The Internet Explorer Index.dat File in the History Folder May Become Very Large (322916)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 2000
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
This article was previously published under Q322916 SYMPTOMS
The Internet Explorer Index.dat file in the History folder may become very large over time.
CAUSE
The Index.dat file is never resized or deleted. Clearing the Internet Explorer history by clicking the Clear History button on the General tab in the Internet Options dialog box does not change the size of the Index.dat file. Also, setting the Days to keep pages in history value to 0 (zero) on the General tab does not change the size of the Index.dat file.
The pre-allocated space in the Index.dat file increases Internet Explorer performance.
WORKAROUND
If the History folder becomes very large, it may cause reduced network performance if the folder is included as part of a roaming profile. A large History folder may also use a significant part of your profile quota. By default, the History folder is not included as part of a roaming profile in Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information about how to exclude the History folder from roaming profiles in Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft Windows 98, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
188692 How to Prevent Certain Folders from Uploading to Central Profile
STATUSMicrosoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. MORE INFORMATION
This problem does not occur with the Temporary Internet Files folder.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 11/26/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbprb KB322916 |
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