Hidden information stored on your computer about every url you ever visit



Posted: Monday, May 09, 2005

by
minpin

What is an index.dat?

An index.dat file is a hidden file that contains a record of every web site address you have ever visited and holds information on all your Internet activities, yes including emails sent and received through Outlook or Outlook Express One of these files can be located and viewed by Windows Explorer but none can be deleted using either Windows Explorer

According to Microsoft these files are used to help speed up the loading of web pages in Internet Explorer. This doesn't appear to be the case because when you delete the Temporary Internet Files the "index.dat" files remain behind and continue to grow. If you delete or clear the Temporary Internet Files then there is no need to index the URL cache because the files no longer exist.

Where are my index.dat files located?

On Windows 95 and 98 computers the files are located in the following locations:

C:\WINDOWS\Cookies
C:\WINDOWS\History\History.IE5\*.*
C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*

In Windows 2000 and Windows XP the files are located in the following locations:



\Documents and Settings\\Cookies\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 \MSHist012001123120020101\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\History\History.IE5
\MSHist012002010720020114\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\\Local Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat


How do I view my index.dat files?

If you are in Windows, even with "Show hidden files and folders" enabled, index.dat files are not visible and cannot be found if you do a search for index.dat files. The reason that these files are so invisible is that they are not just hidden, they have been designated as "system" files. System files and folders are treated differently in DOS and Windows and are effectively cloaked from casual searches.



They can be viewed using a Dos based programme such as StupenDos

How do I delete my index.dat files?

In order to delete these files you will need a Dos based programme such as StupenDos

StupenDos is available free from http://www.sharewarejunkies.com/8s3/stupendo.htm

However before deleting your index.dat files you must first clean up your hard driving by deleting

All Cookies
Your History
Your temporary Internet files

If you delete your index.dat files before cleaning up your hard drive the index.dat files will use the information contained on your hard drive to re-write themselves (to their original state prior to deletion)



Having cleaned up your hard drive, then deleted your index.dat files you will need to reboot. Then you will then discover that your PC has written new (clean) index.dat files. These files will remain clean until you log on the Internet, then they will again begin gathering information on your Internet activities.

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This Article has been viewed 31,579 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by ain
from india 3 years 7 days ago.
what is the role of a computer in tv braodcasting?
» left by Linda DeWitt
 2 years 311 days ago.
67 fans. Follow Linda DeWitt on twitter!
Thank you for some great information. My husband just bought a new computer and I wanted to delete the old information before I give it away.
Linda DeWitt
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