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What are index.dat files?
When you type a website url into the Address bar or enter information into web forms, if you have entered similar information in the past, Internet Explorer shows you possible matches. It is possible as whenever you visit a website, its url and web page contents are saved to your hard drive to allow quicker access to this website in the future.
Index.dat files stored on your computer contain details all of the websites you have ever visited such as urls of recently visited web pages,
recent searches, opened files, form entries, and recent download information, etc.
The main purpose of index.dat files is to enable quick access to data.
How to erase index.dat files?
Internet Explorer does offer options to delete browsing history, cache, cookies. However deleting these history tracks does not influence index.dat files and they continue storing Internet history tracks.
In fact, it is impossible to get rid of these files manually as Internet Explorer and Windows use them all the time and they are locked by Windows. However, with a proper tool like Clear All History you can clear the contents of index.dat files along with browsing history, cache, cookies, and other history tracks to fully protect the privacy of your computer.
Clear All History clears the contents of Temporary Internet Files index.dat, cookies index.dat and history index.dat and deletes IECompatCache index.dat, PrivacIE index.dat and IEDownloadHistory index.dat.
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How to erase index.dat files
Clear All History helps you completely erase index.dat files beyond recovery.
How can index.dat files compromise your privacy?
Index.dat files store all information about the websites you have visited allowing Internet Explorer to quickly find autocomplete matches. While this feature is useful, storing Internet history could compromise personal privacy.
If you erased your internet browsing history by clearing your temporary internet files, cookies and caches on your web browser your Internet history is not completely deleted. Internet Explorer stored separate index.dat files for history, cache, and cookies.
If you are concerned about the privacy and want to delete Internet history completely, you will need to erase index.dat files as anyone who has access to your computer and some knowledge about index.dat files, can easily see what you have been doing online.
What is index.dat file?
Why you should erase index.dat files
Where can I find index.dat files? Where are index.dat files located?
Why can't I find index.dat files? What do I do to view index.dat files?
How can I erase index.dat files?
History index.dat file
What is history index.dat file?
Where can I find Internet Explorer history index.dat file?
How can I erase history index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
Cache index.dat file
What is cache index.dat file?
Where can I find Internet Explorer cache index.dat file?
How can I erase cache index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
Cookies index.dat file
What is cookies index.dat file?
Where can I find Internet Explorer cookies index.dat file?
How can I erase cookies index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
What is index.dat file?
Internet history is more than just a list of visited web sites. Computer stores multiple records of your Internet history that can't be easily deleted. The index.dat files are used by Internet Explorer to record information about Internet sites that have been visited and details of cookies being stored on your computer. Whenever you visit different web sites, information about web site address, time of visit, images, scripts, tracking cookies and web page contents are saved to your hard drive.
This speeds up access to the site if you visit it again as Internet can open them from your hard disk instead of downloading them from the web. There are three index.dat files used by Internet Explorer - history index.dat file, cookies index.dat file, cache index.dat file. Index.dat files are used by Internet Explorer to store Internet history, cache, cookies and other information about your Internet activity.
Why should I erase index.dat files?
Although index.dat files are useful, they can compromise your privacy as any person who has some knowledge about index.dat files and has access to your computer can see the history of your Internet activities. Index.dat files are system files and they can't be deleted manually as they are used by Windows all the time (index.dat files are locked by Windows). Their content is not deleted even if you erase browser history, cache and cookies. With clear history software you can easily erase index.dat files content and erase index.dat files.
Where can I find index.dat files? Where are index.dat files located?
There are three index.dat files used by Internet Explorer (history index.dat file, cookies index.dat file, cache index.dat file). Location of index.dat files depends on the version of Windows.
Note: Index.dat files are hidden by default. To make index.dat files visible, you should enable Explorer to view hidden and system files.
Index.dat files location - Windows 95/98/Me:
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\UserData\index.dat
If you don't have Profiles directory:
C:\Windows\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\UserData\index.dat
Note: on your computer Windows may be installed on another drive, in another directory.
Index.dat files location - Windows 2000/XP:
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Cookies\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
Why can't I find index.dat files? What do I do to view index.dat files?
Index.dat files are hidden by default. To make index.dat files visible, you should enable Explorer to view hidden and system files:
1. Select Start -> Settings -> Control panel.
2. Select Folder Options.
3. In the "Folder Options" window open "View" folder.
4. In Advanced Settings open "Files and Folders" and
Select "Display the content of system folders"
Open "Hidden files and folders" and select "Show hidden files and folders"
5. Click OK
How can I erase index.dat files?
