- Joined
- 24 Jan 2002
- Messages
- 12,388
I just found this, and I know some of you have issues with this file;
The INDEX.DAT file keeps a record of all the web sites you have visited.
Normally you can't simply delete this file since it is protected by the operating system.
However, there is a way:
Close all running applications
Open a command window (CMD.EXE)
Go to to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 (where username is the replaced by your current login name)
Start the Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
Click on the Processes tab
Select EXPLORER.EXE and click on End Process
The screen will be blank except for the command window
Delete the INDEX.DAT file
Go back to the Task Manager
Do File / Run / Explorer and the desktop will be back
With a Batch File
Since it would be cumbersome to manually change directories each time,
it would be very simple to create a two line batch file to do this automatically.
For the example it will be the C:\index.bat file
CD C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
Del index.dat
Open up a CMD window to the C:\ directory
Start the Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
Click on the Processes tab
Select EXPLORER.EXE and click on End Process
Run INDEX.BAT
Go back to the Task Manager
Do File / Run / Explorer and the desktop will be back
Once you learn how do this, it only takes about 30 seconds to delete the file.
The INDEX.DAT file keeps a record of all the web sites you have visited.
Normally you can't simply delete this file since it is protected by the operating system.
However, there is a way:
Close all running applications
Open a command window (CMD.EXE)
Go to to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 (where username is the replaced by your current login name)
Start the Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
Click on the Processes tab
Select EXPLORER.EXE and click on End Process
The screen will be blank except for the command window
Delete the INDEX.DAT file
Go back to the Task Manager
Do File / Run / Explorer and the desktop will be back
With a Batch File
Since it would be cumbersome to manually change directories each time,
it would be very simple to create a two line batch file to do this automatically.
For the example it will be the C:\index.bat file
CD C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
Del index.dat
Open up a CMD window to the C:\ directory
Start the Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc)
Click on the Processes tab
Select EXPLORER.EXE and click on End Process
Run INDEX.BAT
Go back to the Task Manager
Do File / Run / Explorer and the desktop will be back
Once you learn how do this, it only takes about 30 seconds to delete the file.