to, it was made before Sept.11. Who knows what is contained in later versions and builds. I have installed IE 6 under Win98 only on my old laptop, not on my desktop. I don't use IE 6 often, maybe once every 2 weeks, mainly when I want to print a web page and the other browsers can't print it out properly, sometimes IE6 can print the page Ok, every browser prints differently. Installing IE v6.0.2600.0000 (and higher), instead of v5.5, for example, also causes the sluggish-file-delete-problem of Windows Explorer under Win98SE. IE 6 is required for the installation of some software versions, starting with Paint Shop Pro 8 or Photoshop 8. Thanks again. Edited May 21, 2012 by Multibooter