*** New St. Patrick’s Day Version of DELINDEX DELINDEX is a DOS batch file that was originally created just to delete Index.dat files that contain ALL your web surfing history since they were (re)created. Here are 3 reasons to delete them: (1) They are never resized, and only get bigger. (2) Large index.dat files can cause performance problems when browsing. (3) To protect your privacy, so others cannot see where you’ve been on the Internet. (You’ll have to delete other files as well; some information is also stored in the registry about where you’ve been.) Index.dat files are hidden, don't show up in searches (in Windows or DOS) and CANNOT be deleted when Explorer is running. DELINDEX was expanded in a version dated 2/14/02 to delete other files; notes and options were added as well. Unless you edit DELINDEX.BAT, these are your only options: delete the 4 Index.dat files and files in the C:\ (and C:\Windows\)Temp folders (the "LESS" option); OR delete those files and ALL these files/folders which are either unnecessary and/or are recreated by Windows (the "MORE" option): * C:\Windows\Cookies (folder) * C:\Windows\[Locals~1\]Temporary Internet Files (contents, except the Google toolbar) * C:\Windows\History (folder) * C:\Windows\Windows Update (contents, except for the history log) * C:\[My Documents\]My Pictures\Thumbs.db * C:\Windows\ShellIconCache ***IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT IDs & PASSWORDS: Previously I thought deleting only the index.dat files and not the cookies themselves would preserve your IDs and passwords. Wrong! The index.dat file IS an index, and even though it may have thousands of listings for cookies that no longer exist, it is necessary for Explorer to locate the cookies that do exist. So, whether you use the LESS option or the MORE option, you will lose the ability to just go into sites (that require IDs and passwords) without signing in. If you delete the index, you might as well delete the cookies, since they can no longer function. ***Record IDs and passwords BEFORE using DELINDEX!*** ============================================================ Look here for the original DELINDEX post and discussion. More on DELINDEX here, and the rationale for deleting some of the files. *** NEW FEATURES ADDED IN THE MARCH 17, 2002 VERSION *** •1. A display of free space before and after DELINDEX is run (with the MORE option only). •2. More of the previously internal notes are displayed when you pick the “Additional Notes” option. (There are still some internal notes that can only be seen using the “View” option.) •3. An “ADD” option that puts lines in the autoexec.bat file on your StartUp Disk to give you the option (every time you boot with the StartUp Disk) to run DELINDEX with NO options, the “MORE” option, the “LESS” option, or NOT to run it at all. This eliminates the need to do any editing of a:\autoexec.bat. The ADD option also loads Doskey. (This info was in the previous version as notes, so it was easy to convert the notes into this option.) •4. Deletes copies (and backups) of the registry labeled “bad” if they exist. Sometimes using Scanreg /opt and/or Scanreg /fix (or ScanregW with the same switches) can result in new copies of the registry being created, and the old ones being labeled classes.bad and/or user.bad and/or system.bad. Under some circumstances (?) a registry backup can also be labeled rbbad.cab. Any “bad” registry copies are now deleted with the MORE option. •5. Some notes were corrected, revised and/or added, some code cleaned up, and there’s less regard to limit line length to 78 characters, which makes some displays nicer, and some code simpler. (That does make a few lines wrap in the view option.) This version is more than a hundred lines longer than the one posted 2/14/02. I’m almost embarrassed by that; but what makes DELINDEX what it is are the notes, the explanations, and the options. Whether you have 8 or 16KB clusters, this version still doesn’t take up any more space than the previous one. Except for the display of free space, you really won’t SEE any difference between the 2/14/02 and the 3/17/02 