Temporary Internet Folder Win98SE

[risk_reversal]

I wonder if someone can offer some help as regards deleting the contents of the TIF. If I go IE>Tools>Internet Options>Delete Files, there are still quite a few files left in the TIF.

I have tried following the instructions on the MS site as regards booting to DOS>cd windows>smartdrv>deltree tempor~1 but I cannot get the deltree command to work as when I type the last command line, ie deltree tempor~1, DOS says bad file command. Obviously this command file cannot be present. (using Win98SE)

Could anybody please help me here. Many thanks

[Budfred]

After you use tools in IE, close it and then check the TIF... It won't usually finish cleaning it until you close it. There are also a number of programs that will clean it out for you. I like running Spybot in Advanced Mode to clean them out. For the DOS command, I think you are missing part of the command. Try here for more: http://www.easydos.com/dosindex.html

[risk_reversal]

Many thanks for your reply Budfred. You say that you use Spybot in 'Advanced' mode, is this specifically to clear out the TIF or for selective cleaning of tracking cookies, etc. I have Spybot and was looking for an 'Advanced' mode function but could not find it. I am using v1.2 which from looking at the Spybot site seems to be the latest available although I understand that there is a beta v1.3. I cannot find reference to an 'Advanced' mode anywhere on the Spybot site either.

Could you please give me some further pointer as to how to go about from here.

P.S. Found the 'Advanced' mode but is there a link on the Spybot site which describes how to clear the TIF. Many thanks.

[classicsoftware]

Download eraser and it will delete everythinbg in the TIF except for one file, index.dat, which will be reported in use.

You can download it here (http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/eraser/Eraser57Setup.zip)

[PrntRhd]

risk_reversal,
In Spybot 1.2 Settings (twice) you can set up the program to display temporary files, cookies, & useage tracks. These will display in green. You select them after scan and click Fix. It runs them through a shredder program to dispose of them.
:)

[risk_reversal]

Many thanks for your replies guys. As regards using Spybot, I have looked within settings / settings and cannot see the tabs to which you refer PrntRhd. I did find this (http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm) page which talks about shredding TIF files in Spybot. Is this the correct proceedure?
After following the steps highlighted in that page, I can only get the content of the main TIF not the sub subfolders which contain the internet files that I want to delete.

classicsoftware, I will download this program and run it and see what it gives. Also I did stumble on this (http://www.igorshpak.net/) page which also has what seems to be a similar utility. In the unlikely event that the one you suggested does not do the job, have you heard of the one on the link I have provided above.

Many thanks for your help

[risk_reversal]

classicsoftware, I just wanted to let you know that I had downloaded the Eraser program and it zapped the contents of the Cookies folder and the Temporary Internet Files within the sub folders have also gone.
The index.dat file is down to 1.14Mb, not sure if that is a 'normal' size.

Many thanks all for your kind help

[jabarnutcase]

Well heck, as long as we're all adding a bunch of links here...:p

IE Privacy Keeper! (http://www.unhsolutions.net/IEPK/index.shtml) ("As seen on TechTV")

Small Program, doesn't hog any resources and works like a charm! :D
Gets rid or everything! (Please bolt down the kitchen Sink before using)

Anyone else..........? :p




(EDIT) BTW:The index.dat file is down to 1.14Mb, not sure if that is a 'normal' size I believe somewhere around 32KB is a little closer if I remember correctly.

[Paul Komski]

I think that Spider (http://www.fsm.nl/ward/) was designed for the job in hand.

Index.dat files start of at 32kb(TIF) and 16kb(cookies) and they keep growing until you learn how to zap them - manually or by using a 3rd party utility - regardless of how often you empty the TIF files and the cookies. You will still be tracked until they are replaced.

My own approach, following one of the many good mjc tips, is to keep my TIF folder on a RAMdrive. This means it starts off completely empty with each reboot! Its also a hand place to park very temporary files at any time - since they will be atomised by a reboot too.

[jabarnutcase]

Hehe...yes, Spider is pretty good too.....But let's not forget that rather lengthy thread I started when my msinfo32.exe turned into Help and Support. And it was that hairy little Spider that caused it all! (at least for me) :D

And boy, did I need "Help and Support". :p (Although I believe my problem was with XP only).

I do like the RAMdrive idea though. ;)

[risk_reversal]

Guys, many thanks for your great comments. I will have a look at all these 3rd party utilities. As regards my index.dat file which I initially recorded at 1.14Mb in the Content.IE5 folder; well after a reboot it's down to 80Kb. The index.dat file in the Cookies folder is 32Kb. And all but a handful of files left. So a lot happier now.

Paul Komski, I wonder if I may ask you more about setting up the TIF folder on a RAMdrive. Is there a link which explains how to do this? Or should I just use the search function with username
mjc.

Again guys, many thanks for all your comments.