Index.dat files are system files and they can't be deleted manually as they are used by Windows all the time (index.dat files are locked by Windows). Their content is not deleted even if you clear browser history, cache and cookies. Using delete history software you can easily delete index.dat files content or delete index.dat files.
History index.dat file : How to erase history index file
What is history index.dat file?
History index.dat includes URL entries used for AutoComplete and for controlling the highlighting of imbedded links on web pages. Every time you visit a web page, Internet Explorer inserts an entry in the history index.dat file
Where can I find Internet Explorer history index.dat file?
History index.dat file location - Windows 95/98/Me:
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
If you don't have Profiles directory:
C:\Windows\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
Note: on your computer Windows may be installed on another drive, in another directory.
History index.dat files location - Windows 2000/XP:
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist[digits]\index.dat
How can I erase history index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
Index.dat files are system files and they can't be erased manually as they are used by Windows all the time (index.dat files are locked by Windows). Their content is not erased even if you clear browser history, cache and cookies. Using history cleaner you can easily erase index.dat files content or erase index.dat files.
To erase history index.dat files manually
For Windows NT/2000/XP/2003:
As index.dat file is used by Windows all time, to erase index.dat file manually, you should log in by another user with administrator privileges. If you don't have another account with administrator privileges, create a new one.
To create a new account:
1. Select Start -> Settings -> Control panel.
2. Select User Accounts.
3. Select "Create a new account" and enter necessary information.
Cache index.dat file : How to erase index file
What is cache index.dat file?
Cache index.dat file contains URLs with date/time stamps and pointers to cache files.
Where can I find Internet Explorer cache index.dat file?
The location of cache index.dat file - Windows 95/98/Me:
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
If you don't have Profiles directory:
C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
Note: on your computer Windows may be installed on another drive, in another directory.
Index.dat files location - Windows 2000/XP:
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
How can I erase cache index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
Index.dat files are system files and they can't be erased manually as they are used by Windows all the time (index.dat files are locked by Windows). Their content is not erased even if you clear browser history, cache and cookies.
Cookies index.dat file : How to erase index.dat files
What is cookies index.dat file?
Cookies index.dat file contains URLs with date/time stamps and pointers to cookie files. Every time a web site places a cookie on your PC, Internet Explorer inserts an entry in the cookies index.dat file that associates a web page with a cookie file.
Where can I find Internet Explorer cookies index.dat file?
Cookies index.dat file location - Windows 95/98/Me:
C:\Windows\Profiles\[username]\Cookies\index.dat
If you don't have Profiles directory:
C:\Windows\Cookies\index.dat
Note: on your computer Windows may be installed on another drive, in another directory.
Cookies index.dat files location - Windows 2000/XP:
\Documents and Settings\[username]\Cookies\index.dat
How can I erase cookies index.dat file in Internet Explorer?
Index.dat files are system files and they can't be deleted manually as they are used by Windows all the time (index.dat files are locked by Windows). Their content is not deleted even if you clear browser history, cache and cookies. Using a history eraser tool you can easily erase index.dat files content or erase index.dat files.
To erase index.dat files manually
For Windows NT/2000/XP/2003:
As index.dat file is used by Windows all time, to erase index.dat file manually, you should log in by another user with administrator privileges. If you don't have another account with administrator privileges, create a new one.
To create a new account:
1. Select Start -> Settings -> Control panel.
2. Select User Accounts.
3. Select "Create a new account" and enter necessary information.
Erase index.dat files : How to erase index files FAQ
• How do find and view Temporary Internet Files in Internet Explorer?
Temporary Internet Files, also known as the browser cache are files that are stored on your computer by Internet browser. Temporary Internet Files (or cache) folder contains web page content that is stored on your hard disk for quick viewing. This cache permits Internet browsers to download only the content that has changed since you last viewed a web page, instead of downloading all the content for a page every time it is displayed - so, the purpose of Temporary Internet Files is to speed up the loading of websites that you visit frequently by keeping copies of the web pages and graphics on your computer.
To find and view Temporary Internet Files
• Click the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
• The Internet Options dialog window will appear.
• In the Temporary Internet Files section, click the "Settings..." button.
• In the "Settings" window, click the "View Files..." button. The new window displays all of the Temporary Internet Files stored on the computer and their location on the local hard drive. The window also displays the URL each temporary file came from.
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