versions. ============================================================ *** GETTING DELINDEX *** I was not going to post the actual code, since it is available for viewing and download from here: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/delindex. However, on March 25, Yahoo will discontinue public access to briefcases unless you have a Yahoo! ID. So you can look at the code and download it from there until March 25th. So, unless somebody beats me to it, the first response to this post will be the code. That way you can look at it, even though it will not display correctly. There may be some problems: • This version uses ascii drawing characters (which look nicer) but do not show up correctly on Computing.net. I do not know if you cut and paste if they will translate correctly. • Since I did not intend to post the actual code on this forum, some of the lines are now longer than 80 characters (previously, I limited them to 78 characters). I don’t know if that will cause problems if you cut and paste. SMUOD:) will post DELINDEX at his website. I’m grateful that he’s making it possible for people to get easy access to DELINDEX. Since the files are not yet available (as of this post) on his site, I’ll let SMUOD:) post a response about when, and where you can get it from “BURZURQ.” Enjoy the new DELINDEX! ============================================================ I’m more than happy to explain DELINDEX, but most of that has been done in prior posts (“Why did [or didn’t] you...,” “I think you should [or shouldn’t] have...,” yada, yada, yada). Deleting the index.dat files is simple. The ideas for deleting other files have been collected from this forum, PC World, other “cleanup” utilities, and my own experience. All this batch file does is to give you notes and options, and to combine a whole lot of things into one convenient package. NO WHINING, PLEASE! I’m not going to defend DELINDEX. If you do not like the batch file, modify it. Or don’t download it. If you have questions that are NOT covered in (WinME) posts 19918 or 20337, please post them here and I’ll gladly answer them as best I can. If you post the same questions, I’ll leave them for others to answer. Of course I welcome suggestions to improve DELINDEX. Should there be any problems with this version, please post back here (on this thread) ASAP; if there’s a problem with the batch file, I’ll fix it immediately. I’ve been using this new version on my system for more than two weeks now, with no problem. ============================================================ For information on Index.dat files, look at these posts: 95/104366 ME/20164 ME/19944 FYI: DELINDEX; less than 16KB; free; requires StartUp Disk Wash from 12 Ghosts; 600KB; $13 History Kill; 1.77MB; $40; memory resident Cache and Cookie Washer; 1.4MB; $15 Window Washer, 1.4MB, $30 Spider; 635KB; free; (It reads index.dat files very well, but on my system it only deletes the one in the cookies folder.)

:: ╔═══════════════════════════╗ :: ║ WELCOME to Delindex.bat! ║ :: ╚═══════════════════════════╝ @echo off :: This just makes the program run faster: c:\windows\smartdrv.exe 2048 16>nul cls echo ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ DELINDEX.BAT ♣ Last Revised 3/17/2002 ♣ Written by Renaissance Man ║ echo ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ if not "%1"=="" echo. if "%1"=="more" goto MORE if "%1"=="MORE" goto MORE if "%1"=="less" goto LESS if "%1"=="LESS" goto LESS if "%1"=="add" goto ADD if "%1"=="ADD" goto ADD echo DELINDEX.BAT deletes Index.dat files which are never resized, and only get echo bigger. These files contain ALL your web surfing history since they were echo last (re)created, and large index.dat files can cause performance issues echo with browsing. Index.dat files CANNOT be deleted if Explorer is running. echo. echo ▸ In Windows 98, you must choose "Reboot into DOS mode." echo ▸ In Windows Millennium Edition, you must boot up with a StartUp echo disk; select #3, Start Computer Without CD-ROM support. echo. echo DELINDEX gives you a choice of LESS or MORE aggressive versions. echo ▸ The LESS option deletes Index.dat