++++++++++THIS IS A GREAT FORUM+++++++++++++

[Paul Komski]

One such thread was here (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25059) when I was trying to use a RAMdrive to limit the RAM to 512 for Win98 - even though it turned out to be simpler to edit system.ini correctly.

One can setup a native RAMdrive but the one I use for Win9X is Franck Uberto Ramdisk Download (http://www.geocities.com/politalk/rmdrv/fu_rd19i.htm) and on which you can customise the drive letter it is to use.

For winXP I use RAMDISK Version 2.2 for Windows 2000 / Windows XP / Windows Server 2003 (http://users.compaqnet.be/cn181612/RAMDisk/RAMDisk.htm) which designates drive letter B (at least by default).

Once your RAMdrive is setup you need to get your TIF folder onto it.
I find the easiest way is to R-drag the folder from its default position and move it to the RAMdrive (which could have various Drive Letters depending on how and what was configured).

If it drags there OK then just check the registry to see that it has been updated there correctly.

The two locations are "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell Folders" and "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders"

The Cache setting in both registry entries should match the path where you dragged the folder to on the RAMdrive.

If for any reason the folder wouldn't drag over then edit the two registry keys correctly and reboot. You should then have a new TIF folder in the new location and be able to delete the old one.

From here on in there should be a brand new TIF folder on every reboot. ;)

[Stripgear]

I have tried following the instructions on the MS site as regards booting to DOS>cd windows>smartdrv>deltree tempor~1 but I cannot get the deltree command to work as when I type the last command line, ie deltree tempor~1, DOS says bad file command. Obviously this command file cannot be present. (using Win98SE)

If you boot to dos, you will be in the root dir (c:\)
the TIF files are in thw windows folder (c:\windows)
So, type cd\windows, then do the deltree command.
If you use spider, you will notice that although you erase the TIF
files, all the locations are still stored in the index.dat files.

If your goal is to remove the index.dat files, boot to dos,
go the the windows folder, and type:

deltree cookies
deltree temp
deltree history
deltree tempor~1

then reboot. Just make sure you DONT WANT any of these files.

Bill makes it hard to see some of these files.
If you want to see some of your TIFs type:

c:\windows\explorer/e,c:\windows\tempor~1\content.ie5

[risk_reversal]

Paul Komski, thanks v much for the info + links which you have provided.
I will have a go with that little lot in one of my test partitions and see if I can get it to work.

Stripgear, my goal was twofold: 1. try to remove the files in the TIF folder and 2. try to delete the TIF folder in DOS so that the index.dat file would be rebuilt anew. As you say 'all the locations are still stored in the index.dat files'.

I did try booting into DOS again. I cannot get those commands to work.
Let me tell you what I did:
1. boot to DOS
2. At A:\> typed C: (changes drive to C: )
3. at C:\> typed cd windows (changes directory to windows)
4. The prompt now is: C:\windows>
5. Now I type 'deltree tempor~1' (without the quotes) and I get 'Bad command or File name'

The steps above are exactly what I am doing, which is identical to your instructions....Deltree is an 'external' command which is on 98Se is that not correct?

Many thanks for any further info which you can provide.

[Paul Komski]

THIS (http://membrane.com/security/secure/Microsoft%5FIs%5FUnscrupulous.html) is the full Article by "The Riddler" including the copyright notice at the bottom.

And a hint to help see things (though not to delete them in windows) is to just delete or rename the hidden system desktop.ini file that you will find inside the TIF folder (and its sub-folders); sometimes it is visible but it is THE FILE which controls what is visible and invisible in the super-hidden sense - whether it is itself visible or invisible. Once inside the TIF folder from the command prompt type attrib -s -h desktop.ini and then ren desktop.ini deskold.ini.

Now when you go into explorer there should hopefully be more to see than before.

PS
Deltree command and examples (http://users.cybercity.dk/~bse26236/batutil/help/DELTREES.HTM)

[Stripgear]

Since you mention an "A:\", I assume you are using a floppy boot disk.
If so, boot from your hard drive. Press the "F8" key as the OS is loading, before you see the windows splash screen. This will bring
up a menu. You want to boot to "command prompt only".

From there it should work.

[risk_reversal]

Paul Komski, you are indeed a scholar and a gentleman. Booting into windows by way of the F8 key and selecting 'Command prompt only' was the solution. From there on in the rest of the DOS commands including Deltree worked. Many thanks.
Upon reboot, the index.dat file in the TIF folder was 32K.

The article by 'The Riddler' was very interesting and frightening. Pretty soon, it will not be possible to surf the net anymore..........
Now I see why you set up your system with the RAMdrive that zaps all TIF files at reboot.

I must admit I did notice all those Desktop.ini files in the TIF folder and subfolders and did wonder what they were?

I will have a go at your further directions and see what more files it uncovers.

Again many thanks to all. 'edit' thanks to you also Stripgear did not see your post until this second.