question about IE Temporary Internet Files

[Tim.T]

I use Firefox 3 and hardly EVER use Internet Explorer. So I don't understand
why, no
matter how infrequently I use IE, I find megabytes of files stored in the
'Temporary Internet Files' folder during a disk cleanup. The last time it
happened I found 38mb of files, despite the fact that in the previous
internet sessions I didn't use IE once. Maybe I'm stupid, but
I thought a browser only downloads files from sites you're actually
browsing;
when I check these files I don't recognise any of them. A lot of them are
0kb in size,
have weird names and filetypes like "Status[number].3-digit number".
An example: "Status[4].017".

As I recall, Firefox organises its cache differently and doesn't use the
'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\' folder, so why are these files continuing to pile
up on my hard drive when I don't even use IE?Where are they coming from? All
I use to browse the 'Net is Firefox.

Cheers,
Tim

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 9/12/2008 3:45 PM, and on a whim, Tim.T pounded
out on the keyboard:

I use Firefox 3 and hardly EVER use Internet Explorer. So I don't understand
why, no
matter how infrequently I use IE, I find megabytes of files stored in the
'Temporary Internet Files' folder during a disk cleanup. The last time it
happened I found 38mb of files, despite the fact that in the previous
internet sessions I didn't use IE once. Maybe I'm stupid, but
I thought a browser only downloads files from sites you're actually
browsing;
when I check these files I don't recognise any of them. A lot of them are
0kb in size,
have weird names and filetypes like "Status[number].3-digit number".
An example: "Status[4].017".

As I recall, Firefox organises its cache differently and doesn't use the
'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\' folder, so why are these files continuing to pile
up on my hard drive when I don't even use IE?Where are they coming from? All
I use to browse the 'Net is Firefox.

Cheers,
Tim

Hi Tim,

Do you use IETab in FF? If so, that's where it's coming from, since the
IE engine runs within FF. You could also reduce the cache to it's
minimum size.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

IE and Windows are conjoined at the hip: If you're running Windows, you're
using IE.

I thought a browser only downloads files from sites you're actually
browsing;

The folder is named Temporary Internet Files, not Temporary Internet
*Explorer* Files.

...A lot of them are 0kb in size

Outlook Express (which you used to post here) creates one of these files for
every message opened, and every time it's opened. These files are ONLY
deleted when you (1) delete Temporary Internet Files (IE Tools | Internet
Options | General | Temporary Internet Files | Delete...) and (2) accept the
prompt to delete all offline content.

Here's what you SHOULD be worried about: Your post's headers (Microsoft
Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106) tell us that the machine is running WinXP
SP1 and has not been patched in well over 6 years. It is vulnerable to TENS
OF THOUSANDS of exploits and is not safe to use online or be connected to
the internet or any networks!

PS: If your OE housekeeping as bad as your IE & Windows housekeeping, I hope
for your sake that you maintain regular backups!
--
IE-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

I use Firefox 3 and hardly EVER use Internet Explorer. So I don't
understand
why, no
matter how infrequently I use IE, I find megabytes of files stored in the
'Temporary Internet Files' folder during a disk cleanup. The last time it
happened I found 38mb of files, despite the fact that in the previous
internet sessions I didn't use IE once. Maybe I'm stupid, but
I thought a browser only downloads files from sites you're actually
browsing;
when I check these files I don't recognise any of them. A lot of them are
0kb in size,
have weird names and filetypes like "Status[number].3-digit number".
An example: "Status[4].017".

As I recall, Firefox organises its cache differently and doesn't use the
'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\' folder, so why are these files continuing to pile
up on my hard drive when I don't even use IE?Where are they coming from?
All
I use to browse the 'Net is Firefox.

Cheers,
Tim