What are those strange folders in my Temporary Internet Files?

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Leo - I searched my "Temporary Internet Files" directory in Windows Explorer and found over 1000. A lot of these had 20 or more individual folders containing over 500 files each and used up over 20MB of disk space each. Some of the files within the folders showed a creation date in 2004 (for example) and an expiration date into the year 2010. That sounds kinda permanent to me. How does Windows or IE determine that a file or folder should be temporary vs. permanent? If it's labeled temporary, why would it last so many years? Are all temporary files or folders safe to delete? If some temporary files or folders are crucial to proper operation of one's system, (ie: hidden from view) why aren't they permanent? I'm a little confused on this. Thanks for clarifying.

Well, there's temporary, and then there's temporary.

:-)

Anyway, you can certainly delete the contents of your Temporary Internet Files directory tree. IE will start rebuilding it the next time you run it. It's pretty much equivalant to flushing your cache and deleting your cookies from within IE. Your browsing experience will slow down a little on some sites as it rebuilds the cache, and any logins and the like that you have saved in cookies will simply need to be reentered.

But there's nothing crucial to operation in Temporary Internet Files.

How do I get into these hidden files to see the websites my girlfriend has viewed. I think she is cheating and know she deletes the cookies.

I have been using the Internet Options dialog to eliminate Temporary Internet Files, regularly, at the end of each computing session, and it has appeared to work fine...until, at the beginning of the next session--before connecting to the Internet--I run a SpySweeper scan and note that it spends an awful lot of time scanning files which have somehow mysteriously 'reappeared' (?) in the Temporary Internet Files directories. What's going on? I thought they were all cleared out! Can you explain this?

I am a mother with 4 children. My husband has recently been gone non-stop. I think he is having an affair. He doesn't let me work so I don't have the money to hire a private detective. He is constantly on his email when he is home. When I check them, he has deleted his emails. Is there any way to see those emails through the temporary internet files? I have tried to open them, but they just won't open.

To delete those pesky "in use so cannot be deleted" files or other locked files you can use "unlocker". It's a great program and works flawlessly. You can find it here: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

Hi, I was wondering why the size of my temporary Internet Files are getting bigger even if I'm not surfing?

Hi leo i'm wondering is it possible to put files into the temporary files directory....as i copied the files downloaded for a game i play & i deleted the Temp's & want to paste them back in but i wont let me

temporary internet files properties: contains 1450 files and 35 folders Read Only box is checked and so is Hidden except I cannot uncheck the hidden. I have check show hidden files and folders but files i.e. jpegs are not showing up there using Vista, as they did using XP. Any ideas?

Dear mother of 4. Unless he accesses his mail through the web, none of his emails would be stored in the IE temp file. Since you weer able to see that he deletes his emails it seems he uses an email program. Some email programs save a backup file and others don't actually delete the emails until they are compressed. So my answer to you is a definite I don't know. My advice is to go to the local computer store and ask the guy there. Usually they are helpful and can ask you the right questions to find out how to solve your problem.

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