files & files in TEMP folders. echo ▸ The MORE option also deletes other unnecessary files. echo. echo WARNING! ▸ Whether you use the LESS option or the MORE option, you will lose echo the ability to just go into sites (that require IDs and passwords) echo without signing in. Record IDs and passwords BEFORE using DELINDEX! echo ▸ If you lost your ability to download, you probably ran the MORE echo option with Windows running. To fix, just reboot. :: Previously I thought that deleting only the index.dat files and not the :: cookies themselves would preserve IDs and passwords. Wrong! The index.dat :: file IS an index, and even though it may have thousands of listings for :: cookies that no longer exist, it is necessary for Explorer to locate the :: cookies that do exist. If you delete the index, you might as well delete :: the cookies, since they can no longer function. echo. echo TO RUN DELINDEX: Enter L for the LESS option or M for the MORE option. echo OTHER CHOICES: Enter A for ADDITIONAL notes, V to VIEW the entire contents choice /n/c:mlavq/t:q,99 " of this program, or Q to QUIT. Enter L,M,A,V,Q: " cls if errorlevel 5 goto EXIT if errorlevel 4 goto VIEW echo ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ DELINDEX.BAT ♣ Last Revised 3/17/2002 ♣ Written by Renaissance Man ║ echo ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ if errorlevel 3 goto NOTES echo. if errorlevel 2 goto LESS :: :: :MORE :: :: COOKIES and TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES are deleted because they can contain :: adware & spyware, applets that report your surfing habits back to websites. :: And you may have hundreds of cookies for sites you'll never visit again. :: Some people have tens of thousands of files in the Temporary Internet Files :: folder, a known cause of browsing problems. Here's how to keep them from :: building up: in Internet Explorer, click on Tools/Internet Options; on the :: Advanced tab make sure there's a check in the box next to "Empty Temporary :: Internet Files folder when browser is closed," click on Apply and OK. :: echo. echo FREE SPACE BEFORE DELNDEX:>c:\B4&after ctty nul dir c:\asdfghjk | find "free">>c:\B4&after ctty con echo FREE SPACE AFTER DELINDEX:>>c:\B4&after :: deltree /y c:\history deltree /y c:\windows\cookies :: :: TESTS for presence of GOOGLE TOOLBAR. :: Add other files here (e.g., for PC Pitstop) if not exist c:\windows\downlo~1\google*.* deltree /y c:\windows\downlo~1\ if not exist c:\windows\downlo~1\google*.* goto CONTINUE attrib -h c:\windows\downlo~1\*.*>nul attrib -r c:\windows\downlo~1\*.*>nul attrib +r c:\windows\downlo~1\google*.*>nul if not exist c:\DELYES! echo *** Press Y and then press Enter *** if not exist c:\DELYES! del c:\windows\downlo~1\*.*>nul if exist c:\DELYES! del c:\windows\downlo~1\*.*<c:\DELYES!>nul echo ▸ Any "access denied" message means that special files weren't deleted. attrib -r c:\windows\downlo~1\google*.* :CONTINUE deltree /y c:\windows\history deltree /y c:\windows\recent deltree /y c:\windows\tempor~1 if exist c:\windows\locals~1\tempor~1 deltree /y windows\locals~1\tempor~1\ :: :: :: The next 3 lines delete the contents of the Windows Update folder except :: the wuhistv3.log (Windows Update history log). See MS KB article Q193385. :: if exist c:\progra~1\window~2\wuhistv3.log move /y c:\progra~1\window~2\wuhistv3.log c:\>nul deltree /y c:\progra~1\window~2\>nul if exist c:\wuhistv3.log move /y c:\wuhistv3.log c:\progra~1\window~2\>nul :: :: :: All Picture files (e.g., "My Pictures") which display thumbnails have a :: Thumbs.db file that's never resized, even when you delete some (or all) :: pictures. Windows recreates these files whenever you go back into the :: picture folder(s). They can be deleted from within Windows. Both [path] :: statements must be the same. Keep the following line as a sample. :: if exist [path]\thumbs.db del [path]\thumbs.db>nul :: These are my paths; change them to yours. No harm if you don't. if exist c:\mypict~1\thumbs.db del c:\mypict~1\thumbs.db>nul if exist c:\mydocu~1\mypict~1\thumbs.db del c:\mydocu~1\mypict~1\thumbs.db>nul if exist c:\zebra\thumbs.db del