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I recently found out it's bad to delete temp files directly from Windows Explorer. I started doing that after I noticed they always still seemed to be there after trying it the right way, from Internet tools or options. Now I realize they probably were only "illusions." Anyway, I did get up to speed on how to do it right in the future, including from a clean DOS prompt or using a script/program like Cleanall.
Looking back, I think this probably always reduced my browser performance. I've always had fairly regular go-nowhere browsing days that doing an IE Repair from Add/Remove programs doesn't correct. (I use all the popular spyware & BHO tools, and am pretty sure I'm not being hijacked). I would just try again later. *But* now I've committed a more serious temp violation. The other day I went after a bunch of those bizarrely-named, huge, nonsense junk wads in Temp. Internet Files > Content IE5. (Example: "OPv5633O"), that build from the index.dat file. Had never even noticed them before, and read they're usually 'hidden' files. I had about ten of them.
On that day, first I deleted the other cookies & temps incorrectly as usual. Then I zipped (for later, just in case) and directly deleted the nonsense wads under Content IE5. I got the warnings that they were system files, but once I had seen their itemized contents and noticed it was all unneeded web site data, I gambled it was ok! During the zipping I did get a Winzip message that the index.dat file may have been corrupted. THEN later, I read how bad what I was doing is, and that deleting incorrectly can screw up where your browser points, etc.
So next I tried to figure out the best way to put them back, and for some stupid reason ended up both unzipping and putting back a set; and retrieving a set from recycle bin. (One set made itself a program group! I deleted that from Windows Explorer.) Then I downloaded the DOS script Cleanall to try to get rid of them correctly. It still left four of them, but I guess there are always some building on the index.dat file in Content IE5, so maybe that's normal, but sounds like a lot since they're huge. (I read that since I have DSL; AND usually visit different web pages each time, I don't need them much. My system resources are VERY low, and I'd rather get rid of them all.)
ANYWAY!! Next my IE started functioning terribly. Tons of go-nowhere browser searching; AND suddenly getting many script errors when clicking links at sites or trying to print from them. The script errors progress until finally I can't get anywhere and/or I crash. Sometimes get an illegal operation error first. A couple times even the fonts within IE and on its taskbar icon appeared in bold face before crash. I wrote down one IE script error, they may all be similar: res://c:\Windows\system\SHDOCLC.dll/previe w.dlg.
I tried IE Repair from Add/Remove programs, but it didn't help. What can I do; would it help to download and reinstall IE? (Will that wipe out any programs in the process?) *I would HATE to reinstall W98, as I have no physical software for any of my applications!! Please help!! Thank you!
P.S.: Don't mean to push my luck here, but was wondering what a lock icon on the temp file listing within DiskCleanup means. I don't think it's always been there, and wondered if maybe this is why those index.dat files got so big. I'm guessing if there is a lock on my temps, when I choose "delete" from DiskCleanup they do not get deleted...? There is *not* a lock icon on the other items, like recycle bin and downloaded program files.
Perhaps a simple fix will do.
Restart in DOS
In DOS, Hit Enter after each commandc:
cd windows
smartdrv
deltree tempor~1
deltree temp
deltree history
deltree cookiesAt least the first one above and then as much of the others as you like.
Then type
exit
or
win
or windows
to get out of DOS and beck to restarting Windows.
If none of the exiting commands work then just hit Ctrl+Alt+Del keys to exit.Bryan
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Hi Bryan,
Thanks, but that will only remove any more cookies, etc. that can be spared. The script I used after this mess happened runs exactly what you typed above, and a bit more, and I did that already. What I need is to know how to stop the malfunctioning of my IE at this point. IE Repair did not work. I assume my incorrect deletions caused this problem, as it began immediately after and never occurred before that.
Then my second but much less important question was, why is there a lock icon on my temps at all, in DiskCleanup. It reads "0.0" can be reclaimed from temps, which is wildly untrue by the time I go routinely there, so I assume it is indeed locked. I would rather be cleaning up from there or Internet tools/options, as it is nearly impossible to catch my computer and get to a true DOS prompt before Windows loads. THANKS!
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Sometimes files in temp are Read-Only or System which Disk Cleanup won't touch. This seems to be particularly true of install files which are downloaded to temp. I keep a folder called MyDownloads which I routinely use to hold this kind of stuff.
HTH
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Thanks for tips everyone! But still hoping someone posts ideas for *where I go from here,* as deleting the way I did is "strictly prohibited" and now my browsing in ALL messed up! I do see the error of my ways; I WILL do things differently next time; I repent! But I can't get to conducting myself better NEXT time until I can fix what's happening THIS TIME! Help..? THX! = )
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Not answering the question at all LOL,
just wondered if you were aware that if you type winfile in the Run box this will produce the old W31 style File Manager.Unlike Windows Explorer this gives a true picture of the situation (albiet in short filename format). You will see a big difference in Temporary Internet Files (tempor~1).
Derek
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Derek --
WOW! What the devil is that? Never knew it was there! Wish you were telling me it's safe to delete temps from there, but I won't be making any guesses anymore! Anything useful that can be done with it? It doesn't even show the content IE5 junk wads in it! Does that mean they are indeed not really there, as in the whole temp file smoke & mirrors thing?
What do you want to talk about next, you guys? Memorial Day: hamburgers or hot dogs? Discuss.
