Windows: Index.dat, the hidden history file...

1stFreedom

[1stFreedom]

Folks, I bet you didn't know there is a "super secret" collection of files on your computer that contains all the websites you have ever visited.

Even if you think you have cleand out your surfing history, you are wrong. Windows stores the data in index.dat file and leaves the data there EVEN if you clean out the history, temporary internet folders, and cookies.

(If you use Outlook or Office products, that history is also stored -- even deleted messages!.)

While I'm a big advocate of "if you have nothing to hide don't worry" I'm also an advocate of keeping my pc free of my web visits, e-mails, etc.

I deleted my index.dat files and regained a whopping 28mb!!

(Keep in mind that most employers keep track, so some degree, of sites you have visited. Deleting index.dat files will only clean out your PC. Don't think you can visit forbidden sites and get away with it.)

You can't just find or delete these files from Windows easily -- they are hidden. On your favorite search engine do a search on Windows and index.dat. You'll find plenty of utilities that will clean these files out for you.

[Support Free Republic]

Interesting.

[Support Free Republic]

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[TheJollyRoger]

WARNING! I think this is a HOAX! DO NOT delete index.dat until you speak to your system manager!

[Keeper of the Turf]

A 'Whopping' 28 mb's? Wow!

[Teacher317]

perhaps a quick check would be in order before promoting something that can damage our computers?

[widgysoft]

Well mine is 9.7Mb deleting now.

[cactusSharp]

ditto,keep the thread up til the geeks set us straight

[demlosers]

What directory/path is "index.dat" located in, and what Windows operating system are you specifically talking about?

[b4its2late]

It's in the cookies directory under windows......

[Diana Rose]

bump to check where this goes

[b4its2late]

looks like gibberish to me......

[alisasny]

I have been watching you....

Interesting

[johniegrad]

Not that interesting.

[Richard Kimball]

Ping! Hey, Bush2000 you keep up to date on Windows stuff, rumour is you're really Bill Gates, but, even though you pick on my Macintosh, I do trust you completely when it comes to Windows stuff. So, is this guy yanking some chains? Also, if you're really Bill Gates, could you spare a billion or so? I'd even switch back to Windows!

[b4its2late]

Support Free Republic signed up 2003-01-14.

[Bob Z.]

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!!

It stores many important settings as well, so write them down before deleting, ,unless you want to set up a whole BUNCH of things all over again............it will be like you just installed the programs.

And you can not delete it in 2000 unless you are logged in as another user like adminstrator (memory at work here).

His, (The Master PROGRAMMER'S)(BR> Bob Z.

[facedown]

bump

[SauronOfMordor]

I dislike the idea of downloading some random shareware and letting it loose on my disk. And it's unnecessary. To find index.dat, from IE just look in Internet Options->General->Temporary Internat Files->Settings, and observe where the folder for your temporary internet files are. There will be a subfolder called Content.IEsomething. Index.dat will be in that folder