What happened? I cleaned out the IE 5.5 temp file including cookies. When checking the files properties I find 4MB in nine folders. Checking each folder shows zero bytes. Yes I have explorer set to show all files. Thanks

G'day Gil, you can manually delete each of the 9 folders [should only be 4] and then when you reopen your browser you will get 4 back, with different funny names. I once had over 300 megs [about 9000 files] stored in them for nearly 3 months when I thought they were being emptied daily until I discovered this phenomenon and immediately deleted the lot [8 folders]. This did no harm to my system at all. I have no idea what causes this. There should be only be about 6 or 7 'super' hidden system files in the TIF when empty.

If you REALLY want to clean up those Temporary Internet Files and Cookies, you can DELTREE them in DOS (not a DOS window): deltree /y c:\windows\cookies\*.* deltree /y c:\windows\history\*.* deltree /y c:\windows\tempor~1\*.* The above commands will delete all the files (including "index.dat") in those folders (and sub-folders), plus the folders themselves. The folders will be re-created again when you boot to Windows and start your IExplorer. The /y switch is to suppress having to answer yes/no each time. You can put these in a batch file, refer to it in your Autoexec.bat, and those files/folders will be automatically cleaned every time you re-boot your machine.

AA- I did remove the folders in DOS. All this did was to mess with my shutdown process... had to do a cold shut down and reboot...(could not do a "Restart"). But the file folders never disappeared and they're still very full. I've often wondered this same thing that Gil questions so I am quite interested in knowing a workaround. The though of just deleting file folders as suggested by Ronnie I'd prefer not to do, but if that works, then I will. Any additional information will be greatly appreciated. -Nikki

For more scoop of the temp IE files (you only THINK you are deleting them) go here and read about it...... http://www.f---microsoft.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml . As for "The though of just deleting file folders as suggested", anything below the main TempIE folder (Content IE# and subfolders) will be recreated by IE when started. This does NOT imply all folders do this (cause they DONT, then yer screwed - lol)

darnet - filter - lol that address - where the www.f--- is filtered - replace the f--- with the four letter curse word - there is not a period or slash between the f-word and microsfoft.

I used Ronnies idea & it seems to have worked. Since then I loaded up my temp file with over 100MB before dumping it again & it shows about 500KB. Thanks Ron