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Now you've confused me (don't worry it's quite easy to do that). I've usually found that it shows far "more" than Windows Explorer, but it shows things where they really are - so click around a bit. Just thought it may help somehow....
It's a handy picture of DOS if you are a DOS person, especially short filenames. Have a look in the numbered folders inside the folder:
c:\windows\tempor~1\content.ie5"Of-course Windows is still running, so the usual business arises that files in use by Windows can only be worked on by "shutting down" to DOS.
Word of warning - if you delete anything from there it is gone for good (no bin).
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Having mentioned File Manager perhaps I should attempt to explain the situation as I understand it. In the area of Temporary Internet Files you have a dynamic situation (those numbered files often change numbers).
Bill Gates, kindly soul that he is, decided that it would be far too confusing to present that lot to folk. So in this "user friendly" world, instead he gave a nice neat picture in Windows Explorer that was pleasing to the eye (albiet not necessarilly 100%). He also gave several press button facilities to get shot of Temporary Internet Files etc anyway.
You may never have use for winfile of-course. Where I find it handy is for those odd times when something gets stuck and cannot be deleted except from DOS. It's then very useful to find out where it "really" is. In the area of TIF's if you try to find things in DOS assuming Windows Explorer is correct then you may never find them.
Sadly for Bill, if you discover winfile you also stumble across info about websites you have visited buried in files that you didn't even know existed. You then have the chance to get shot of it....
Derek
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Getting back to your problem (sort of) you might like to try this free program and see if it does any better than cleanall:
SPIDER
As regards your IE problem, if Repair won't fix it then I believe it should be quite safe to download and install IE on top again so long as the version is either the same or later. I've done this and it's worked fine,with nothing lost.Derek
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.... should have said that the beta version of Spider (1.16) works fine - I used it for yonks. I would be surprised if it didn't clear out that stuff. So, of-course would bryco's suggestion as long as you "shut down to DOS" to do it (why not try it when you get IE sorted?).
Derek
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Derek --
Will do all as soon as I'm back after holiday. Hoped I could just "adjust" something, due to my pathetic system resource thing. But will assume I won't end up with two copies of IE when reinstalling; and also that all patches to date are already included. And you're right, I had only looked for the wads in the same place where they are in Windows Explorer.
Thanks so much for all your time. When I logged in and saw a high message count, I thought maybe people were in here fighting about picnic food! Thank God I didn't say "Potato salad or cole slaw?" There could have been violence! ;-)
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No sweat, I'm a past master at coming up with afterthoughts, so to avoid more:
Safest bet when clearing TIF's is to either:
Use Tools/Internet Options,
A program (Spider or similar),
deltree tempor~1 as given by bryco.I'm generally hesitant to remove from Windows Explorer (because it lies!) and there is a risk that the index.dat files still have links in them. If you must do it that way I would advocate re-booting afterwards before using IE again.
Good luck
Derek
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If you deltree the TIF folder from DOS then upon restarting Windows will see that it is missing and rebuild the folder to how it is supposed to be.
Use only the one for TIF and disregard the others.
Temp files are exactly that, Temp.
After restarting into Windows from DOS, anything and everything in the Temp folder can be safely deleted. (Note: I have one exception and that is McAfee uses the Temp folder to store a 'WebPoolFilefile' so I leave it there)IE uses those oddly named folders to control the cache and speed your browsing. To remove two of those folders will cause IE the problems of figuring out what to do with the cache while you are browsing thereby slowing you down.
After I deltree the TIF folder and restart into Windows I find the rebuilt TIF consists of a total of 12 files and folders: IeContent..,four oddly named folders, one index.dat and 6 desktop.ini files.
When I close out of a browsing session IE is set to clear my TIF folder. When I check I am left with the same 12 folders and files but the index.dat will have grown in size.
So, just perform
c:
cd windows
smartdrv
deltree tempor~1and see if it fixes you up.
(I was busy with work related stuff through yesterday)
and, don't be talking bad about Potato Salad.
Bryan
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Hi Bryan,
Thanks. I also have always had IE set to clear my TIF folder each time, but it absolutely does not. Just ignores that setting entirely and everything builds up. That is, unless nothing it's that illusion thing where nothing is "really there," and I should just quit looking at my temps from Windows Explorer completely. But there is that mysterious icon of a lock on my temps too, when I look at it from DiskCleanup. I do not think it was always there or is common. I feel like I do have something in particular going on, to where nothing gets cleared despite my setting IE to auto clear temps; or when I attempt a standard clear through Internet tools. Whether it's software locking their removal, or something else, I have no clue. All my software is standard stuff, including the typical highly recommended spyware freeware.
But I guess I'll just try to ignore the temptation to get obsessed with what's going on there, and remove temps correctly from now on, once I reinstall IE and presumably it is working right. (It's performance has continued to disintegrate and get weirder until now it's about useless!)
Thx again!
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I am not familiar with the Disck Clean up program you are referring to.
I suspect, like the McAfee file I keep in temp this file may need to remain there. Hence the icon lock (for your protection perhaps).
You mention having difficulty getting onto DOS.
With Win98x it is easy.
Just after your memory completes it post, hold down the left Ctrl key until the startup menu appears and then select DOS.Another easy way is to simply Restart in DOS Mode from the Windows Start, Shutdown dialog box.
Bryan
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