Windows XP history/index.dat is 4Gb!

[boofy_bloke]

@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.

[dylan_73]

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”

[dylan_73]

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”

[alterego]

Okie boofy_bloke I did a quick search on google for “delete clean clear index.dat “windows xp”” and came up with this site 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

[don_t_ask]

Try Window Washer it frees up heaps of space.

[boofy_bloke]

[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!