Cookie Removal

D

David

I have XP/Pro SP2 on my workstation. My used name (David) has
administrative priviledges.

One of my backups is a data only backup onto a USB drive using a DOS
BATCH file & XCOPY

I have tried to restrict all but desireable cookies from invading my
workstation. I've changed the Internet Options (Control Panel) and
the cookie rules in the various browsers I use. Apparently I've been
successful here. However, there seems to be one place I can not stop
cookies & temp internet files from being saved on my workstation. I'm
not sure, but its possible they are arriving through the use of
various other applications that insist on using IE for internet
access.

This is where the cookies are being saved (My user name is David):

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

I have tried everything I can think of by adjusting the setup in
various appplications without success. Since I can't stop the
cookies, my thought is that I might be able to automate their
deletion. As I said, my data backup uses a DOS batch file and XCOPY.
I have thought of inserting a DOS DELETE command into that batch file
to delete the contents of the above directory. I've tried this
without success. With the appropriate delete command, the batch file
generates no error messages. However, XP/Pro apparently ignores the
delete command because the temp internet files & cookies don't get
deleted.

I can use Windows Explorer and manually delete the stuff. But, I
can't figure out how to do it automatically.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

David
 
T

Twayne

David said:
I have XP/Pro SP2 on my workstation. My used name (David) has
administrative priviledges.

One of my backups is a data only backup onto a USB drive using a DOS
BATCH file & XCOPY

I have tried to restrict all but desireable cookies from invading my
workstation. I've changed the Internet Options (Control Panel) and
the cookie rules in the various browsers I use. Apparently I've been
successful here. However, there seems to be one place I can not stop
cookies & temp internet files from being saved on my workstation. I'm
not sure, but its possible they are arriving through the use of
various other applications that insist on using IE for internet
access.

This is where the cookies are being saved (My user name is David):

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

I have tried everything I can think of by adjusting the setup in
various appplications without success. Since I can't stop the
cookies, my thought is that I might be able to automate their
deletion. As I said, my data backup uses a DOS batch file and XCOPY.
I have thought of inserting a DOS DELETE command into that batch file
to delete the contents of the above directory. I've tried this
without success. With the appropriate delete command, the batch file
generates no error messages. However, XP/Pro apparently ignores the
delete command because the temp internet files & cookies don't get
deleted.

I can use Windows Explorer and manually delete the stuff. But, I
can't figure out how to do it automatically.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

David

You're kind of hard to follow, but

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\David\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet\*"<space>/s RET
should pretty well take care of it I'd think. Or you could just CD to
the exact folder and then issue a del * followed by a del *.* probably.
It's better to use the full path though. XP will execute it fine in a
batch file.

Twayne`
 
J

Jose

I have XP/Pro SP2 on my workstation.  My used name (David) has
administrative priviledges.

One of my backups is a data only backup onto a USB drive using a DOS
BATCH file & XCOPY

I have tried to restrict all but desireable cookies from invading my
workstation.  I've changed the Internet Options (Control Panel) and
the cookie rules in the various browsers I use.  Apparently I've been
successful here.  However, there seems to be one place I can not stop
cookies & temp internet files from being saved on my workstation.  I'm
not sure, but its possible they are arriving through the use of
various other applications that insist on using IE for internet
access.

This is where the cookies are being saved (My user name is David):

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

I have tried everything I can think of by adjusting the setup in
various appplications without success.  Since I can't stop the
cookies, my thought is that I might be able to automate their
deletion.  As I said, my data backup uses a DOS batch file and XCOPY.
I have thought of inserting a DOS DELETE command into that batch file
to delete the contents  of the above directory.  I've tried this
without success.  With the appropriate delete command, the batch file
generates no error messages.  However, XP/Pro apparently ignores the
delete command because the temp internet files & cookies don't get
deleted.

I can use Windows Explorer and manually delete the stuff.  But, I
can't figure out how to do it automatically.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

David

Think like a batch file, not Windows Explorer

Get to a command prompt and first get a DIR command to work the way
you want.

Change DIR to DEL and your're all set.

Jose
 
D

David

You're kind of hard to follow, but

Del "C:\Documents and Settings\David\Local Settings\Temporary
Internet\*"<space>/s RET
should pretty well take care of it I'd think. Or you could just CD to
the exact folder and then issue a del * followed by a del *.* probably.
It's better to use the full path though. XP will execute it fine in a
batch file.