c:\zebra\thumbs.db>nul :: :: :: The following file will be rebuilt by Windows; this corrects problems with :: icons not displaying correctly. Put :: in front of the next line to omit. if exist "c:\windows\ShellIconCache" deltree /y "c:\windows\ShellIconCache" :: :: :: Sometimes using Scanreg /opt and/or Scanreg /fix (or ScanregW with the same :: switches) can result in new copies of the registry being created, and the :: old ones being labeled classes.bad and/or user.bad and/or system.bad. Under :: some circumstances (?) a registry backup can also be labeled rbbad.cab. if exist c:\windows\*.bad del c:\windows\*.bad if exist c:\windows\sysbckup\rbbad.cab del c:\windows\sysbckup\rbbad.cab goto TEMP :: :: :LESS :: del c:\windows\cookies\index.dat>nul del c:\windows\tempor~1\content.ie5\index.dat>nul del c:\windows\history\history.ie5\index.dat>nul del c:\windows\history\history.ie5\mshist~1\index.dat>nul goto TEMP :: :: :NOTES :: echo I first wrote this in Jan 2001 & revised it often based on my experience echo and suggestions from PCWorld and the Computing.net forum. This program echo originally deleted only index.dat files. DELINDEX was expanded 2/14/02 echo w/NOTES & a MORE option to delete other unnecessary files; systems run echo better with fewer files. Folders that Windows recreates are now deleted; echo folders that are not recreated have their contents deleted. New in this echo version: display of Free Space Before & After, revised/additional notes, echo minor rewrites, & the option to add "Run DELINDEX?" to the Startup Disk. echo. echo SUGGESTIONS: ▸ Don't modify this file unless you REALLY know what you're echo doing, and back up the original batch file before you tinker with it. echo ▸ Defragment your hard drive after using the MORE option for the first echo time, since this program may free up a lot of disk space. ▸ Run DELINDEX echo at least monthly, more often if you use the web often and/or heavily. echo Put this in C:\ for V(iew) to work; it also runs faster. ▸ TO RUN: In echo WinME at a:\ (Win98 at c:\), type C:\DELINDEX. ▸ To run this program echo without notes or options, type C:\DELINDEX LESS or DELINDEX MORE. echo ▸ If you have the Google toolbar: to run DELINDEX MORE without user echo input, open Notepad, enter ONLY the letter Y and save as DELYES! in C:\. echo. pause cls echo ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ DELINDEX.BAT ♣ Last Revised 3/17/2002 ♣ Written by Renaissance Man ║ echo ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo To add lines to the autoexec.bat file on your StartUp Disk that will give echo you the option to "Run DELINDEX?" at each bootup, type DELINDEX ADD. echo. echo Please post problems or questions on the Windows ME forum at echo www.computing.net with DELINDEX as the subject. That way others may be echo able to offer more advice sooner to the benefit of all who see the post. echo Send comments and suggested improvements to me at delindex@yahoo.com. echo. echo This has been extensively tested in WinME/IE 5.5 SP2 and works fine on my echo Dell Inspiron 7500 laptop, 256KB memory, 20GB hard drive. I can't say how echo well it will work on your system. Comments have been favorable from users echo who have posted back to Computing.net and no problems have been reported. echo. echo It should work on Win98; if modifications are necessary, I don't know echo what they are. I've been told IE6 uses the same named folders to store echo index.dat files as IE5, so IE5/IE6 functionality should be identical. echo. echo Special thanks to "newgrl" at Computing.net -- ☻ Renaissance Man echo. echo. goto EXIT :: :: :VIEW type c:\delindex.bat|more goto EXIT :: :: :TEMP :: :: It's safe to delete the files in these folders. They are temporary files :: that should have been deleted by the programs that put them there. deltree /y c:\temp\>nul deltree /y c:\windows\temp\>nul :: :: :: DISPLAY FREE SPACE BEFORE AND AFTER :: if not exist c:\B4&after goto END ctty nul dir c:\asdfghjk|find "free">>c:\B4&after ctty con type c:\B4&after del c:\B4&after :: :: :END echo. echo ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ ▸ In Windows