XP and it's uncleanable 'Temp' file areas

Question

Ok, here goes. I've read all Fred Langa's stuff about cleaning ME, 98, XP, etc, and up until now I've had some success. Cleaning the temp areas using Fred's "Cleanup' utilities has been a breeze, but now in XP I can't get to true DOS's "c: prompt" without windows being active...there apparently is no DOS behind XP. So, my dilemma is windows will not release "index.dat" ".xml" and "ntuser" type files to delete while windows runs, because windows has ownership to them. The same problem I had with ME, but I was able to boot to straight DOS before bringing Windows up and handle it that way. So far I can't see how to do that with XP. Any suggestions?

As an aside, I realize that XP supposedly creates and releases temp storage with the starting and ending of "sessions". Believe me, there is still temp storage left behind not cleaned up...as with any other M/S system.

On a good note, I was able to delete Content.IE5 files in the "local settings" temp folder, but can't get to "index.dat" files.

Not trying to beat a dead horse with this thing, but it's driving me nuts. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jim.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 02-19-2004 10:30 AM

lambo2 · Answer

Shut down your computer, restart then press F8 or F5 for advanced boot options; then choose 'safe' mode with command prompt; log in as Administrator and then from there you can delete them freely without windows preventing it. Just go to the root (c:\) by typing CD\ then type del index.dat /s then enter and all the files names index.dat in your computer willbe deleted permanently.

jimtnc · Answer

Does it have to be the Administrator logon. Can't remember what the password is and how to log on that way.

As I have learned in the past with WinME, these pesky index.dat files can be deleted because when Windows starts and finds them missing, they are recreated. I assume that WinXP does the same thing since XP apparenetly needs these files. Correct?

Also, is it just me or does this message board seem a little less vigorous as it once was? :)

Thanks, Jim.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 02-20-2004 05:50 AM

jimtnc · Answer

Update -

Ok, it is F5 to get to safe mode and then to the c: prompt, and put me right into the "Documents and Settings" folder, which is right where I wanted to be. I executed my little batch app and it worked fine.

However, since I wasn't sure how to logon as Admin, the "Content.IE5, History.IE5, Cookies and index.dat" files are still out there...and full. There are sets of "Temp" and "Temporary Internet Files" for Admin, Default User, and Myname....not to mention C:Windows\Temp, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\systemprofile stuff also. Can all this stuff be deleted with impunity? If you do a start/search on "temp" you'll see all these temp files. So whaddaya think, huh??

Guess I need to get to the Admin level to be successful.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 02-20-2004 10:00 AM

AllynKC · Answer

Have you tried the XP 'Disk Cleanup' option?  Double Click on 'My Computer', right click on the appropriate HD, and select properties.  Select 'Disk Cleanup'.  If this is the first time you've ran this, it can take several minutes to scan.  You can then choose in the results what items you may want to delete.

jimtnc · Answer

the temp files I'm talking about have to be deleted when XP is not running, otherwise XP would have control of these files and not allow the deletion.

And, these temp files eat up quite a bit of storage if not kept under control...because Windows NEVER regains this storage space...ever.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 02-20-2004 09:08 AM

Mortso · Answer

Download the 30 day free trial of Window Washer. You'll have to go through the option to find and check clean Index.dat files. After you run the program, reboot, and the .DAT files will be cleaned.  I use Super Cleaner, myself. It also cleans the .DAT files on reboot.

ke4wkp · Answer

To remove the Index.dat file try the following:

Click Start and Run, type cmd in the Open field, and click OK. Close all running applications. Type cd local settings and press ENTER. Type cd temporary internet files and press ENTER. Type content.ie5 and press ENTER. In Windows, open the Task Manager by pressing CTRL-ALT-DELETE, select the Processes tab, right-click EXPLORER.EXE under Image Name,
and select End Process. The only thing open at this point should be your Command Prompt window (keep in mind that the window title will match the directory you’re currently in). Type del index.dat and press ENTER. Close the Command Prompt window. Now that you’re back in Windows, press CTRL-ALT-DELETE, select the Applications tab, click the New Task button, type explorer, and click OK. this restarts Windows Explorer.

Dell Inspiron 8100 1000Mhz A15
512MB Ram Win XP Home SP1
Nvidia GeForce2 Go 32MB

"And then one day you find ten
years have got behind you. No
one told you when to run, you
missed the starting gun."

Jason98036 · Answer

jimtnc,

XP is much better at managing these types of files than were older versions of Windows. Did you try the Disk Cleanup mentioned in AllynKC's post? What directory are you attempting to clean? I've been searching my hard drive, and do not see any temp files that XP can't cleanup on its own (I do use a cookie manager to keep those under control, and have an MRU cleaner than runs once each session).

jimtnc · Answer

Thanks ke4wkp, I'll try your process. You seem to be familiar with what I'm trying to achieve with these pesky content and index files. I do have a question about your instructions. When you say to "type" so-and-so, don't you mean to type the complete address (ie, c:\windows\temp...), or did I miss something?

BTW, couldn't I just as well setup a batch program in C: to clean these guys at the point when the only thing open is the command prompt window? I've been writing batch progs for Win98 and WinME to cleanup (with the help of F.Langa) all these files I've been discussing. I tried this clean process w/XP by going to F5/Safe mode, get the c: prompt and execute the prog. I'll see if your process is a little slicker.

Also, just a note: the M/S cleanup mgr doesn't appear to clean out the Windows\Temp\History, \Cookies, \Temporary Internet Files, etc. temp files, so I will have to set up del strings for them too. Just like WinME.

Thanks, Jim.

Message Edited by jimtnc on 02-23-2004 07:15 AM

jimtnc · Answer

All good ideas and thoughts. Not sure how some of these commercial apps could clean the Index.dat, Content.IE5, etc. files when Windows still has control of them, but maybe I missed something.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the contributing input.

Jim.

Mortso · Answer

jimtnc-- both WW and Super Cleaner clean the .DAT files on bootup (I assume before windows loads).  WW's option to clean the .DAT files is sort of hidden in options, if I remember correctly. Super Cleaner is more straight forward and user friendly.

jimtnc · Answer

Ok, cleaning on bootup makes sense...I missed that earlier. I'll look into those cleaning apps. Don't know if their gonna clean any better than I can do with my little batch programs and MS-supplied apps, but I'll look.

ke4wkp · Answer

Sorry I havent replied earlier CD is a dos command for change directory so type CD then a space and then the directory name just as the directions indicate. I also just did a search at kellys corner and it appears she has a program to remove index.dat files about halfway down the page on the left hand side. I have never used it, But Kelly puts out some good tweeks.

Kellys Korner XP Tweeks

Dell Inspiron 8100 1000Mhz A15
512MB Ram Win XP Home SP1
Nvidia GeForce2 Go 32MB v44.82

"And then one day you find ten
years have got behind you. No
one told you when to run, you
missed the starting gun."

Windows General

XP and it's uncleanable "Temp" file areas

Was this post helpful?