Clearing Temp and cookies folders?

[mikehende]

Every now and then some would say to clear both the Temp and Cookies folders, why is this and which Temp folder are they referring to and where is the cookies folder located?

[mommalina]

Every now and then some would say to clear both the Temp and Cookies folders, why is this and which Temp folder are they referring to and where is the cookies folder located?

Good question!

Lina

[dbarrow]

Depending on which browser you are using...
IE will store cookies and temp internet files in \Temporary Internet\Content IE5\ other sub-folders.
Each USER will have such a Content IE5 folder under their user.
These are usually located in Documents and Settings in the user profile. They CAN be moved to another location if desired.
You can set IE to flush the temp files on exit in the tools menu.
Certain cookies, like logon cookies stored to remember your logons, are stored seperately under Documents and Settings\User\Cookies these are ones you generally don't want to delete.

The Firefox cache and cookies can be cleared in FF Tools/Options/Privacy/Cache and Cookies tabs.
It can also be set to flush cache, history, and cookies on exit.

So long as you have a fast connection, cache is really not necessary to speed web browsing. It is ok to set both IE and FF to flush the cache when closing

Note that in IE, malicious crap from web sites can get trapped in these temp caches resulting in your AV scanner picking them up on the next scans. To avoid this, and to avoid having any malicious code residing there, set your browser to flush the cache.

IE often has a nasty habit of creating temp sub-folders in the cache with 0 byte files that refuse to delete.
Should you end up with one of these, change users or go to Administrator and attempt to delete them from there.

There are other TEMP files in Windows
You can SET the default TEMP folder to any location you wish, even on another drive.
You may find another TEMP folder under \Windows\Temp
often used by programs that create log files , ie: Zone Alarm makes a daily log ZLTXXX.tmp which tend to pile up over time.

Another TEMP folder is found in Documents and settings\User\Local Settings\Temp
Installers and some programs use this temp to write their temp files and often leave junk behind.

MOST of this can be cleaned.
Word of warning, check the file dates first.
Some programs which maintain a daily working log store their settings or other necessary information here.
DON'T delete anything with a current date as it may be a required working file that can really screw up a program function.

[mikehende]

So long as you have a fast connection, cache is really not necessary to speed web browsing. It is ok to set both IE and FF to flush the cache when closing

Note that in IE, malicious crap from web sites can get trapped in these temp caches resulting in your AV scanner picking them up on the next scans. To avoid this, and to avoid having any malicious code residing there, set your browser to flush the cache.

I can't find cache or cookies tabs in IE when I go to Tools\internet options\privacy or anywhere else? Would you happen to know where in IE I might find this?

[Seth]

Its under the options, then Advanced>Security. There will be a check box that says something like "Clear temporary internet files...".

[mikehende]

ok, got it, thanks!

[mikehende]

I notice that when I haven't visited a site for a while, it does not show up in autocomplete when typing a url, why is this or how can I keep prevent this from happening?

[Guest110]

I notice that when I haven't visited a site for a while, it does not show up in autocomplete when typing a url, why is this or how can I keep prevent this from happening?

Why not add it to your favourites and then you will never lose it:car:

[mikehende]

If I were to do this, I would have a whole heap [way too many] of favorites. All of my fav and most frequently visited sites are bookmarked but I visit so many sites every day that my bookmarks would be impossible or extremely difficult to navigate through and besides, this would defeat the purpose of the autocomplete.

[dbarrow]

Organize Favorites/Bookmarks... it's so easy to do.
I have a few hundred broken down into sub-folders by use or need and always save a bookmark for any interesting site even if I don't visit on a regular basis as, once you forget it, you never seem to find it again.

TABS in FF are the greatest.
Having 'groups' of tabs in FF makes easy browsing.
It's easy to construct 'group' tabs in bookmarks.
One click on WEATHER 'group" in FF and all my radar and forcast pages open. Same for the 6 tech sites I read first.

I never explored the full capability of Tabs and their uses.
I'm sure there must be a way to launch multiple FF windows each with a set of Tabs opening 4-6 sites.