ME, remove any floppy & press Ctrl-Alt-Delete ║ echo ║ ▸ In Windows 98, type WIN, and press Enter ║ echo ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo. goto EXIT :: :ADD cls echo. echo ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ Lines will be added to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on a:\ to give you the ║ echo ║ the option of running DELINDEX whenever you boot up with the StartUp ║ echo ║ disk. This option is only needed for WinME! DOSKEY is also added. ║ echo ║ For information on DOSKEY, at a DOS prompt, type DOSKEY /? ║ echo ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo. choice /C:cq/N/T:q,99 " Enter C to C(ontinue) or Q to Q(uit): " if errorlevel 2 goto EXIT type a:\autoexec.bat|find "DELINDEX">nul if not errorlevel 1 goto OK cls echo. echo ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ ▸ The Autoexec.bat file on your StartUp disk is being updated. ◂ ║ echo ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo ::******* THE FOLLOWING LINES HAVE BEEN ADDED *******>>a:\autoexec.bat echo ctty nul>>a:\autoexec.bat echo doskey /insert /bufsize=2048>>a:\autoexec.bat echo ctty con>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo.>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo Do you want to run DELINDEX?>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo.>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo Enter Q to Q(uit) if you do NOT want to run DELINDEX>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo Enter Y for Y(es) to run DELINDEX without options>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo Enter M to run with DELINDEX the M(ore) option>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo Enter L to run DELINDEX with the L(ess) option>>a:\autoexec.bat echo echo.>>a:\autoexec.bat echo choice /C:ylmq/N/T:q,99 " Enter Q,Y,M, or L: ">>A:\autoexec.bat echo if errorlevel 4 echo.>>a:\autoexec.bat echo if errorlevel 4 goto NODEL>>a:\autoexec.bat echo if errorlevel 3 c:\delindex.bat more>>a:\autoexec.bat echo if errorlevel 2 if not errorlevel 3 c:\delindex.bat less>>a:\autoexec.bat echo if errorlevel 1 if not errorlevel 2 c:\delindex.bat>>a:\autoexec.bat echo :NODEL>>a:\autoexec.bat cls echo. echo ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ All done! Your StartUp disk has been updated. To run DELINDEX, type ║ echo ║ c:\delindex. To see the changes that were just added, press Ctrl- ║ echo ║ Alt-Delete with the StartUp disk still in drive a\. Pick option 3. ║ echo ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo. goto EXIT :: :OK cls echo. echo ╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ echo ║ Your StartUp disk is already updated. If you booted with your StartUp ║ echo ║ disk, just type c:\delindex at the a:\ prompt. Otherwise, reboot. ║ echo ║ ║ echo ║ REMINDERS: ▸ DELINDEX.BAT must be on c:\, and not in a folder. ▸ You ║ echo ║ MUST boot up with the StartUp disk (WinME) or restart in DOS (Win98). ║ echo ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ echo. :: :: :EXIT

Good job RM.. I will get it from the site.. Col

Just wanted to verify im doing this right..... 1.I dowloaded Delindex.bat and saved it to C:\. 2.I inserted a windows me startup disk and restarted the computer. 3.I chose option 3 to "start windows without cdrom support" when prompted. 4.At the A: prompt i switched to C: and entered "delindex.bat" without the quotes. 5.Delindex.bat was started and gave me several options. I chose M for more and watched Delindex do its work. 6.I was then prompted to remove my floppy and restart the computer. This was very easy to do. Thanks again Renaissance Man. The link below is to the Delindex Download area. Get Delindex Here!

Another Q would be...... Can I place this New Delindex version along WITH the my Old Delindex on C:\ and choose which one to run ? Or, do I have to Delete the Old version first to make the New one work ?

I have the same question as Viking--I want the new one--Do I delete the old version on my hard drive or just leave it?? tnx..

hello ren the file you saved it too was c:\ nothing else for an addy folder name? thx have a nice day