How to Automatically Delete Index.Dat

The index.dat file is the file that your computer uses to keep a backup copy of your deleted history. What that means is that when you delete your Internet history or computer history, it's not really gone. A copy of that history is stored in the index.dat file. The index.dat file is a hidden file that many people don't even know about. However, people who do know about the file can find the hidden file on your computer and read it with the appropriate file reader. So if you want to make sure that no one can ever view your deleted Internet history, you need to make sure that you keep the index.dat file deleted. Doing so manually can become a tiresome and repetitive process. Luckily, there is a way to automatically delete index.dat every time you turn off your computer without you having to manually do anything. All you have to initially do is set up the appropriate command prompt within your computer.

Things You'll Need

Notepad

Step 1

Open Notepad and input the following code into the document, replacing the segments that say "Your User Name" with your computer username:

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUsername\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Cookies\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\UserData\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Cookies\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat"

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\Local Service\Cookies\index.dat"

This is the command that will instruct your computer to automatically delete index.dat, but you're not done yet, because now you have to configure your computer to do so every time you shut down your computer.

Step 2

Save the Notepad document as "IndexDat.cmd" (Save the document exactly as appears here with the quotations and all because the quotations will prevent Notepad from saving it as IndexDat.cmd.txt).

Step 3

Copy and paste the file you just created to the following folder: C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown.

Step 4

Go to Start>Run, and input "gpedit.msc" (without quotations) into the Run bar.

Step 5

Navigate to the following location: Computer Configuration->Windows Settings->Scripts (Startup/Shutdown).

Step 6

Click on "Shutdown," and then click on "Add." Locate the IndexDat.cmd file you created, and click on it to add it to the "Shutdown" folder. Now every time you turn off your computer, your computer will automatically delete index.dat for you.

Tips

In some computers the operating system is located in the following folder: C:\Winnt\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Shutdown. Therefore, copy the IndexDat.cmd file to that folder if that's where your operating system is located.

Warnings

Beware of making one mistake when typing the code or placing it within the appropriate locations on your computer because the command prompt will not execute correctly if you do.