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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:10 pm 
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I am using Windows 7 Pro and would like to know if it is necessary to retain the files in the Temp Folder. I have over 9000 files in there which total 3.2gb


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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:26 pm 
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No, you don't need to retain them. Select All and hit delete. It will stop on a few it can't delete, just tell it to skip those.

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 Post Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:25 pm 
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MacDuffie wrote:
No, you don't need to retain them. Select All and hit delete. It will stop on a few it can't delete, just tell it to skip those.



Thank you Patty


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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:11 am 
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You're welcome!

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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:17 am 
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More questions on this:) I am a bit confused here with this "Temp Folder". Apparently when I delete the Temporary Internet Files, history, cookies, and what not, this does not delete the files in the "Temp Folder"?
So what generates the files that go into the Temp Folder and why does it save them?

Also, I cannot seem to find a way to look at the Temporary Internet Files so where are they located?


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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:34 am 
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The Temp folder is a folder used by Windows and programs.
The Temporary Internet Files location is a hidden set of folders in your User Profile directory that includes an index and a catalog. Use the Internet Options within IE to take care of the Temporary Internet Files location and size. The \Temp folder isn't really managed, so using Disk Cleanup or manually removing files, if desired, is fine.

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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 12:32 pm 
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Why are the temporary internet files hidden and why can't I go there to see if everything that I want to remove is actually gone? It appears to have options to retain certain files but there is no way to see the files to verify that it actually does what I want.


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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 8:03 pm 
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You can see them, if desired.
Open Internet Explorer, select Tools/Internet Options.
General tab, click on Settings in the Browsing History section.
Then click on the View Files button.
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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:50 pm 
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sboots wrote:
You can see them, if desired.
Open Internet Explorer, select Tools/Internet Options.
General tab, click on Settings in the Browsing History section.
Then click on the View Files button.
-steve


Steve, I can see them with the method you described but this is not the actual file itself, it is only pulling data from the Temporary Internet Files. If I recall correctly, you used to be able to go manually by selecting C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files. I dumped everything by going to control panel, internet options and selecting everything in history then immediately went back and used your method and there were thousands of files still there. Even saw one dated June 15, 2015. Also it did not delete the cookies even though that option was selected. All this makes no sense to me.


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 Post Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:01 pm 
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If you select Preserve Favorites data at the top of the box , it will keep some items.


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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:54 am 
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When you navigate to the folder from the IE options, you are viewing the indexed object.
When you navigate using Windows Explorer, and have the view options set to display hidden files and folders, you will see more.
What's the goal for cleaning? Are you looking to selectively remove things are wipe away all History?
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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:16 pm 
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There's a much easier way. Whether you are showing hidden files or not.
Go to the Run box and type in %temp% and hit enter. It will open the folder. Then click CTL+A to select all, then hit your delete key.

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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:04 pm 
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MacDuffie wrote:
There's a much easier way. Whether you are showing hidden files or not.
Go to the Run box and type in %temp% and hit enter. It will open the folder. Then click CTL+A to select all, then hit your delete key.


Hi Patty, I did this just as you have shown and this deleted everything in the "Temp" folder but two files. However, going directly from that operation, I went to tools, internet options, settings, view files and all ten jillion files were still there in the Temporary Internet Files.


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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:28 pm 
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dvair wrote:
If you select Preserve Favorites data at the top of the box , it will keep some items.


This was the problem dvair. Thanks for everyone's help.


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 Post Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:46 pm 
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Ah, Temporary Internet Files are a different thing entirely from Temp files, which is what I thought you were asking about.

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 Post Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 2:13 pm 
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MacDuffie wrote:
Ah, Temporary Internet Files are a different thing entirely from Temp files, which is what I thought you were asking about.


Just one more question Patty:) What series of events sends some files to the "Temp Folder" and others to the "Temporary Internet Folder"? I just don't understand why there needs to be two places to store temporary files.


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 Post Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:17 pm 
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\Temp is a Windows variable used by applications and Windows itself. Temporary Internet Files is used by Internet Explorer (and Edge on Windows 10) for its cache. The concept of the cache for Internet explorer is that recently accessed content can be recalled without needing to be downloaded again as long as it hasn't expired. The cache is managed by the browser. %temp% is supposed to be just that -- a temporary place for unpacking files to, logging things, and installing from. Applications using it should clean up after themselves, but they often do not -- and Windows also has a habit of leaving stuff there.
-steve

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 Post Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:37 pm 
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I can't think of anything to add to Steve's answer above. Any questions about it?

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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:38 am 
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MacDuffie wrote:
I can't think of anything to add to Steve's answer above. Any questions about it?


Yes, I do have a question. At the very top of the list of things to delete when you choose to delete the temporary internet files is "preserve favorite website data". If that is not checked, I have to use my user name and password to get back into gmail, Netflix, Computer Haven, etc; So if that option is deleting the passwords, what is the purpose of the option further on down the list namely "Passwords" which looks like an option to delete or not delete passwords?


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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 6:37 pm 
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In the case of the favorites info that would apply on such a site as this when you select to be remembered while logging on. This info is stored in a cookie in the temp internet files or cache. The cookie is fetched by the site when you arrive and the info is automatically applied without interaction from you.

In the case of the saved password option no cookies are involved. Windows (or possibly the browser, not really sure), not the site, is offering to save the data. An example would be when you log on to a site and Windows displays a dialog asking if you want to save the log on info. In this case you still need to log on to the site but the user and password fields are automatically filled.

While both of the above do a similar job they are not related and not stored in the same area therefore the two different options.

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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 8:38 pm 
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Ok, thanks Jay. Just more stuff written by men to confuse women :))


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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:12 pm 
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Allyson wrote:
Ok, thanks Jay. Just more stuff written by men to confuse women :))

:rofl2: Can't wait to see if Patty responds to that one... :ugeek:

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 Post Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:49 pm 
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Newp...

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 Post Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2015 8:40 am 
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