Are these files really "temporary?"

[G.G. Biggar, Jr.]

On a routine basis, I use IE6 to purge Temporary Internet files (i.e.,
Tools|Internet Options). However, when viewing files in Windows Explorer,
shown under Documents and Settings, I see thousands of "temporary" files
(Documents and Settings|my volume name|Local Settings|Temp). There are some
20 folders listed here (most empty), and in excess of 3,000 files.

Should these files be purged routinely?

Thanks in advance.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

On a routine basis, I use IE6 to purge Temporary Internet files (i.e.,
Tools|Internet Options). However, when viewing files in Windows Explorer,
shown under Documents and Settings, I see thousands of "temporary" files
(Documents and Settings|my volume name|Local Settings|Temp). There are some
20 folders listed here (most empty), and in excess of 3,000 files.

Should these files be purged routinely?

Thanks in advance.

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

Yes, they should be purged.

 

[Simon]

Yes, they should be purged.

If you really want to be paranoid, move them to another folder, and if
anything doesn't work as expected next time you restart you can put them
back.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

If you really want to be paranoid, move them to another folder, and if
anything doesn't work as expected next time you restart you can put them
back.

Excellent idea!

 

[G.G. Biggar, Jr.]

I set up another temporary folder (just in case), but the reboot went like
clockwork.

This raises a question: on start-up (re-booting), I am led to believe that
certain files/folders are always activated/executed (e.g., WINNT root folder
| System 32, others?) Are all/some of the files in the Documents and
Settings folder also run on boot-up? This could imply that if I set up a
temporary folder (of to-be-deleted files) within Documents and Settings that
these would get executed, regardless of changed folder name.

Also, I note that in the WINNT | INF folder there are in excess of 1,000
files. Nearly all of them appear to be setup related, and carry older
dates. Can these be deleted? Are there other folders in 2000 Pro that hog
space and should be manually "cleansed" from time to time?

Thanks again for addressing some of these neophyte questions!

Gordon Biggar

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Leave the INF folder alone. If you are short of disk space,
buy a larger hard disk - they are very cheap!

 

[G.G. Biggar, Jr.]

Ah, caught in the act. Actually, I have lots of disk space. I just get
annoyed when unused/unnecessary files build up in number.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Gordon

 

[Michael D. Ober]

I purge any file in my %temp% folder that's more than a week old. On
occassion, you get a poorly coded program that stores "permament" data
there - followed by an uninstall as I figure there is a better solution
elsewhere. My biggest complaint is that IE 4 - 6 don't clean up the
Temporary Internet Files automatically. I have run into more than one
"full" disk (as in no space available) that the Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5 folder had simply grown to consume all the available disk
space.

Mike Ober.

 

[G.G. Biggar, Jr.]

I must have about 400+ files in my Temporary Internet Files folder under
Documents and Settings. These appear to be all cookies. Is there a reason
not to clean this folder out periodically?

Gordon

 

[Gary Smith]

Cookies are not sctually stored in the TIF folder, although they may be
displayed as if they were. You can delete everything in the TIF folder at
any time with no adverse consequence. The easiest way to do this is to go
to Internet Options, General tab, and clicke the "Delete Files" button.
Check to "Delete all offline content" box and then click OK. Doing this
will delete the "Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" folder and all of
its contents.

You can also delete the cookies, but you may want to retain some of them.
Some sites record customization or preferences in cookies and deleting
them would force you to enter the information over again. The cleanest
way to delete cookies selectively is to first clean out the TIF, then go
to Internet Options, General tab, and click the Settings button, then
click the "View Files" button. You'll get a complete list of cookies that
can be deleted individually or in groups.

 

[G.G. Biggar, Jr.]

Many thanks for the inputs. They have come in handy.

Gordon