How to Delete index.dat Files

How to Delete index.dat Files

These files contain all of the Web sites that one has ever visited. It not only stores all the URLs, or the web pages but also all the e-mail that has been sent or received. This file is known as "index.dat" file.

When you clear the temporary internet files the index.dat files remain there and it starts growing on. If you delete or clear the Temporary Internet Files, there is absolutely no need to index the URL cache because those files no longer exist.

How To Find:

Any person with even little knowledge about index.dat files locations and structure can see history of almost all of your computer activities. Index.dat files are most obscure because they are hard to find and even harder to delete. In fact, in most cases it is impossible to delete Index.dat files manually because Internet Explorer and Windows use them all the time.

It is really very difficult to find them. One can not find even with "Show hidden files and folders" enabled.They are not only hidden but designated as system files and can't be found through a casual search.

In Windows XP and Windows 2000 the index.dat files are located in the following places:

C:\Documents and SettingsCookies\index.dat

C:\Documents and Settings\\Local SettingsHistory\History.IE6\index.dat

C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings
\History\History.IE6MSHistXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat

C:\Documents and SettingsLocal Settings\Temporary Internet FilesContent.IE5\index.dat

C:\Documents and Settings\UserDataindex.dat

How To Delete:

Start Computer then press F8 for advanced boot options; then select "safe mode with command prompt; log in as administrator and then from there you can delete them without windows preventing it. just go to the root (c:\) by typing CD then type del index.dat /s then enter and all the files names index dat in your computer will be deleted permanently.