There also must be a way to put a "stagger timer" on them to keep them from all trying to load at once as, even with high speed cable and a ton of bandwidth, more than 6 always ends up with one or two timing out.

I would love to be able to one click start a launch process with 4 FF windows each with a 6 URL 'group' of tabs in it and have them all sequentially load over a few minute period.

[rVidia]

I notice that when I haven't visited a site for a while, it does not show up in autocomplete when typing a url, why is this or how can I keep prevent this from happening?
When you go to a website, that website is stored in your History (you can view your History by pressing Ctrl+H when your web browser is open), and while you are browsing, you might start to type in a website and AutoComplete will have a stored list of websites you have already visited. AutoComplete knows what websites you have visited because it gets that information from your History. So, when you clear temporary files such as your History, you will no longer see any AutoComplete entries (until you start browsing again).

If you have a problem with the above, you might want to clear other temporary files but only occassionally clear your browsing History. Does that make sense, Mike?
I never explored the full capability of Tabs and their uses.
I'm sure there must be a way to launch multiple FF windows each with a set of Tabs opening 4-6 sites.
Regarding this, I made a batch file to open certain websites in new FF windows, the second window opening after ten seconds; however, I have not been able to figure out how to control in which window new tabs are created.

@ECHO OFF

:WINDOW1
start firefox.exe -new-window www.google.com

:WINDOW2
ping -n 11 127.0.0.1 >NUL
start firefox.exe -new-window www.kickenhardware.net/forum


Thanks,
Ray

[mikehende]

If you have a problem with the above, you might want to clear other temporary files but only occassionally clear your browsing History. Does that make sense, Mike?
Ray


I don't really see any need or urgency to clear the temp files so this is not an issue for me anymore, thanks Ray.

[rVidia]

I have not been able to figure out how to control in which window new tabs are created.
Nevermind.

Doug:
I would love to be able to one click start a launch process with 4 FF windows each with a 6 URL 'group' of tabs in it and have them all sequentially load over a few minute period.
Try this,

@ECHO OFF

:WINDOW1
start firefox.exe www.website1.com www.website2.com www.website3.com

:WINDOW2
ping -n 6 127.0.0.1 >NUL
start firefox.exe www.website1.com www.website2.com www.website3.com

:WINDOW3
ping -n 6 127.0.0.1 >NUL
start firefox.exe www.website1.com www.website2.com www.website3.com

:WINDOW4
ping -n 6 127.0.0.1 >NUL
start firefox.exe www.website1.com www.website2.com www.website3.com
The above will open four new windows, each with 3 tabs open, all over a period of 15 seconds. You can replace each website with the appropriate website, and you can add more websites (tabs) or more windows as needed. Also, if you want to change the amount of time to wait before opening the next window, change the "6" after "ping -n" to the appropriate number in seconds (for example, 6 - 1 = 5 seconds).

I hope this helps!

Ray

[dbarrow]

Kewl beans! I'll have to give that a try.

[AL DOM]

Doug,

>> IE often has a nasty habit of creating temp sub-folders in the cache with 0 byte files that refuse to delete. <<

These 0 byte files will be removed by enabling the
"Delete all offline content" option In Internet Explorer.
Tools,
Internet Options
Delete files
Delete All Offline Content

AL

[dbarrow]

>> IE often has a nasty habit of creating temp sub-folders in the cache with 0 byte files that refuse to delete. <<

Oh yeah! Been through this fight before.
The 0 byte files are a real PITA and the folder won't go until you clear out the file that locks.

#1: Switch to another user
Using another (Admin) account often allows you to delete
these as they are no longer marked in use under your user.
#2: Safe mode, sometimes works
#3: Unlocker, a utility I LOVE, posted here previously with a link. This will unlock a file marked "in use" and kill any process attached to it. One of the easiest ways to get rid of files when XP refuses to allow access.
#4: Repair Console
If you can find the file and navigate to it, use the del command line in Repair Console.

Some of these seem to get lost in the file table for the drive. It shows up and you can see it but when you go to delete it "file or path not found".
Sometimes, chkdsk will clear them but I still have a couple I have never been able to remove by any means.