Deleting Temporary Internet Files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bozena
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Bozena

On my WinXP Pro laptop, why is it when I go into:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

and delete all of the Temporary Internet Files, the folder still shows a 291 MB file size,
the same as before?

Thanks!
Scott
 
Bozena said:
On my WinXP Pro laptop, why is it when I go into:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files

and delete all of the Temporary Internet Files, the folder still shows a
291 MB file size,
the same as before?

Thanks!
Scott
Click to expand...


Open that folder again. Now click in the address bar at the top of the
window and add \Content.IE5 so that the entry looks like this.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5

You should see a number of folder with random alphanumeric names. Select all
and see if the total size is near 291 MBs. To clean up the contents of this
folder you need to use Internet Options or a program like CCleaner.

On as side note, I hope you're not using the Administrator account as your
everyday account. That account is best left only for emergency situations.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Open that folder again. Now click in the address bar at the top of the
window and add \Content.IE5 so that the entry looks like this.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5

You should see a number of folder with random alphanumeric names. Select all
and see if the total size is near 291 MBs. To clean up the contents of this
folder you need to use Internet Options or a program like CCleaner.

On as side note, I hope you're not using the Administrator account as your
everyday account. That account is best left only for emergency situations.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
Click to expand...
Is this the reason why - when I tried to use fsutil.exe recently - the
CMD box reported "fsutil not recognised as a command etc" ?

I have never used an Administration account since I bought the
computer in 2002 or so





Richard from London UK -- (e-mail address removed)
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk
 
Is this the reason why - when I tried to use fsutil.exe recently - the
CMD box reported "fsutil not recognised as a command etc" ?

I have never used an Administration account since I bought the
computer in 2002 or so

Richard from London UK -- (e-mail address removed)
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennelshttp://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhoundswww.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk
Click to expand...

If you get that message when trying to run fsutil, the PATH variable
is wrong (most likely), fsutil.exe is not on your system or fsutil.exe
is broken.

See if fsutil.exe will run from the c:\windows\system32 folder. If
yes, type path <enter> in the command window to see if c:\windows
\system32 is listed. If it is missing, add it by right clicking My
Computer, Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables and look at the
value of PATH in system variables. Edit it to (I would) put c:\windows
\system32 in the very front to make searches start there first. To be
100% sure the changes are correct and stick, reboot and test.
 
If you get that message when trying to run fsutil, the PATH variable
is wrong (most likely), fsutil.exe is not on your system or fsutil.exe
is broken.

See if fsutil.exe will run from the c:\windows\system32 folder. If
yes, type path <enter> in the command window to see if c:\windows
\system32 is listed. If it is missing, add it by right clicking My
Computer, Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables and look at the
value of PATH in system variables. Edit it to (I would) put c:\windows
\system32 in the very front to make searches start there first. To be
100% sure the changes are correct and stick, reboot and test.
Click to expand...

Interesting

My HP XP pro computer defaults to Hp administrator> and runs fsutil/?
from there.

My HP XP home defaults to Owner> and no access to fsutil.exe at all -
I temporarily changed to C:\WINDOWS\system32> and fsutil/? gives the
same command list - so is running properly.

However the original purpose was for me to find why my XP Home
regularly reports "hard disk inconsistencies" and then runs CHKDSK
which virtually never reports or fixes any errors - all usually "0 bad
sectors" reported.

However it does on very rare occasions find and reports and FIXES an
error - so CHKDSK is set to /f and working

So why the "inconsistencies" ? The hard drive is a new drive - the
info cloned and verified by Acronis. The new drive replaced the old
drive - but "hard disk inconsistencies" persist.

A memory problem perhaps?

Another separate question - what is the significance of the various
folders and files coloured blue? - only just noticed them.
Richard from London UK -- (e-mail address removed)
Bambi,Beauty,Brian(Brutus 77-97 Bessie 87-01 Ben 95-06 @ RB)
Greyhounds are for life not just for racing!!
Whittingham Homefinding Scheme
Visit our Kennels
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greyhounds
www.whittinghamretiredgreyhounds.co.uk
 
Bozena said:
On my WinXP Pro laptop, why is it when I go into:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet Files
and delete all of the Temporary Internet Files, the folder still
shows a 291 MB file size, the same as before?

Thanks!
Scott
Click to expand...

Neglecting the off-topic/hijacking bozos here, that's probably normal
and would be born out by Nepatsfan's post if you wish to do so.

Files "in use" cannot be deleted. You probably have that much in files
in use in the temp folder; they haven 't been closed yet. Not unusual.
An easy way to tell is to go look at them and see if they all have
today's date. Anything earlier than today usually is sure to be
deleteable unless you haven't rebooted the computer in a long time. A
Restart will release all of them.