Twayne`

I tried as you suggested - exactly, but it did not work. It turns out
the Temporary Internet Files directory has some hidden
sub-directories. The command you suggested did clean these out.

However, using Windows Explorer, a large number of .jpg files can be
seen. These files WERE NOT removed using your command. I can get rid
of them by highlighting them within Windows Explorer & hitting DEL -
the same procedure as I use to delete any other file.

Even more interesting: I used START->RUN & opened a DOS window using
CMD. I then used CD to move to the TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES
directory. The dir command WILL NOT DISPLAY the .jpg files, but
Windows Explorer will. I suppose you must be able to see them to
delete them. Probably why the DOS batch file will not delete the
files.

Right now, probably the best question is why DIR will not display
files within the Temporary Internet Files directory?

David
 
T

Tim Meddick

David,
Cookies are NOT located in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder,
although they do 'appear' to be but what you are seeing is an indexed list
made up of files that are in other locations.

The Temporary Internet Files are actually located in alphanumerically named
sub-directories within the folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"

The Cookies are actually stored in folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

....so your batch file should point to this folder. e.g.


@echo off
del "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies\*.txt"


However, though the cookies are actually gone they may well still show
up in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder as I said - it's only an indexed
list.

But you can double check what I've said. If you delete the cookies out
of the "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" folder and then try to open one in the Temp
Inet Files folder it won't open.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
A

Al Falfa

David said:
... Temporary Internet Files directory has some hidden sub-directories.
... using Windows Explorer, a large number of .jpg files can be seen...
I can get rid of them by highlighting them within Windows Explorer &
hitting DEL ... I used START->RUN & opened a DOS window using CMD.
I then used CD to move to the TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES directory.
The dir command WILL NOT DISPLAY the .jpg files, but Windows Explorer
will... why DIR will not display files within the Temporary Internet Files
directory?

David,
Look in "Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" instead.
To delete all folders/files in there, use:
RD "%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" /S /Q > NUL

To delete all cookies, use:
RD "%UserProfile%\Cookies" /S /Q > NUL

XP will recreate those folders as needed.
You may need to close all instances of Internet Explorer first.
 
D

David

David,
Look in "Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" instead.
To delete all folders/files in there, use:
RD "%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5" /S /Q > NUL

To delete all cookies, use:
RD "%UserProfile%\Cookies" /S /Q > NUL

XP will recreate those folders as needed.
You may need to close all instances of Internet Explorer first.

I would like to try this. However, the Content.IE5 directory does not
exist. Come to think of it, I've not seen it for quite a while. The
only child directory under Temporary Internet Files is a hidden
directory: AntiPhishing seen only in a DOS window using DIR

Temporary Internet Files directory apparently also has Read/Only &
Hidden turned on. Even with administrative privlidges, this can not
be changed.

I am assuming the %UserProfile% translates to
C:\Documents and Settings\David Where David is the currently
logged in user.
 
D

David

David,
Cookies are NOT located in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder,
although they do 'appear' to be but what you are seeing is an indexed list
made up of files that are in other locations.

The Temporary Internet Files are actually located in alphanumerically named
sub-directories within the folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"

The Cookies are actually stored in folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

...so your batch file should point to this folder. e.g.


@echo off
del "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies\*.txt"


However, though the cookies are actually gone they may well still show
up in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder as I said - it's only an indexed
list.

But you can double check what I've said. If you delete the cookies out
of the "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" folder and then try to open one in the Temp
Inet Files folder it won't open.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
Tim:
I currently have IE7 installed. As I use Firefox exclusively, I have
gone into Internet Options and totally disabled cookies in IE.
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" is empty except for index.dat

As you suggested, I tried to open a file in Temporary Internet Files.
XP responded by giving me a message saying that it might be dangerous
to run a system command on the file I was trying to open. Being the
cautious type, I canceled the command to open the file.

I have assumed %USERPROFILE% expands to C:\Documents and
Settings\David where David is the current user. Correct?

The Content.IE5 directory and its sub-directories do not exist. They
have been gone for as long as I can remember. Since cookies can not
be stored in a directory that does not exist, the indexed list in
Temporary Internet Files seemes to me meaningless.

