removing the index.dat - Windows 7

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  1. Posts : 15
    windows 7
       #1

    removing the index.dat - Windows 7


    Greetings. I used a utility called "super winspy 3.3" to find my index.dat file located in:
    C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\index.dat

    I know the file is there and contains a ton of data even though my privacy settings in IE8 are set very private. I can view the file with Super Winspy but I would like to be able to purge the data from that file regularly or overwrite it with an empty file or delete it and let it re-create a new empty one, but no matter what I try, I get "Access Denied" message. Is there any free or open source (not trial versions or shareware) software that keeps index.dat file wiped clean.?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #2

    You might give ccleaner a try.

    removing the index.dat - Windows 7-capture.jpg
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15
    windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks airbot - I thougt ccleaner would do the trick too but it didn't. When I first ran it (ccleaner) it found 4 index.dat files in my user profile with the analyzer. When I clicked on "Run Cleaner" it appeared that ccleaner removed the index.dat infestations, but when I look from the command line, they are still there and all of the old data is still there too. Also, when I use a different program like 'Winspy' they are still there and the old data is still in them.Now when I run ccleaner, it no longer finds them, probably thinking that it already got rid of them. Has to be a better way. I don't seem to be able to change the attributes on them either with the attrib command. They have changed something in Windows 7 (from vista / xp) to make it more difficult to rid yourself of the data in these files.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 225
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
       #4

    I've never heard of Winspy. Might want to use Malware Bytes.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8,608
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1
       #5

    Click on Internet options and check both privacy boxes at the bottom.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails removing the index.dat - Windows 7-privacy.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15
    windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks for the suggestion Jacee. I tried that but the index.dat files are still there and still contain all of the old browser data and as far as I can tell are STILL accumulating data. I tried another utility called "Privacy Mantra". It too appears to clean the files. After an initial cleaning with only the index.dat selected, it says that they are already clean, BUT, they are still there and they STILL contain all of the old data. This is getting frustrating. With Windows XP, you could simply overwrite them with new, empty files of the same name, or boot into safe mode and delete them.

    Ridding yourself of them in Vista wasn't that difficult either. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to either remove, or to truly clean the index.dat infestations on Windows 7.?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 803
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #7

    Try this:
    LockHunter
    Download LockHunter 64/32 bit For Free
    It is a free tool to delete files blocked by something you do not know. LockHunter is useful for fighting against malware, and other programs that are blocking files without a reason. Unlike other similar tools it deletes files into the recycle bin so you may restore them if deleted by mistake.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit
       #8

    this is easy to do
    1. Restart in "Safe Mode with Command Prompt"
    2. type "cd.." (without quotes) as many times as needed to get to the root of C
    3. type: del index.dat /s
    4. type shutdown -r

    system will restart normally with a new (and clean) index.dat file
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 654
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    what about deleting them from a linux live cd?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,605
    Originally Win 7 Hm Prem x64 Ver 6.1.7600 Build 7601-SP1 | Upgraded to Windows 10 December 14, 2019
       #10

    Hi! Loganman67, welcome to W7F :)

    In step #2, instead of drilling down as you suggest wouldn't entering

    cd\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\index.dat

    Get you there a little faster?
      My Computer


 
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