Deleting index.dat
It's not possible to delete the index.dat file directly.
1. Instead rename the "Content.IE5" folder to a different name like "old". (On my WM 2003 device found at Windows/Profiles/guest/Temporary Internet Files)
2. Reset your device.
3. Go back to the "Content.IE5" folder which the OS has automatically recreated during the reset. Notice the folder that was renamed "old" and delete it. The "old" folder contains the old bloated index.dat file that is safe to and can be deleted. The new index.dat file is significantly smaller. I haven't encountered any problems after deleting this folder and file on WM 2003 but just for safe measure you should back up first. I haven't had any experience with 2003 SE or WM 5 so I don't know the results on those versions.
I've seen my index.dat file get to be almost 1MB! It inevitably will bloat again but I just go back and delete it occasionally. The same procedure can be used on the "History" folder which contains history.dat.
I tried using Pocket Mechanic's Temporary file cleaning utility. While it works on regular temporary Pocket IE files it can't clean out the .dat files.
Please let me know if anyone knows of a utility that cleans .dat files within the Temporary Internet Files folder.
|