I don't know where Firefox stores its cookies. but I don't think its
in "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies". The only time I really recall the indexed
entries showing up is after I have been using EUDORA (my email
client).

Since the real purpose for this discussion is to rid my PC of cookies
& Temp Internet files, it seems that I have nothing to be concerned
about because the CONTENT.IE5 directory & its sub-dirs are missing.

David
 
D

Doug W.

Tim:
I currently have IE7 installed. As I use Firefox exclusively,
I have
gone into Internet Options and totally disabled cookies in IE.
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" is empty except for index.dat

As you suggested, I tried to open a file in Temporary Internet
Files.
XP responded by giving me a message saying that it might be
dangerous
to run a system command on the file I was trying to open.
Being the
cautious type, I canceled the command to open the file.

I have assumed %USERPROFILE% expands to C:\Documents and
Settings\David where David is the current user. Correct?

The Content.IE5 directory and its sub-directories do not
exist. They
have been gone for as long as I can remember. Since cookies
can not
be stored in a directory that does not exist, the indexed list
in
Temporary Internet Files seemes to me meaningless.

I don't know where Firefox stores its cookies. but I don't
think its
in "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies". The only time I really recall the
indexed
entries showing up is after I have been using EUDORA (my email
client).

Since the real purpose for this discussion is to rid my PC of
cookies
& Temp Internet files, it seems that I have nothing to be
concerned
about because the CONTENT.IE5 directory & its sub-dirs are
missing.

David
=================================
They will be re-created the next time you use IE.
=================================
 
P

Paul

David said:
I don't know where Firefox stores its cookies. but I don't think its
in "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies". The only time I really recall the indexed
entries showing up is after I have been using EUDORA (my email
client).


David

Firefox keeps its files in its own little spot. The file that keeps
the cookies is "cookies.sqlite". Even when empty, the file size is 100K bytes.

C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<<profilenum>>.default

cookies.sqlite 102,400 bytes

Sqlite is a lite version of SQL, a database. Firefox stores things in
database files, for later retrieval. This is why, if your places.sqlite
gets big (history of URLs visited), it makes matching URLs as you type
a little slow. (I'm using Firefox 3 series.)

Paul
 
D

David

=================================
They will be re-created the next time you use IE.
=================================
Paul:
I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.

David
 
D

David

Firefox keeps its files in its own little spot. The file that keeps
the cookies is "cookies.sqlite". Even when empty, the file size is 100K bytes.

C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<<profilenum>>.default

cookies.sqlite 102,400 bytes

Sqlite is a lite version of SQL, a database. Firefox stores things in
database files, for later retrieval. This is why, if your places.sqlite
gets big (history of URLs visited), it makes matching URLs as you type
a little slow. (I'm using Firefox 3 series.)

Paul
Paul:
I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.

David
 
D

David

=================================
They will be re-created the next time you use IE.
=================================

I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.
 
P

Paul

David said:
Paul:
I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.

David

When I have questions about how some of these things work, I might
use the Process Monitor program from Sysinternals.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

Download and execute the EXE file. When a "filter" window appears,
set a filter to capture all events involving "iexplore.exe". Click
apply, and then the PM program will start capturing. Then, double
click your Internet Explorer icon, and the trace window should
fill with a large amount of info. Type a URL in the browser,
visit a site, then click the X in the upper right hand corner
and kill the window. Now, you should have an entire trace of
registry and file operations. If is possible a cookie might
get written at some point, during those few seconds of
captured events.

When I tried this, there might have been 100,000 things to look
at in the window.

Some of the last things I see it doing, is closing the following
files. Yet, when I look in "Temporary Internet Files", there
is no "Content.IE5" that I could see. Notice that Cookies are
stored in a different place, or at least the path below, implies
that they are.

C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<<username>>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat

In any case, I don't have time right now, to give a summary of
that 100,000 events. Suffice to say, "information overflow" !

Paul
 
D

Doug W.

You must have something screwed...others may help...I have no
problem with my installation. Best of luck.
=
 
T

Tim Meddick

David,
please STOP being obsessed with the 'Temp Inet Files' folder, as
I said earlier, cookies are NOT actually stored there. No, look in a folder
called:

"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

type this into a 'Command Prompt' window:


dir "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"


.....and you should be presented with a long list of [.txt] files named with
your 'username' @ 'a website' .txt

These are your 'cookie' files.

