Temporary internet files

[max 8]

Hello. I've read here in your forum how all the contents in this folder should be cleared often.
the question I have is in reference to a subfolder in this file called "content.IE.5". I found these files in this subfolder:
3li1h4wg
41qrglan
456vkxyb
4vvvmslp
8h6jc1av
dbv7ht0a
pwo3x90t
zt6z4tqr
Can somebody please tell me what this files are, where can I find out about them and is it safe to delete them?
This contentIE.5 does not show up when I explorer "temp internet files".
Thanks in advance for your anticipated quick responses.

 

[TonyKlein]

Hi,

The correct way to get rid of your temporary internet files, is in Internet Options/Temp. Internet Files/clear files.

About the folders with the funny names, this is just Windows' little way of organizing things. They're your so called 'security zones'
However, no matter which folder you look at you're presented with the same bunch of files.
You see, you have to detach yourself from thinking of files and folders in the normal sense, and think of it as Explorer's best attempt to display the cache. You don't have duplicates littering your drive - there is only one copy of every file you see.

Good luck,

 

[TonyKlein]

What you could do now in order to tidy up things a little, is deleting the folder in MS-DOS.
Windows will automatically recreate it on reboot:

Go to Start/Shutdown/Restart in MS-DOS.

Type the following lines, each one followed by clicking enter:

cd windows (unless you're in C:\Windows already, obviously)
smartdrv
deltree tempor~1
exit or win (to return to Windows)

You'll see that now there are only two or so Content folders, and the index.dat files have been deleted and restored to their default size as well.

Good luck,

 

[WhitPhil]

The other thing you can do to conserve on disk space, and not have to worry as much about the files, is to decrease it's size.

With that many subfolders, your cache must be in the area of 100MBs in size.
From Tools > Internet Options > Settings Buttons decrease the size.
Personally, mine is set to 8MBs and runs fine.

Tony:
I know PCForrest seems to think the number of folders is related to security zones. Have you seen this "fact" noted anywhere else?

 

[TonyKlein]

Hi Phil,

No, I admit I haven't. I guess I just trust this guy...

 

[max 8]

Thanks for the response guuys. Space is the least of my worries.
I just want to make sure this subfolders are not places that viruses/tojans can reside in.
so these files are all safe/clean as long I scan them w/ NAV 2002?

 

[WhitPhil]

Just run NAV is Autoprotect mode, and you won't have to worry about specific folders.

BTW: It isn't really the space that the cache takes. It is the size itself. You should see improvements in browsing performance, by deleting all the files and shrinking the size.