Hidden temporary internet files

[bamaman66]

How do I find the hidden temporary internet files and how do I delete them?

[the Tester]

Are you talking about index.dat files? Windows XP has these in various areas.

I use Index.dat Suite to look them over and clear them at reboot.It has a scanner and viewer.The program is free and I use it weekly with no ill-effects.

http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Ind...xdatsuite.html

[spy1]

My two staple programs for finding/deleting un-neccessary stuff are CCleaner ( http://www.ccleaner.com/ ) and Clean Cache ( http://www.buttuglysoftware.com/ - note that it requires installation of Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 . You didn't mention what your OS was, so I don't know if you can use that one).

I also use SpybotSearch & Destroy with all the options set to find/remove everything it can.

But bare in mind that "deleting" won't get rid of all traces - for that, you've got to use a program such as Eraser"s ( http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/ ) "free space" wipe after you run the other programs, to get rid of cluster tips, directory entries and MFT entries. Pete

[Carver]

Click on MY Computer/C: (drive letter)/Documents and Settings/Your name (not computer name)/Local Settings/Temporary Internet files. You want to delete the continence so double click on the folder and open it, go to the top of the window on the edit menu click select all. Then right click on one of the highlighted files and click on delete.
@ the Tester I use IDS Too, excellent program.

[bamaman66]

These are the files I am referring to

C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\YAH4XRLW

I want to delete these files.

[spy1]

bamaman - either of the two programs' I mentioned will delete it - Eraser will make the information irrecoverable. Index.datSuite would probably remove it, too, if you use the optional settings in that program. Try any of them and see. Pete

[bamaman66]

The only way I have been able to see the files is with the dos bootup and then I have not been able to delete them. Ccleaner does not delete them

[spy1]

Did you do a re-start of the computer after trying to remove the file with CCLeaner? And still saw the file then? Do your settings in CCleaner match mine? (See screenshot).

If it's really still there, try Carver's method. Pete

C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\YAH4XRLW

Is this a file or the name of a subfolder? I have several subfolders in the Temporary folder with names like that.

The only way I have been able to see the files is with the dos bootup and then I have not been able to delete them.

Are you using a DOS based system? If you are, they could be deleted by using the delete command to remove them, adding it to the autoexec.bat. On Win98/ME, Windows is not yet started at this point in the boot cycle, which allows the files to be deleted at this time in the boot cycle. With the DOS based systems, you can add entries to the autoexec.bat to remove any files or folders you want, and have this done automatically at each reboot. Alternatively, you could put all the delete commands in a separate batch file and add one "Call" entry to the autoexec.bat. If you need help with the syntax, just ask.
Rick

[tonyjl]

Hi Bamaman66.

I think this is what your looking for:- http://sillydog.org/mshidden.php

[Rodehard]

Just go to the Temp Int dir in explorer, in explores address bar manually add the "\Content.IE5" to the end and hit enter. Or just cut and past this line

C:\Documents and Settings\XX\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
(replace the XX with the user name in above path)
Then you will be able to see all the hidden files and Dir's

edit: This assumes Win XP and you can see hidden files. In any event you should be able to type the path into explorers address bar whichever ver of Win you have. I delete these dirs and files on regular occasion with no ill effects.

Nice article TonyJL, as far as the explanation of how windows hides files. The only problem with it is one piece of software they recommend, Evidence Eliminator. This is highly overpriced and uses pressure and scare tactics to convince users they need it. Users can do just as well with Eraser. In addition to the main component, Eraser has 2 other components:
1, Eraserd.exe, which is used in DOS mode and in batch files. It can overwrite (not just delete) index.dat files as well as any other file, including the swap file when used in DOS mode.
2, Eraserl.exe a separate launcher that can be used to overwrite files and directories on demand. It can be used as a desktop shortcut with specific files or folders one might want to overwrite in a hurry. It's also used by the main component when a system reboot is the scheduled erase time.
Eraser is free, high quality Open Source software.
Rick

[bamaman66]

I don't have user assist history or IIS log files checked. My others are the same as yours.

[Wai_Wai]

Originally Posted by Rodehard

Just go to the Temp Int dir in explorer, in explores address bar manually add the "\Content.IE5" to the end and hit enter. Or just cut and past this line

C:\Documents and Settings\XX\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
(replace the XX with the user name in above path)
Then you will be able to see all the hidden files and Dir's

edit: This assumes Win XP and you can see hidden files. In any event you should be able to type the path into explorers address bar whichever ver of Win you have. I delete these dirs and files on regular occasion with no ill effects.

By the way, how could I force the explorer to display these "truly hidden" folders and files (they are still hidden even if you select "show hidden files")?

[Rodehard]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

By the way, how could I force the explorer to display these "truly hidden" folders and files (they are still hidden even if you select "show hidden files")?

There is no way that I know of. You have to know the path and type it in to see and gain access to the Dir and files.

[tonyjl]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

By the way, how could I force the explorer to display these "truly hidden" folders and files (they are still hidden even if you select "show hidden files")?

The easiest way i have found is by either using a 'Pre-Install Enviroment' or a 'Live CD'.

(Providing you have one in the first place,which i do recomend as they bypass your HDD completly,so things like this 'hidden files' or spyware hiding/locking themselves don't work.)

Once your in,just edit the 'desktop.ini' files. The files contain either of the following text:-

version 1
[.ShellClassInfo]
UICLSID={7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

version 2
[.ShellClassInfo]
UICLSID={7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
CLSID={FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

You edit the files and put a '-' either side of 'UICLSID=' eg-

.1
[.ShellClassInfo]
-UICLSID=-{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

.2
[.ShellClassInfo]
-UICLSID=-{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
CLSID={FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

Reboot into windows and those folders will be visable to explorer.

Just in case your interested,the file locations and versions are in the following places (on my pc anyway)

C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\876DETQB - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\OR47QZE9 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\QFG1G7K5 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\W90RW3WH - Desktop.ini Version 1
------------------------
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6CKX1QE6 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0489JKCM - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\QFJK9GW9 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WV85J8BC - Desktop.ini Version 1
------------------------
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\KPQRW5UJ - None ?
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\O1UF8F6V - None ?
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UZALAP8P - None ?
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WTI5U1QR - None ?
-----------------------
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\History - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 2
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\8LQB4LMB - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C3ADQJ4F - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C5M7CP63 - Desktop.ini Version 1
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WDIZ4LI7 - Desktop.ini Version 1

Good luck