index.dat files on Windows 98

[imsoconfused]

I have been trying to empty the index.dat file and make them unhidden. I've been playing around in DOS following instructions I got on a couple of websites.

But I noticed that even after I emptied the index.dat file. When I looked it up (C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat) and clicked on Properties it still showed something like 130K+ bytes. Is that normal?

I also tried to make it unhidden. How do I know if I was successful?



On an unrelated topic, I notice that when I go into my internet Favorites folders, it is automatically alphabetizing the contents of each folder instead of showing the most recent one last. How do correct this?

 

[BrokenAtari]

go into command promt type dir/w /o (then file name include c:\)
that shold show you every thing.
(unless its a master boot recored virus)

 

[imsoconfused]

I just want to know if I emptied the index.dat file.

 

[Zaki]

are those files actually harmful or are they just there?

 

[imsoconfused]

What's the difference? I don't want them there.