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Deleting .dat files

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by ttran, 2003/05/19.

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  1. 2003/05/19
    ttran

    ttran Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello,

    Thank you markp62 for showing me how to delete dat files by restarting in dos mode. Win2000, however, won't let one restart in dos mode. Is there any way to get around this?

    markp62 mentioned the method only worked with 9x.

    TT
     
    ttran,
    #1
  2. 2003/05/19
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Recovery console will do it for you on 2K. And BTW - what .dat files since there may be an easier way.
     
    Newt,
    #2


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  4. 2003/05/19
    BruceKrymow

    BruceKrymow Inactive

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    Hi, TT ~

    If you do a search of the forum, you will inevitably see there have been lengthy discussions of such.

    The best way to remove your index.dat files, if those in fact are the files to which you are referring, please download Spider v1.16 from the link at my Spider v1.16 Tutorial. :cool:
     
    BruceKrymow,
    #3
  5. 2003/05/21
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    How to clean up Temp Internet, History & Cookies:

    Put this in Notepad and save as cleanup.bat -

    @echo off
    RD /S "D:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files "
    RD /S "D:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\HISTORY "
    RD /S "D:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\COOKIES "

    To delete these folders do this: Double click the cleanup.bat file. Next, cntrl-alt-del to open Task Manager. End the process Explorer.EXE. Follow the prompts in the bat file. It will close when completed. Then use Task Manager File Menu\New and starte the process Explorer.EXE. Voila! The folders were deleted and then recreated brand new with new index.dat files.


    The above will work for the Administrator. If have other users, change the file paths to the location of the specific folders.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2003/05/21
    BruceKrymow

    BruceKrymow Inactive

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    Hi, Trang ~

    Spider v1.16 takes the work out for you, but if you decide to use a .bat file as outlined by TonyT, make sure you include the proper drive designation as it may not necessarily be D:\.

    Also, you the above configuration is incomplete for thorough cleaning and will need to add the following:
    • C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent
    • C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Cookies
    • C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5
    • C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012003052120030522
    • C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
     
    BruceKrymow,
    #5
  7. 2003/05/22
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    BruceKrymow

    A couple questions:

    I understand this line IF Office is installed -
    C:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent

    But, why add these to the other lines?
    \History.IE5
    \History.IE5\MSHist012003052120030522
    \Content.IE5

    All contents of the folders get deleted anyway, including subfolders. And what are those additional folders anyway? They do not exist on my system with IE6 and they did not exist when I had IE5.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2003/05/22
    BruceKrymow

    BruceKrymow Inactive

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    Hi, TonyT ~

    I used to use the batch files as you oulined but switched to the Spider app as it accomplishes removal of all the index.dat files.

    The ones you queried are hidden just a little deeper. Using the Admin account does not remove the user files.
     
    BruceKrymow,
    #7
  9. 2003/05/23
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Thanks. That explains why those directories are not on my system. I am always logged on as admin, have no other user accounts set up and guest account disabled, therefore the directories do not exist. Thanks again, will come in handy for users that do have multiple accounts set up.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2003/05/23
    Newt

    Newt Inactive

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    Bruce - a thing you can do to make life a little easier and the batch file more flexible is to use a variable for username so the command will act on items belonging to the current logged on user. As follows:

    C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent
    C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Cookies
    etc.
     
    Newt,
    #9
  11. 2003/05/23
    BruceKrymow

    BruceKrymow Inactive

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    Hi, Newt ~

    Yes, variables would be a great idea there - thanks! :cool:
     
    BruceKrymow,
    #10
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