Excel Lockout for editing

[jlynnala]

I have an index.dat file that is extremely large and growing. It is located in the temporary internet files portion of Windows/Temp. I want to clear the file but when I access it I get a dialogue box that says this is a read only file and is locked out by "another user" for editing.

So how can I unlock this file so that I may clear its contents???

[Murray S.]

Howdy:

Download and run a program called Cleanup !! Works as good as or better than CCleaner and is safer!!

Murray

[jlynnala]

Thank you for the tip. I downloaded and executed CleanUp and it certainly did clean up a bunch of stuff. But unfortunately the index.dat file in IE5 still remains and the dialogue comes up that says it is read only and locked out for editing. Don't know how it got locked out or by whom but I suspect that is why CleanUp will not delete it. I am running Windows 98 SE if that will provide a clue as to how I can unlock this thing and delete it.

[Miz]

Click Here to open a page with instructions on how to get rid of the index.dat file.

[jlynnala]

That sounds like the exact thing I need. Unfortunately, I have no MS-Dos
background and in order for me to delete the file index.dat somehow I need to do it by deleting it at the command line. Since I don't know how to do that I need a step by step instruction on accomplishing that. The Unlocker routine mentioned in the item doesn't work on Windows 98 SE but only on Windows 2000 or later. Can you help me with the MS-Dos problem??

[Murray S.]

The index.dat file was removed but, the second you opened another IE window, it is enabled again..

Nothing you can do about that as it can be cleaned and removed but will be replaced the second you got back online!!!

Murray

[jlynnala]

Thank you for the info. It did like you say so it is a matter of timing. I cleaned it up and I really appreciate it.

Thanks again
John Lynn

[jlynnala]

Well I have just found out why the file index.dat was not deleted after using Cleanup and restarting. It is because there are multiple users on the machine and evidently that file is configured somehow to another user. My question now is how can I find out which user has the file and how can I change it so that the file will be deleted?? This is probably not an Excel question but is clearly related.

Would appreciate any guidance.
John Lynn

[renegade600]

go into admin mode and remove it, however, you will never actually delete the file, just the info in it.

[jlynnala]

Thanks for the tip. However I am running Windows 98 SE and do not know how to go into "admin mode". So how do I do that??

jlynnala

[jlynnala]

The reason that Cleanup cannot delete the index.dat file is that the IE cache is configured to another user. There are two users of this machine and the second user cannot remember his password. When I go to change his password it asks for the old one which we don't know what it is. So how do I change it or how do I find out what the old one is?? If we sign on under his user name and password and then run Cleanup I think the file will be deleted. At least I hope so. So can someone help me??

[Murray S.]

Sorry, but Win98SE does NOT have the level of security you are talking about !!! Is this a home based system or a work system that is tied to a network??

Murray

[jlynnala]

It is home-based. Not networked.
jlynnala

[Murray S.]

When you opened Cleanup, did you check the options to make sure "Cleanup ALL Users" was checked??

As for the password request in Win98SE, just click "Cancel" when their username is showing.. You will log right in.. As I said earlier, Win98SE security is non-existant!!!

Murray