Something interesting about cleaning out temp files

[dmslush]

I clean out the cookies and temporary internet files out of the computer daily but had noticed over the last several weeks that my computer had gotten slower and slower. I am on cable modem and it had gotten to where it would take me 30 minutes to do milesource!

Well, yesterday when I went to clean out the temporary internet files, I accidentally right clicked the folder and the little menu popped up. I went ahead and clicked Properties and it showed that there where 27,000 files in that folder. Try as I might, I could not see that many files to delete them.

So, I right clicked the folder again and clicked on find and started typing in one letter at a time to see if I could bring up any of the files. It did start bringing them up and it took me over 2 hours to delete all of them. I don't know why it won't just bring up those files when I click on the folder, I tried re-setting my preferences on it and it still won't show them to me unless I do a search for them. But, it did speed my computer back up to normal. If your computer is getting slow you may want to check and see if you have any hidden files. Oh, and it would give me a warning if I was trying to delete something that I wasn't supposed to mess with. For some reason, there were a few programs that were in there. I am going to have to go back and move them where they belong.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Wow - 27,000! I am going to go check mine now. Thanks for the info.

 

[mrsdash]

I could not believe it. I had 25,000. I know what I'll be doing tomorrow. Thanks so much. I'm still kinda new at the computer so I love all the help I can get.

 

[KimOhio]

thank you I never knew that thoses ones exisited I had alot of them I hope that speed up my modem i also have cable

 

[EpcotKilterFan]

Thanks!

I knew they were there but could not figure out how to get to them.

After I searched by the letter I started with the number 1..... that brought up 3,700 files. So now the long task of deleting those one by one.

Anyone that did Freeride and/or funnymoney REALLY should do this. Many of the files were from there. I got to see the 50 point hitchiker one more time (but I just could not delete him LOL).

Debbie

 

[figment27]

Can you tell me where to go on my computer to begin this process? Where are the temporary internet files under? I have NEVER emptied my "cookies" and my computer is running extremely slow despite cable modem internet access. Also, I seem to be getting a lot of error messages and problems with the computer "freezing."
Thanks,
Figment27

 

[Maleficent2]

1.In IE go to tools-internet options-temporary internet files-settings-view files-edit-select all-file-delete

2.Start-programs-find-files and folders-look in C type in temp internet -find now-dbl click on temporary internet -edit-select all-file-delete

3.same as 2 except instead of dbl clicking on temp internet just dbl click on TEMP then there should be a file called history dbl click on that and it should bring up another file with a sundial on it dbl click on that it should bring up a load of files -today-last week etc dbl click on each one and click on edit select all file delete

that should get you started

Mal

 

[adamak]

By the way, if you have DSL or cable modem, get a personal firewall program. This kind of program prevent people from hacking your hard drive and download unwanted files or programs. I'm not talking about cookies, but actually virus-type program that can "control" your PC. DSL & Cable modem are more vulunerable because most people leave their PCs on all the time.

Go to CNet.com and they have evaluation of most brand of firewall programs. There is a very good one free for download. I installed mine, and I was amazed at the number of times my PC was contacted w/o my knowledge during the day. Luckily they're now all blocked.

 

[dmslush]

Adamak,
You are right about the fire wall! My computer is contacted dozens of times a day!!

 

[CapeCod53]

Okay, I delete my cookies via Mal's #1 plan. I could not do what you guys are talking about from there. How exactly do I do this. I did do freeride & want to get rid of all that if its still on my computer. Thanks.

 

[dmslush]

To see if you have any of the hidden files,

Right click start
Click explore
You will see a bunch of folders, if there is a plus sign next to the windows folder, click it
Right click the Temp Internet Files folder
Click properties
If you have any of the hidden files, it will tell you how many you have

If you have some that you want to get rid of, right click the temp internet files again and click find.

In the new screen you can type in whatever you want to find the folders. I type in A then B then C it will search for any file that has that letter in it. It will bring them up to where you can delete them.

 

[CapeCod53]

I think it worked. I only had 11,000 & it didn't take that long. Many were system files or programs I think related to napster & other music stuff my son uses.

 

[momoftwins]

I went to CNet and did a search for: firewall. All the options that came up had prices. Do you remember which one was for free.

Thanks for your help.

 

[figment27]

Ok, I followed the #1 plan and have moved on to the hidden files. There are 71,308 of them!!!
I am presently sending them ALL to the recycle bin but have not emptied the recycle bin yet because---I am not sure how to determine what I should delete (what is not improtant) vs. what I should delete (what files are not neceesary to run my computer). If anybody can offer a guiding hand before I put everything back for fear of mesing up my computer i would really apprecaite it.
Figment277

 

[dmslush]

Figment,
My computer gave me a warning message for everything that I *shouldn't* delete. I noticed that all of these under file type would say, FILE FOLDER (I had temp sub folders), APPLICATION, and MS DOS APPLICATION.

The other ones that were safe to delete were listed as
IE
Home publishing pro
Microsoft Picture it GIF
Microsoft Picture it JPG
J Script File
Shockwave flash
VBScript file
WAV sound

Here is a list from techtv/screensavers that is safe to delete. When you are in the find area, you can type a * then the extension of any of these to see if you have them on your C drive (example *.mp3 will bring up your mp3's and you can delete what you don't want.

.bak -- backup files from various applications.
.bmp -- picture files and wallpaper files. Don't delete your current wallpaper if you like it.
.mov -- movie files.
.mp3 -- MP3 music files.
.avi -- another movie file format.
.wav -- sound files. If you're done listening to them, say bye.
.jpg -- picture files.
.tiff -- massive, pristine picture files that don't use compression.

 

[FergieTCat]

Thanks for sharing that!

My computer has been super-slow lately. Maybe this is why.

Donna

 

[FergieTCat]

I just did this on my work computer to see if I could figure it out, and my Net connection is much faster! I can't wait to get home!!

Donna

 

[jdads2]

Ever since startiing these rewards programs we moved our temporary internet files to the desk top. We clean it out once a day. That way we don't end up with 100's of thousands of temp files.

 

[perfectmatch300]

Woo Hoo, I had 28,000 of these files & previously had no idea of how to delete them. I think I have about 500 left, but I just ran out of time. The computer does go faster now! Thanks for the info.

What I'd like to know now is just how do I move all my temp files to my desktop so I can delete them daily without going through all this finding by letter.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Thanks so much for posting this info. I know relatively little about computers & this has been so helpful. I have begun (but not finished ) cleanind out my files & my computer is already running so much faster.

DMSlush - you are a life saver!