Index.dat files

[DJS0302]

I just read instructions on how to delete index.dat files by starting Windows
and using F8 to get to the command prompt. I have several instances of
index.dat files. Can all index.dat files be deleted or are there certain ones
I should keep? I know in earlier versions of Windows I could delete all the
index.dat files and have no problems but I haven't tried it with XP.

 

[davexnet02]

I just read instructions on how to delete index.dat files by starting Windows
and using F8 to get to the command prompt. I have several instances of
index.dat files. Can all index.dat files be deleted or are there certain ones
I should keep? I know in earlier versions of Windows I could delete all the
index.dat files and have no problems but I haven't tried it with XP.

Instead of doing this, download the system security suite,
top rated freeware according to nonags.com
http://www.igorshpak.net/

It does what you want and more.
Dave

 

[PA Bear]

May one ask /why/ you want to delete Index.dat files?

 

[DJS0302]

May one ask /why/ you want to delete Index.dat files?

--

Why does it matter? If I wanted to delete files that had the letters xyz in
them that would be my choice and not for anyone to question.

 

[Olivier]

PA Bear vient de nous annoncer :

May one ask /why/ you want to delete Index.dat files?

It seems that file keep a trace of your browsing

Other radical solution (But for advised only) is to log on an other
admin user, delete the whole profile of the other user, and all info
will be deleted.

Anyway, it is a sirty solution

Olivier

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Why does it matter? If I wanted to delete files that had the
letters
xyz in them that would be my choice and not for anyone to
question.

That is correct.

It is also correct that if people understand what you are trying
to accomplish, they may be able to offer you a better way to
accomplish it than the one you are envisioning.

It is further correct that being rude to people trying to help
you is not the best way to get help.

 

[Plato]

May one ask /why/ you want to delete Index.dat files?

Often a good thing to do for index.dats that hold the fat for internet
cache files. Solves many browsing niggles.

 

[PA Bear]

Often a good thing to do for index.dats that hold the fat for internet
cache files. Solves many browsing niggles.

Deleting Index.dat files is generally only recommended when folder
corruption is suspected. Otherwise, leave them be. They're there as
designed to make your browsing more efficient.

 

[CS]

Deleting Index.dat files is generally only recommended when folder
corruption is suspected. Otherwise, leave them be. They're there as
designed to make your browsing more efficient.

What I have read about index.dat files is that they contain a summary
of browsing or cookies thereby retaining a history of where you've
been on the net.

Have you opened an index.dat file using notepad or EditPad or some
other text editor? I just opened one in my cookies folder and it
nicely shows all my cookies. I opened another in the IE history
folder and it shows where I've been browsing. So what's the sense in
deleting history or cookies if the index.dat files show that
information?

The recommendations I have read state to delete the index.dat files.
They're going to be rebuilt on the next boot anyway. Perhaps they are
designed to make one's browsing more efficient but they also defeat
the purpose of removing cookies and the IE cache.

 

[PA Bear]

What I have read about index.dat files is that they contain a summary
of browsing or cookies thereby retaining a history of where you've
been on the net.

Have you opened an index.dat file using notepad or EditPad or some
other text editor? I just opened one in my cookies folder and it
nicely shows all my cookies. I opened another in the IE history
folder and it shows where I've been browsing. So what's the sense in
deleting history or cookies if the index.dat files show that
information?

The recommendations I have read state to delete the index.dat files.
They're going to be rebuilt on the next boot anyway. Perhaps they are
designed to make one's browsing more efficient but they also defeat
the purpose of removing cookies and the IE cache.

This topic has been discussed to death previously: http://snipurl.com/a6my

 

[Plato]

Deleting Index.dat files is generally only recommended when folder
corruption is suspected. Otherwise, leave them be. They're there as
designed to make your browsing more efficient.

If the individual cache files have deleted then your left with useless
index.dat which also should be deleted.

 

[alan.1]

PA Bear wrote:-
--
May one ask /why/ you want to delete Index.dat files?-

Often a good thing to do for index.dats that hold the fat for
internet
cache files. Solves many browsing niggles.-

Deleting Index.dat files is generally only recommended when folder
corruption is suspected. Otherwise, leave them be. They're there as
designed to make your browsing more efficient.-

If the individual cache files have deleted then your left with useless
index.dat which also should be deleted.MS ARTICLE Q293402 DOESN'T WORK & POPULAR CLEANCACHE NEEDS .NET

BLOATWARE INSTALLED, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH COMPREHENSIVE CCLEANER
FREEWARE (HTTP://WWW.CCLEANER.COM). TO ONLY REMOVE THE INDEX.DAT FOR
EVERY USER ON AN XP SYSTEM:

1. Create text file C:\WINDOWS\WINSTOP.CMD which contains the
following:

:begin
if .%1==. goto loop
goto path

:loop
cd /d %AllUsersProfile%\..
for /d %%f in (*.*) do call %SystemRoot%\winstop.cmd %%f
exit

ath
cd %1
del Cookies\index.dat
del "Local Settings\History\index.dat"
del "Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat"
del "Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat"

:end
cd ..
2. Open your Scheduled Tasks control panel & add the new task to run
C:\WINDOWS\WINSTOP.CMD scheduled at logon.

3. Logoff & then logon again to activate the schedule. *
This will erase INDEX.DAT for all users each time you log on, or you
can disable the schedule & use it only as needed. Technically you are
logged on when this happens, although the folks at SpyBot maintain
these need a reboot to safely remove. (For some reason the Scheduled
Task works better than using logon/logoff scripts in Group Policy.)*