# Windows XP history/index.dat is 4Gb! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 1, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877 "2004-03-01T06:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/21 "2004-03-04T12:43:16Z")
> [@Greymot](#): > > It is a truly hidden file, along with a bunch of other ones, that stay hidden even when you select show hidden and system files. > > If you know the exact path and file names to these ‘super hidden’ information gatherers, you can get to them usin your command prompt. Can you give me a blow-by-blow set of instructions. I’m not a command prompt person. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/22 "2004-03-04T13:39:24Z")
If you want to delete it type: del “c:documents and settings\craig\local settings\history\index.dat” If you want to try opening it in Notepad (!) type: notepad “c:documents and settings\craig\local settings\history\index.dat” ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/23 "2004-03-04T13:41:33Z")
Argh! Never noticed you left off the lead \ It should be: del “c:\documents and settings\craig\local settings\history\index.dat” and notepad “c:\documents and settings\craig\local settings\history\index.dat” ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/24 "2004-03-04T13:51:09Z")
Okie **boofy\_bloke** I did a quick search on google for “[delete clean clear index.dat “windows xp”](http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=4&q=http://www.mrbass.org/privacy/&e=7388)” and came up with [this site](http://www.mrbass.org/privacy/) which _seems_ to have a foolproof step-by-step explanation of how to do this. If you go to the site it even has pictures of all the steps. Good luck! > [@](#): > > INDEX.DAT and HISTORY on Windows 2000 and XP > Internet Explorer 6 makes it pretty much impossible to delete history just like index.dat because when your logged into an account they are “in use”. Only way to combat that is to logout and login to another account that has administrator privliges to wipe out history, index.dat, etc. files. > > Download privacy-cmd.zip or copy and paste and create your own. > You still must right click on privacy.cmd | Edit | Change YOURUSERNAME > > Creating a new user account with Administrator privileges. > Right click on My Computer | Manage | Local Users and Groups | Users > Right click white space on right pane and choose New User | choose a Password | Create | Close > Double-click account you just created | Member Of | Add | Choose Administrators | Add > > rem Windows 2000/XP delete cookies, history, index.dat, TIF, temp files > rem Name it privacy.cmd and put in > rem C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup > rem to clean index.dat files login under ANOTHER administrative account > rem Do NOT forget to change YOURUSERNAME > @echo on > c: > cd > rd /s/q winnt emp > md winnt emp > cd docume~1\YOURUSERNAME > rd /s/q locals~1 empor~1 > rd /s/q locals~1\history > rd /s/q locals~1 emp > md locals~1 emp > rd /s/q recent > md recent > rd /s/q cookies > pause ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/25 "2004-03-04T14:26:45Z")
Try [Window Washer](http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/windowwasher/index.php) it frees up heaps of space. ---
**Author:** ![boofy\_bloke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@boofy\_bloke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boofy_bloke)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877/26 "2004-03-05T03:23:56Z")
[QUOTE=dylan\_73] Argh! Never noticed you left off the lead \ It should be: del “c:\documents and settings\craig\local settings\history\index.dat” [QUOTE] It works! C:\ up from 7% free space to 72%. God bless dylan\_73! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-xp-history-index-dat-is-4gb/231877.md?page=1)