Windows Explorer not showing all files?

[Chips]

In WinXP Pro, in the process of getting rid of a trojan (NoClose) I went to
"C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"
to look for a file that was reportedly there. There was also reportedly (by
McAfee Viruscan) a sub folder called IE5.

Using windows explorer, set to view hidden and system files, there was no
such (IE5) folder. I deleted everything in the Temporary Internet Files
folder. After this it appeared empty in Windows Explorer.

When I directed Viruscan to scan this same folder it came up with the IE5
subfolder, and 10s of thousands of files to scan.

What gives here? Is Windows Explorer still hiding folders and files?

Anyone know?

Greg

 

[Kelly]

Hi Greg,

This folder is a system folder that is used by Windows and is not typically
visible in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273010

Clean out Usage Tracks in Windows - It also deletes "index.dat".
http://www.12ghosts.com/ghosts/wash.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

n WinXP Pro, in the process of getting rid of a trojan (NoClose) I went to
"C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"
to look for a file that was reportedly there. There was also reportedly (by
McAfee Viruscan) a sub folder called IE5.

Using windows explorer, set to view hidden and system files, there was no
such (IE5) folder. I deleted everything in the Temporary Internet Files
folder. After this it appeared empty in Windows Explorer.

Temporary Internet files has an internal structure - in the interest of
handling a large number of files efficiently - and Expl;orer is designed
to display the content as if it were simple. The actual structure has a
folder Content.IE5 which has a number of sub-folders.

There should be no need to look for the specific file - just go to
Control Panel - Internet Options and click the Delete files button to
empty the folder out

 

[Kelly]

Great, glad to hear it, Greg. Thanks for the feedback.

I actually have windows explorer set to display system and hidden folders
and files. I actually wasn't trying to delete the IE5 folder, just it's
contents. But the folder, while there, wasn't visible.

I found that if I looked in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files under other users, the IE5 folder and it's
contents were visible.

If I logged in as another user, then IE5 and it's contents were visible
under the first user I was logged in as. So it just seems to stay hidden
under the user that you are currently signed in under.

Anyway, the web page that was a trojan or whatever that would not close
seems to be successfully deleted, and Viruscan says I'm clean. So it's
handled for me.

Thanks,

Greg

Hi Greg,

This folder is a system folder that is used by Windows and is not typically
visible in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;273010

Clean out Usage Tracks in Windows - It also deletes "index.dat".
http://www.12ghosts.com/ghosts/wash.htm

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]