If, for some reason, the folder is not there, type out the following command
in a 'Command prompt' window, to find the location of your 'cookies' folder:

reg QUERY "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders" /v Cookies


(*note - the preceding command should be all on one line but may not appear
so due to line-wrap. Please ensure the command begins with 'reg' and ends
with 'Cookies')

....executing this command will not change anything but give you an output of
the location of where your 'Cookies' folder has been specified to be on your
machine.

(e.g. on my machine the output of the above command is:

! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

....or "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

)


Please stop trying to find cookies in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder,
as I before said, they only appear to be there but what your seeing is an
indexed list of lots of files in varying locations.

Also, the folder 'Content.IE5' ALWAYS exists within the 'Temp Inet Files'
folder, but has the 'hidden' file attribute set so you will only see it if
you:

a). checkmark the box 'Show hidden files and folders' in the 'Folder
Options' control.

b). because the viewable contents of the 'Temp Inet Files' folder is only an
'indexed list' you have to get past it because the 'Content.IE5 folder will
not be in the list so you have to type it into the address bar. That is;
when in the 'Temp Inet Files' folder type: \Content.IE5 on to the end of
the path in the address bar.

i.e: "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"

....or type:


dir /a "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"


....in a 'Command Prompt' window to see the contents of this folder, which
will be a variety of sub-folders with alphanumerical names that contain the
*real* temporary internet files that are listed in the 'Temporary Internet
Files' folder.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
D

David

Tim:

I don't mean to be obsessed with Temp Int Files.

The point of my previous reply was that "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" is
empty except for index.dat. Since it is empty, I am asking what is
the point of the index files in Temp Int Files?

CONTENT.IE5 has normally been viewable. For some reason I can no
longer see it, even with hidden/system option checked - unless I type
\CONTENT.IE5 onto the end of the path in the address bar - as you
suggested. Then, I can see CONTENT.IE5. This is strange as in the
past CONTENT.IE5 has always been viewable so long as I've checked
hidden/system viewable options.

You gave me a command to run in a command window to determine the
location of the Cookies folder on my PC. I did this. The results are
exactly the same as the sample run you gave me from your PC. - My
cookies directory is: %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

The overall goal of this discussion has been to keep undesireable
cookies out of my PC. Since the Cookies directory is always empty and
because Temp Int Files contains index files (not cookies), have I
achieved my overall goal?


David


David,
please STOP being obsessed with the 'Temp Inet Files' folder, as
I said earlier, cookies are NOT actually stored there. No, look in a folder
called:

"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

type this into a 'Command Prompt' window:


dir "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"


....and you should be presented with a long list of [.txt] files named with
your 'username' @ 'a website' .txt

These are your 'cookie' files.

If, for some reason, the folder is not there, type out the following command
in a 'Command prompt' window, to find the location of your 'cookies' folder:

reg QUERY "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders" /v Cookies


(*note - the preceding command should be all on one line but may not appear
so due to line-wrap. Please ensure the command begins with 'reg' and ends
with 'Cookies')

...executing this command will not change anything but give you an output of
the location of where your 'Cookies' folder has been specified to be on your
machine.

(e.g. on my machine the output of the above command is:

! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

...or "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

)


Please stop trying to find cookies in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder,
as I before said, they only appear to be there but what your seeing is an
indexed list of lots of files in varying locations.

Also, the folder 'Content.IE5' ALWAYS exists within the 'Temp Inet Files'
folder, but has the 'hidden' file attribute set so you will only see it if
you:

a). checkmark the box 'Show hidden files and folders' in the 'Folder
Options' control.

b). because the viewable contents of the 'Temp Inet Files' folder is only an
'indexed list' you have to get past it because the 'Content.IE5 folder will
not be in the list so you have to type it into the address bar. That is;
when in the 'Temp Inet Files' folder type: \Content.IE5 on to the end of
the path in the address bar.

i.e: "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"

...or type:


dir /a "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"


...in a 'Command Prompt' window to see the contents of this folder, which
will be a variety of sub-folders with alphanumerical names that contain the
*real* temporary internet files that are listed in the 'Temporary Internet
Files' folder.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.
 
