Where Are Temporary Internet Files Stored?

You can search for the filename, you can find it that way. The cache directories are randomly named.

An easier way is to look at the cache directly. Assuming you're running IE, click tools --> internet options. Click the settings button in the middle section where it says "Temporary Internet Files", then when the window changes click "View Files". That will open up the cache directory and you can copy the file from there.

 

Um aint it in the Windows DIR?

Otherwise, you can search all files by date modified, and then size, type and it should show up.

If its porn, make sure to move it into a non suspect directory.
I named mine, Norton NetGuard 2004....

Keeps to wife happy! And my balls intact!

 

....
you already found it but
they're in
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temp

 

I was told that every little file that makes up a webpage you view is saved on your computer. Like while looking at F chat all the little buttons and things and the graphics.

Do these things get cleared out by themselves eventually or do they just build up over time eventually taking up lots of space on the hard drive?

 

Ike, that's what cache's are. They store every little file so that websites take less time to load (they don't have to download the same files over and over again every time you view the page). This was helpful with 56K but cache's are pretty much becoming obsolete now that we have faster internet connections.

You can set a maximum disk space to use for your cache so that the files don't accumulate. Also, I believe the cache is emptied a little more than once a week automatically by IE and Firefox.

On IE, ...WOW I just checked and the default disk space was 1221 megabytes... good thing I never use IE. On Firefox they start at 50 MB. You can lower these values (10 MB should be plenty) or you can disable it completely in Firefox if as I mentioned before you have a fast internet connection and don't need to worry about loading speeds.

To do this in IE go to Tools -> Internet Options
In the General tab, click "Settings..." underneath Temporary Internet Files and there is a slider to set the Cache amount. In Firefox go to Tools -> Options -> Privacy -> Cache and set the value.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the info.

I use firefox. I just went and mine was set to 0. I must have done that when I installed it. Now I'm going to go see if I can clear the ones IE used when I was using it.

 

Without software, what is the best way to well and truly permanently delete files?

 

With a sledgehammer!

 

There is none other than placing the hard drive onto a magnetic field which erases everything. Even security software designed for file shreading has been known to miss an item of two. Five years ago when computers were more expensive, people would often sell their old system on ebay and they were essentially giving their essential data away to the buyers. Some people speculate that many of the buyers were real identity thefts that would check out your past auctions and zip code prior to bidding to see if you made a good victim that had major assets, which might be on your old hard drive for viewing.

 

well I think that even if you use magnetic field, if someone wants to read the data they will probably do it. Unless is a incredibly strong magnetic field which would probably be hard to replicate unless in a lab. I would say the best way is to melt everything and cool it down... melt it again.. repeat at least 10 times.. and that should do it.

 

I thought all you had to do was open up the hard drive which completely screws up the hard drive. Nobody could read it then?

 

Thanks, but I'm not interested in deleting the whole kit and kaboodle - just mopping up after "Disk Cleanup"