Index. dat, which cannot be deleted in Windows

Source: Internet
Author: User
In Microsoft Windows, index. dat is a file created by Internet Explorer and resource manager. This file function is like a database, started with the system. It is used to collect personal information, such as URLs, search strings, and recently opened files. Its role is like Indexing in a database. Simply put, when IE is enabled automatically, each browsed URL will be included in index. dat. The IE browser matches the characters entered by the user accordingly. Index. dat also exists in IE's historical records, cache, and cookies.
Tip :. dat is a common extension (or even unreadable or non-text files), so you may encounter an index. DAT file, but it is not part of IE and windows.

[{
Userlogin (3,0); detect. url = 'HTTP: // baike.baidu.com/edit/id=1379495&dl=1'{detect.id=1379495}return false;
} "Href =" http://writeblog.csdn.net/# "> edit this section]

Debate

Internet privacy group pointed out that Windows operating systems use index. dat Information Collection infringes on personal privacy, and the main complaint is index. dat is not easy to delete, because they are always used after the boot (often the resource manager), and when the file is increased to 80 Mb or more, the browsing speed will be significantly slower.
Another argument is that the operating system gives the user a wrong feeling. When the user clears the cache, temporary folder, and history folder. Index. dat still collects all browsed URLs and cookies and some temporary files. Some people eventually find that the problem is caused by index. dat.
However, a Microsoft spokesman said that index. Dat can be deleted by senior users through the system security mode. Because the operating system does not use the index. dat. delete button or the deltree command in safe mode to delete index. dat
You can use some software to easily Delete index. dat.
Index. dat is a file with the "hidden" attribute. It records the URL, access time, and history accessed through a browser. In fact, it is a copy that stores cookies, history records, and content recorded in IE temporary files. Even if you clear all the content in IE, index. the records in the DAT file still exist.
In Windows XP, "Documents and Settings/<username>/cookies", "Documents and Settings/<username>/Local Settings/history. ie5, "Documents and Settings/<username>/local Internet Files/content. indexes exist in folders such as ie5. DAT file.
The system will not let you directly see the index of these places for confidentiality. even if you set the folder option to show all the files to the system and do not hide files protected by the operating system, you cannot find them. You can try to enter the temporary ie folder "Temporary Internet Files", but manually add "/content. ie5 ", you can find that there are other files and folders, index. the DAT file is also one of them.
When we browse a large number of websites, the size of this file will increase from dozens of KB to dozens of MB.
Even if you perform operations such as "delete offline files", "Clear history", and "clear forms" in IE, the index. dat file in the preceding position will not be deleted. What's even more annoying is that if you try to manually delete the file from the above location, the system will warn you "Cannot delete the index: the file is being used by another person or program ." Who is using this file? The answer is the system itself. Even if you restart the system without opening any program window, you cannot delete it in the conventional way.
  

Snoop your online record

  
As mentioned above, even if the related cleaning operation is executed in IE, index. the DAT file also contains the relevant URL Information. How can I use this file to learn about the websites I have visited?
To view the content in index. dat, we can use third-party software, such as "index. DAT files viewer ".
After the software is started, after several seconds of retrieval, it has displayed the previous browsing records in the window-the URL, access time, and other information are listed. Select a link and the relevant content will be displayed in the lower right corner of the window!
  

Clear "content" in index. dat"

  
This index is likely to leak personal online behavior habits. DA files cannot be directly deleted, because as long as you log on to the system, the files under your account will be used by the system. So, is it really impossible to get rid of it? None! Two methods are provided here.
1. Delete in pure DOS mode
If your Windows XP is installed in the FAT32 partition, you can use the boot disc to boot the system to the pure DOS mode (not the Windows XP Command Prompt window), and then enter the index. in the directory where dat is located, use the del command to delete it. However, this file is messy, so it is a little troublesome.
Note: Since C:/Documents and Settings/are long file names, you must convert them to the 8.3 format before entering the directory normally.
2. Use tracks eraser pro to delete
Manually entering the folders to "kill" the index. dat file is definitely troublesome. Besides, it would be even harder if the system is not installed in the FAT32 partition. The simplest way is to use dedicated files to accomplish this "Arduous Task ".
Although the index can be deleted. there are a lot of dat software. However, after many tests, I found that the index can be effectively deleted. the software recorded in dat is still tracks eraser pro, and many other software are somewhat exaggerated. After cleaning, use the "index. DAT files viewer "can still see the previously visited URLs.
In tracks eraser pro, click the "Eraser settings" button to set it. The focus is to check the project settings under the IE tab (preferably select all). In particular, make sure that "Index" is checked. dat ".
Click "OK" and return to the main interface. Click "erase now. Soon, the software will clean up your online traces Based on the settings.
Run index. DAT files viewer again to enable automatic scanning. As a result, the software was busy for a long time and nothing was listed in the window. You can feel at ease with the previous cleanup!

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