T

Tim Meddick

David,
Yes indeed, I think you have, but by choosing either to have
cookies deleted at the end of every session OR to have cookies not allowed
on your machine at all! To check which,in the middle of an internet session
with 'Internet Explorer' still open, check the contents of your cookies
folder with :

dir "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

....in a 'Command Prompt' window.

P.S. To set what cookies are allowed on your system, go to 'Internet
Options' in Internet Explorer (by going to 'Tools' on the top menu and
choosing 'Internet Options') and set the sliding control under the 'privacy'
tab.

Hope this helps.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


Tim:

I don't mean to be obsessed with Temp Int Files.

The point of my previous reply was that "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" is
empty except for index.dat. Since it is empty, I am asking what is
the point of the index files in Temp Int Files?

CONTENT.IE5 has normally been viewable. For some reason I can no
longer see it, even with hidden/system option checked - unless I type
\CONTENT.IE5 onto the end of the path in the address bar - as you
suggested. Then, I can see CONTENT.IE5. This is strange as in the
past CONTENT.IE5 has always been viewable so long as I've checked
hidden/system viewable options.

You gave me a command to run in a command window to determine the
location of the Cookies folder on my PC. I did this. The results are
exactly the same as the sample run you gave me from your PC. - My
cookies directory is: %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

The overall goal of this discussion has been to keep undesireable
cookies out of my PC. Since the Cookies directory is always empty and
because Temp Int Files contains index files (not cookies), have I
achieved my overall goal?


David


David,
please STOP being obsessed with the 'Temp Inet Files' folder,
as
I said earlier, cookies are NOT actually stored there. No, look in a
folder
called:

"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

type this into a 'Command Prompt' window:


dir "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"


....and you should be presented with a long list of [.txt] files named
with
your 'username' @ 'a website' .txt

These are your 'cookie' files.

If, for some reason, the folder is not there, type out the following
command
in a 'Command prompt' window, to find the location of your 'cookies'
folder:

reg QUERY "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders" /v Cookies


(*note - the preceding command should be all on one line but may not
appear
so due to line-wrap. Please ensure the command begins with 'reg' and ends
with 'Cookies')

...executing this command will not change anything but give you an output
of
the location of where your 'Cookies' folder has been specified to be on
your
machine.

(e.g. on my machine the output of the above command is:

! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

...or "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

)


Please stop trying to find cookies in the 'Temporary Internet Files'
folder,
as I before said, they only appear to be there but what your seeing is an
indexed list of lots of files in varying locations.

Also, the folder 'Content.IE5' ALWAYS exists within the 'Temp Inet
Files'
folder, but has the 'hidden' file attribute set so you will only see it if
you:

a). checkmark the box 'Show hidden files and folders' in the 'Folder
Options' control.

b). because the viewable contents of the 'Temp Inet Files' folder is only
an
'indexed list' you have to get past it because the 'Content.IE5 folder
will
not be in the list so you have to type it into the address bar. That is;
when in the 'Temp Inet Files' folder type: \Content.IE5 on to the end of
the path in the address bar.

i.e: "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5"

...or type:


dir /a "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5"


...in a 'Command Prompt' window to see the contents of this folder, which
will be a variety of sub-folders with alphanumerical names that contain
the
*real* temporary internet files that are listed in the 'Temporary Internet
Files' folder.

==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)


<David> wrote in message
On Mon, 25 May 2009 23:04:43 +0100, "Tim Meddick"

David,
Cookies are NOT located in the 'Temporary Internet
Files' folder,
although they do 'appear' to be but what you are seeing is an
indexed list
made up of files that are in other locations.

The Temporary Internet Files are actually located in
alphanumerically named
sub-directories within the folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5"

The Cookies are actually stored in folder:
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies"

...so your batch file should point to this folder. e.g.


@echo off
del "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies\*.txt"


However, though the cookies are actually gone they may
well still show
up in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder as I said - it's
only an indexed
list.

But you can double check what I've said. If you delete
the cookies out
of the "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" folder and then try to open one
in the Temp
Inet Files folder it won't open.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)

Tim:
I currently have IE7 installed. As I use Firefox exclusively,
I have
gone into Internet Options and totally disabled cookies in IE.
"%USERPROFILE%\Cookies" is empty except for index.dat

As you suggested, I tried to open a file in Temporary Internet
Files.
XP responded by giving me a message saying that it might be
dangerous
to run a system command on the file I was trying to open.
Being the
cautious type, I canceled the command to open the file.