The best time to clear out the most files is immediately after a Restart
or Start Up, before any programs get to create any temporary files;
files they use as sort of scratch pads.

I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. It IS possible
for some files to live "in use" for longer than a day also. Even though
a Restart clears them, or should anyway, you may have some background
task making some of them. Lots of dependencies.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
Bozena said:
On my WinXP Pro laptop, why is it when I go into:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files

and delete all of the Temporary Internet Files, the folder still shows a
291 MB file size,
the same as before?

Thanks!
Scott
Click to expand...

Hi Scott,

I see 2 problems, the most troublesome is the word "Administrator" above. It
is dangerous to access the internet while logged onto your computer with the
special Administrator account, or with a user account with administrative
privileges, since any trojan or other malware that gets into your system can
totally mess up anything. Here is the quote from Windows XP help:

[begin quote:]
:( Why you should not run your computer as an administrator

:( Running Windows 2000 or Windows XP as an administrator makes the
:( system vulnerable to Trojan horses and other security risks. The
:( simple act of visiting an Internet site can be extremely damaging to
:( the system. An unfamiliar Internet site may have Trojan horse code
:( that can be downloaded to the system and executed. If you are logged
:( on with administrator privileges, a Trojan horse could do things
:( like reformat your hard drive, delete all your files, create a new
:( user account with administrative access, and so on.

:( You should add yourself to the Users or Power Users group. When you
:( log on as a member of the Users group, you can perform routine
:( tasks, including running programs and visiting Internet sites,
:( without exposing your computer to unnecessary risk. As a member of
:( the Power Users group, you can perform routine tasks and you can
:( also install programs, add printers, and use most Control Panel items.
:( If you need to perform administrative tasks, such as upgrading the
:( operating system or configuring system parameters, then log off and
:( log back on as an administrator.

:( If you frequently need to log on as an administrator, you can use
:( the runas command to start programs as an administrator. For more
:( information, see To start programs as an administrator.
[:end quote]

Besides Control Panel> User Accounts
there is also
Start> Run> control userpasswords2

Second, the Temporary Internet Files folder is not an ordinary folder, but a
System folder, which uses a special "index.dat" for keeping track of extra
information on the files, like the URL (internet address) the file is
associated with. That "Local Settings" folder in the path above is a HIDDEN
folder for good reason. If you need to delete the temporary files, it is
best to use the Internet Options "Delete Files" button, or use the Windows
"Disk Cleanup" utility, found at:
Start> (all)Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Cleanup

FWIW. (For What It's Worth. :)
--Richard
 
Temporary Internet Files folder is one of those "special" Window's folders that do
not conform to the usual rules.

The files you think you can "see" within the Temp Inet Files folder are not really
within that folder, but (as "Twain" pointed out) are really in a hidden sub-folder
from it :

Temp Inet Files\Content.IE5\GXYL0FC7

...although I have quoted the name "GXYL0FC7" here they are randomly generated folder
names and there can be quite a few multiples-of-four of them within the hidden folder
"Content.IE5"

The file-list that you actually do "see", is virtually generated by a file called
"index.dat" again, within "Content.IE5"

When you delete or 'clear' your Temporary Internet Files cache quite often this
file-list does not get refreshed, but the only files to remain in reality is the
"index.dat" file (...and just a few other files used by "local" .htm-reading
applications such as WMP11).


To check all this; if you look at the total disk space used before you clear the
cache by looking in the system-drive's 'Properties' (right-click on [C:] and choose
'Properties').

Then, clear the cache and look at the used and unused values again. - You will see
the correct difference.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
I can't say how sorry I am about that - I meant it to be respectful as Twayne had
mentioned this idea himself and I wanted to give a "nod" to him.

It was a lapse - sorry Twayne...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Tim Meddick said:
I can't say how sorry I am about that - I meant it to be respectful as Twayne had
mentioned this idea himself and I wanted to give a "nod" to him.

It was a lapse - sorry Twayne...
Click to expand...

I believe that you've done it before... that's why I jumped in. You're
an old fogie (so am I), but even an old fogie has to eventually toe
the line ;-)
 
I mis-spelt Robear's name as "Robert" once and he corrected me in short time - but to
my knowledge I have not done this to Twayne before.

However, point taken, I shall endeavour to be a lot more diligent in the future...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Tim Meddick said:
I mis-spelt Robear's name as "Robert" once and he corrected me in short time - but to
my knowledge I have not done this to Twayne before.

However, point taken, I shall endeavour to be a lot more diligent in the future...
Click to expand...

At least you finally learned how to reply to the correct person! ;-)
 
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