deleted index files

Question

used ccleaner. Unchecked {delete index files}..dummmy!!!!!!   It said it would take place next time computer restarts. Scared me so I uninstalled ccleaner. Will that stop the process or can I use system restore? There is no option to undo this move in the ccleaner. Thanks   8300 xp

zbestwun2001 · Answer

I don't know if it will stop it from happening, probobly not.

...here are some directions for using CCleaner.

Download and scan with CCleaner
Select the BASIC version. HERE
1. Before first use, select Options > Advanced and UNCHECK " Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours"
2. Then select the items you wish to clean up.
In the Windows Tab:
o Clean all entries in the "Internet Explorer" section except Cookies.
o Clean all the entries in the "Windows Explorer" section.
o Clean all entries in the "System" section.
o Clean all entries in the "Advanced" section.
o Clean any others that you choose.
In the Applications Tab:
o Clean all except cookies in the Firefox/Mozilla section if you use it.
o Clean all in the Opera section if you use it.
o Clean Sun Java in the Internet Section.
o Clean any others that you choose.
3. Click the " Run Cleaner" button.
4. A pop up box will appear advising this process will permanently delete files from your system.
5. Click " OK" and it will scan and clean your system.
6. Click " exit" when done.
REBOOT.

You should be fine.

zb1

mombodog · Answer

Deleting Index.dat files is Ok, windows will replace them with empty ones. These files store data about your browsing history, cookies, that you have erased ( or so you think), ect. The only way to truly erase these tracks.

zbestwun2001 · Answer

Thanks mombodog for the info. zb1

trailrated1 · Answer

Some XP users have  mentioned quirks after cleaning them on other boards but i personally have never had a problem and have been using it for a long time.

zbestwun2001 · Answer

Yes I know that's why we made up those instructions. It avoids falling into that quirky area. zb1

delta7000 · Answer

I've been cleaning my index.dat files manually for a long time and never had a problem. However, there is one index.dat file that should not be cleaned. It's located at C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\OFFLINECACHE. Before I clean them I make this file a read-only file. The correct size is 78KB. Windows does replace it but with a different size file that is larger. If the original file is deleted, it adversely effects the Help and Support services for Dell computers. I don't know what effect it has with other brands. If it does get deleted there is a way to restore the original file.   Some other interesting observations. With the download of IE7 Windows now considers index.dat files as protected operating system files, (accept for the one I mentioned above), and hides  them even with the 'show hidden files and folders' checked. You can see them by unchecking 'hide protected  operating system files' Message Edited by delta7000 on 12-23-200607:52 PM

joe53 · Answer

delta7000 wrote:

I've been cleaning my index.dat files manually for a long time and never had a problem. However, there is one index.dat file that should not be cleaned. It's located at C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\OFFLINECACHE. Before I clean them I make this file a read-only file. The correct size is 78KB. Windows does replace it but with a different size file that is larger. If the original file is deleted, it adversely effects the Help and Support services for Dell computers. I don't know what effect it has with other brands. If it does get deleted there is a way to restore the original file.

Are you sure about that 78KB size? Mine is 88KB, and Help and Support works, but seems to take a long time to load. I thought it was related to IE7 which I recently installed. Can you give a link to restoring the original file?

I note that the current version of CCleaner now only deletes the following index.dat files:
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat

However the previous version of CCleaner was more aggressive in deleting index.dat files, and I'm just wondering if it might have deleted that one also.

delta7000 · Answer

Hi Joe. Did you forget the advice you gave a while back? I know because it happened to me.LOL   http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=44400#M44400   Anyways, you might want to read through the following thread for more info on the problem it causes by deleting that certain index.dat file.   http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=138744&query.id=1273068#M138744     The important part is the file needs to be copied from another Dell computer.This is what I did. I went to my brothers house and copied his file and sent it to myself. I then replaced the file that windows created with his 78KB file. All problems were fixed. It does not contain any info from the computer it was copied from. I also saved the email should  I delete it again by mistake. Message Edited by delta7000 on 12-24-200610:51 AM

joe53 · Answer

Hi Delta:

Shoot, I usually can't remember what I had for breakfast but that advice I do recall. I just looked at your links, and am not experiencing the problems with msinfo they note. Plus the properties of that index.dat show it has not been modified since my OS install, so I guess it's the original.

I normally use Index.dat Suite for a more thorough cleaning of those index.dat files, but it specifically red-flags and unchecks by default that particular PCHealth file. From that site:

Q. I accidentally deleted the PCHEALTH index.dat file, what do I do?
A. The facility that this file provides, can be restored by going to Start > Run, and entering the

following- then clicking OK.

msinfo32 /categories +all -loadedmodules

I can't vouch for this fix though.

kennymack · Answer

followed your advive. everythings ok now. thanks. {yesterdays advice}

msgale · Answer

I hate to 'rain on a parade', but I just check  two of my  Dell PCs.  On the PWS 530 Windows XP/SP2 loaded from retail CD the file (index.dat in \WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\OfflineCache) is 86,327 bytes long and on the PE 1600SC Windows Server 2003/SP1 Enterprise Edition loaded from retail CD the file is 29,667 bytes long.

zbestwun2001 · Answer

Better get an umbrella. zb1

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