Member Avatar for djm123

Inter net Options..Delete temp files

VS

Address %temp%

which will list them & APPEARS more detailed..Is there a difference? Is the second method more thourough?

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Short summary and a safe, practical workflow that fills gaps in the replies above.

Thread starters and raised the browser-vs-folder question, recommended scanning and warned about saved credentials, and called out multiple Temp locations. Both browser cache and application Temp stores matter; treating them together is the safest approach. The steps below keep system files intact while freeing space and avoiding lost data.

  1. Use Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) first — it safely removes Temporary Internet Files, temporary files and other safe candidates, and can be configured for repeat runs. To create a reusable profile:

    cleanmgr /sageset:99
cleanmgr /sagerun:99

    Run the first line, pick the categories to remove, then schedule the second line with Task Scheduler for periodic cleanup.

  2. Close all programs, then reboot to Safe Mode to remove locked leftovers from the system Temp folders (eg. Windows\Temp and each user profile Temp under Documents and Settings). Manual deletion is fine in Safe Mode but avoid removing files from core Windows or Program Files without knowing their purpose.

  3. If a file is locked, identify the process with Task Manager or Sysinternals Process Explorer and close the handle rather than deleting blindly. After clearing caches and temps, run an up-to-date anti-malware and antivirus scan, as suggested.

  4. If free space still seems low, use a disk-usage tool (WinDirStat or similar) to locate large folders. Also note clearing cookies/sign-in data will sign accounts out; back up saved passwords or use a password manager before wiping browser storage.

Caution: avoid bulk-deleting unknown files in system folders. The combination of Disk Cleanup, safe-mode manual clean, and a malware scan covers most cases while minimizing risk.

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Member Avatar for JANINE

there isnt much difference but the 2nd option is better

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

If you really want to go about it well, you might consider the following:

* Empty the temp files from within your browser
* Crumble the cookies contained in your profile
* Scan with a tool, such as Adaware
* Scan for viruses with another tool

I do not support the idea of going into the C:\Windows and looking for things to squash. People can get delete happy, and that is a bad thing.

Also, if you do crumble your cookies, you might loose saved passwords to your online banking and things of the like. But from a security standpoint, would you really want to save that stuff on your computer? Think of the other processes that can eat your cookies from the cookie jar.

Christian

Member Avatar for DMR

A couple things to keep in mind regarding "Temp housecleaning":

1. There's a difference between the Temp and Temporary Internet Files folders, so you should be specific when referring to either. When you delete via Internet Options, you are deleting the contents of your Temporary Internet Files folder, but not your Temp folder.

2. Depending on your version of Windows, you may have multiple Temp and Temporary Internet Files folders. For example, in addition to the C:\Temp and/or C:\%WINDIR%\Temp folder, Win 2K and XP also have separate Temp and Temporary Internet Files (and Cookies) folder for every account on the system, including "non-user" accounts like Default User, NetworkService, and LocalService. Unwanted cruft (including virus/spyware components) can build up in all of those locations.

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