Indexdat scanner http://www.extramile.ro/ is a good utility which lets you see what it holds.

I usually boot to DOS and delete those files manually.

after booting to dos, how and where would you delete these files from? Sorry for basic quetions, very noob to this.

Boot to dos and type this

cd windows

deltree /y cookies
deltree /y history
deltree /y tempor~1

and if you want you can delete your swap file by typing


Welcome to the site!

C# code to delete the Index.dat file shown below

it's very hit and miss which seems to be a timing isue but the deal is you need to set the attributes on the 'Special Folder' and the file before you try to delete it and thats after you have killed explorer that locks the files.

MS is doing all it can to stay freinds with the CIA!

int DeletedCount = 0;
int CouldNotDelete = 0;
KillExplorer();
foreach (string DatFile in DatFiles)
{//Do not put break point or step into the code else explorer will start and the file will become locked again
DirectoryInfo DInfo=new DirectoryInfo(DatFile.Replace("index.dat",""));
FileAttributes OldDirAttrib = DInfo.Attributes;
DInfo.Attributes = FileAttributes.Normal;//Set to normal else can not delete
FileInfo FInfo = new FileInfo(DatFile);
FileAttributes OldFileAttrib = FInfo.Attributes;
SetAttr(FInfo, FileAttributes.Normal);
TryDelete(FInfo);
SetAttr(FInfo, OldFileAttrib);//Sets back to Hidden,system,directory,notcontentindexed
if (File.Exists(DatFile))
CouldNotDelete++;
else
DeletedCount++;

}
if (DatFiles.Count>0)//Lets get explorer running again
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(DatFiles[DatFiles.Count - 1].Replace("index.dat", ""));
else
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("explorer");
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Deleted " + DeletedCount + " Index.dat files with " + CouldNotDelete + " Errors");


return "Deleted " + DeleteFileCount + " Files ";
}

private void KillExplorer()
{
foreach (Process P in Process.GetProcesses())
{//Kill both these process because these are the ones locking the files
if (P.ProcessName.ToLower() == "explorer")
P.Kill();
if (P.ProcessName.ToLower() == "iexplore")
P.Kill();
}
}

private bool TryDelete(FileInfo Info)
{
try
{
Info.Delete();
return true;
}
catch
{return false;}
}

private void SetAttr(FileInfo Info,FileAttributes Attr)
{
try
{
Info.Attributes = Attr;
}
catch { }
}