index.dat files

  • Thread starter Thread starter ol'don
  • Start date Start date
O

ol'don

I have dozens of these buried in folders all over, some
in folders i never use. But when I try to access them I
get a warning that to edit or modify one may damage my
system.
What necessary purpose do these have, and why can't I
delete or at least edit some of them? And how?
 
-----Original Message-----
I have dozens of these buried in folders all over, some
in folders i never use. But when I try to access them I
get a warning that to edit or modify one may damage my
system.
What necessary purpose do these have, and why can't I
delete or at least edit some of them? And how?
.
Click to expand...

You can delete everything except the DAT file itself. It
is a data file that is kept for a directory/index. Even
your cookies have a DAT file where you can delete the
cookies but not the dat file for it will be needed the
next time you go to the Internet.
 
ol'don said:
I have dozens of these buried in folders all over, some
in folders i never use. But when I try to access them I
get a warning that to edit or modify one may damage my
system.
What necessary purpose do these have, and why can't I
delete or at least edit some of them? And how?
Click to expand...

These are just what the name implies, files that index what is contained in
the folders where they are located. They cannot be accessed or deleted as
part of the security protocols for Windows. It actually does no harm to
delete these files, but you cannot do this when you are logged onto the
account where the files are located in that users folders.

Easiest way to delete them is to log off the account (Not switch user, but
completely log off) and use the default System Administrator account to
delete them. If you are using XP Pro, simply reboot and when the welcome
screen appears, press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice to display the system account. Log
onto this account, open Windows Explorer, go to C:\Documents and
Settings\<user account>, locate the files and delete away.

If you are using XP Home, you will need to go to Safe Mode to access the
system account. Reboot and when the system starts to initialize, start
pressing the F8 key continuously until the black screen menu appears. Use
the Arrow keys to select Safe Mode and log on with the Administrator account
you see there.

This account does not typically have a password associated with it, unless
you specified a password during installation.
--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
 
Ronnie Vernon MVP said:
These are just what the name implies, files that index what is contained in
the folders where they are located. They cannot be accessed or deleted as
part of the security protocols for Windows. It actually does no harm to
delete these files, but you cannot do this when you are logged onto the
account where the files are located in that users folders.

Easiest way to delete them is to log off the account (Not switch user, but
completely log off) and use the default System Administrator account to
delete them. If you are using XP Pro, simply reboot and when the welcome
screen appears, press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice to display the system account. Log
onto this account, open Windows Explorer, go to C:\Documents and
Settings\<user account>, locate the files and delete away.

If you are using XP Home, you will need to go to Safe Mode to access the
system account. Reboot and when the system starts to initialize, start
pressing the F8 key continuously until the black screen menu appears. Use
the Arrow keys to select Safe Mode and log on with the Administrator account
you see there.

This account does not typically have a password associated with it, unless
you specified a password during installation.
--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Click to expand...

Why delete them if they are going to be created again anyway?
 
Earl said:
Why delete them if they are going to be created again anyway?
Click to expand...

Earl

These files can become huge after a short time if you do a lot of web
browsing. Deleting the TIF (Temporary Internet Files) is a good idea when
they get overbloated, but the index.dat file does not get deleted as a part
of this process. It just keeps growing and it will eventually drag down the
browsing performance. I once saw an index.dat file that was over 9MB. When
it is deleted and then recreated by the system, it defaults back to it's
original size of about 32k.

--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
 
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