Index.dat 2

[xjlkx]

I have a customer who has requested that I wipe the index.dat file off all his machines. I've come across software that claims it can do this, but I was wondering if there was any way to do it manually and safely.

thanks in advance

 

[likelylad]

Didn't realise you could remove the index.dat file from a PC.
Thought you could only clear out the contents from it.
Doesn't Internet Explorer require the index.dat file?????

 

[xjlkx]

Sorry, by "wipe" I meant erase. I'm trying to clear the index.dat file, not remove it.

 

[likelylad]

I have used a program called historykill to clear the contents of the index.dat file and it done the job.

 

[mutt511]

if you really want clear everything without leaving a trace then you might try using evidence eliminator software. wipes everything and even rewrites the empty space on the drives
everyday you learn something new, the day you dont is the day you die....so make someone live longer teach them something.......MUTT

http://www.phreakgeek.ca

 

[cdogg]

My understanding is that you can delete the index.dat from DOS during bootup (like if you put an entry in your autoexec.bat startup file). The index.dat will get re-created when it's needed.

This is the best way that I know to completely remove its contents!
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[Wirdo]

I beleave cdogg is correct if you del it before windows is loaded it will be del. Then when the os starts it will remake it as it is a protected system file, but it will be blank as you erase the old one.

 

[xjlkx]

Ok, that sounds good...how would that look in autoexec.bat?

 

[cdogg]

Just a simple line like:

delete C:\...\index.dat
- of course replace ... with the correct path

Also, you may have more than one index.dat, so be sure you're selecting the right one, or add multiple lines. I usually add cls to the last line to "clear screen" after the commands execute. That way there's not a lot of crap displayed on the screen during bootup.


~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[thefourthwall]

xjlkx,

it would be something like:
del <driveletter>:\path\index.dat

since DOS is mentioned in one of the earlier posts: is this a non-windows 2000 pc you are dealing with?


thefourthwall

 

[xjlkx]

I'll be dealing with all win2k and XP machines

 

[xjlkx]

So is that the entire syntax?

del <driveletter>:\path\index.dat

 

[cdogg]

Should do it! ~cdogg

&quot;The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.&quot;
- A. Einstein

 

[thefourthwall]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but ... if Windows 2000 is the OS, the only way I know of to delete <driveletter>:\...\index.dat is to login as a different user than the one for which you want to delete the index.dat file ...


thefourthwall

 

[DianeSure]

I found a pretty good site with an explanation about index.dat files. It

includes tools for reading their contents and wiping them. It has an interesting

tutorial too.

Here are the direct links...

http://www.downloadkingdom.com/internet/indexdat.html

http://www.downloadkingdom.com/internet/trackerase.html

Or try

http://www.downloadkingdom.com

Good luck.

DM