I have assumed %USERPROFILE% expands to C:\Documents and
Settings\David where David is the current user. Correct?

The Content.IE5 directory and its sub-directories do not
exist. They
have been gone for as long as I can remember. Since cookies
can not
be stored in a directory that does not exist, the indexed list
in
Temporary Internet Files seemes to me meaningless.

I don't know where Firefox stores its cookies. but I don't
think its
in "%USERPROFILE%\Cookies". The only time I really recall the
indexed
entries showing up is after I have been using EUDORA (my email
client).

Since the real purpose for this discussion is to rid my PC of
cookies
& Temp Internet files, it seems that I have nothing to be
concerned
about because the CONTENT.IE5 directory & its sub-dirs are
missing.

David

=================================
They will be re-created the next time you use IE.
=================================

I tested your suggestion by cranking up IE. I visited a web site I
knew would try to store cookies. Its one site where I've specifically
allowed IE to store cookies. Here is what I found:

No CONTENT.IE5 was created
As I mentioned previously, this has been gone for a long time. XP
still appears to function normally except for no CONTENT.IE5 - that
is, if I access a web site that will not function w/o cookies (and one
for which I've specifically allowed cookies), the site works.
Internet Options->Privacy->Advanced has 1st & 3rd party cookies
blocked. Internet Options->Privacy->Sites has the web site I used set
to Always Allow.
The Temporary Internet Files directory had one entry labeled Cookie
(document type text) & 4 more entries ofdocument type icon.
All these entries are different from normal entries in a Windows
Explorer window as they have an Internet Address instead of a file
size shown.
The Temporary Internet Files Directory had R/O & Hidden attributes
set - XP will not allow changes even with admin privledges.
 
R

Richard

I have XP/Pro SP2 on my workstation. My used name (David) has
administrative priviledges.

One of my backups is a data only backup onto a USB drive using a DOS
BATCH file & XCOPY

I have tried to restrict all but desireable cookies from invading my
workstation. I've changed the Internet Options (Control Panel) and
the cookie rules in the various browsers I use. Apparently I've been
successful here. However, there seems to be one place I can not stop
cookies & temp internet files from being saved on my workstation. I'm
not sure, but its possible they are arriving through the use of
various other applications that insist on using IE for internet
access.

This is where the cookies are being saved (My user name is David):

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

I have tried everything I can think of by adjusting the setup in
various appplications without success. Since I can't stop the
cookies, my thought is that I might be able to automate their
deletion. As I said, my data backup uses a DOS batch file and XCOPY.
I have thought of inserting a DOS DELETE command into that batch file
to delete the contents of the above directory. I've tried this
without success. With the appropriate delete command, the batch file
generates no error messages. However, XP/Pro apparently ignores the
delete command because the temp internet files & cookies don't get
deleted.

I can use Windows Explorer and manually delete the stuff. But, I
can't figure out how to do it automatically.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

David

Hi David, "Temporary Internet Files" (TIF) is a system folder with a special
indexing system that might get messed up if you try to do things with the
files apart from either the Windows Explorer or Internet Explorer interface.

You did not say what IE version you are using. The ordinary way to stop
cookies or restrict what kind of cookies are allowed: In IE6, on the menu
bar, click "Tools", then on the dropdown, click "Internet Options". Click
the "Privacy" tab. You should see a slide bar on the left, and on the right
it is probably set to the default "Medium" setting, with text explaining
what is blocked or restricted. Drag the slider up, to increase security, and
read the text on right to decide what meets your needs.

The right-click "What's This?" help tip for the slider says:

: Specifies the privacy level for the Internet zone. Move the slider to
: change the privacy level or to view summaries of each privacy level.
: For more information about privacy settings, see Internet Explorer Help.

If you think other applications besides IE are putting cookies in the IE's
"TIF" folder, check the Help documention with the other applications. Are
you using another browser besides IE? If using AOL for browsing, I'm pretty
sure it uses the same Privacy settings as IE. My "Internet Options" General
tab has a "Delete Cookies" button. (Hmmm... I wonder what that's for? :)

Cheerio! --Richard
 

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