Temp Internet & Temp folders confusion

[Denise]

I was attempting to put together some instructions for two 70 yr old relatives on how to clean out their Cookies & Temp Internet Files. In doing so I know seem to have confused myself & have questions.

Looking in my IE Settings the location for my Temp Internet files folders says the location is at
C:\documents & Settings\Denise\local settings\temporary internet files. However when I follow this path I get as far as the Denise folder. There is no local settings folder.

Looking at my C drive through Windows Explorer I can’t find a local settings folder anywhere. I did find two folders titled Temp at C:\temp (341kb) and C:\Windows\Temp(12.6kb)

But when I do the %temp% in the run command it brings up several items that are not found in the folders noted above. I have no idea where all these items are located.

Why can’t I find C:\documents and Settings\Denise\local settings\temporary internet files Am I looking at two different kinds of temp files?
Should I be deleting the items in the C:\temp (341kb) and C:\Windows\Temp(12.6kb) and the items that come up on the %temp% search?

Thanks for any help - Denise

[curtybob]

open any explorer window (like open My Documents or whatever) and at the top, click on tools>folder options>View tab>show hidden files and folders. The temp internet files folder is right where you thought, only hidden.

You should be able to empty any temp folders, but in the case of 70 yr olds, there is probably no need.

[Gene K]

Originally posted by curtybob
open any explorer window (like open My Documents or whatever) and at the top, click on tools>folder options>View tab>show hidden files and folders. The temp internet files folder is right where you thought, only hidden.

You should be able to empty any temp folders, but in the case of 70 yr olds, there is probably no need.

A small modification to this reply.
Control Panel/Folder Options/View Tab/scroll down and check mark "Show hidden files and folders"/scroll down a little further and remove the check mark from "Hide protected operating system files"/ do the correct thing with the grumble box\"OK" out of Folder Options"/Close the Control Panel. And yes, you can access Folder Options from Windows Explorer also.
Remember to go back and undo these changes after you finish what you contemplate doing.
[and 71]

[Denise]

Thanks Curtybob & Gene I appreciate the help. I found the folders, but have a couple more questions now.

What is the difference between a Temp and a Temporary Internet Folder?

Also there is the Temp folder in my Local Settings, Program Files & Windows folders. Why would there be a Temp folder in each of these? And it is okay to delete the contents of all these Temp folders?

Thanks again - Denise

[curtybob]

Temporary internet files: used as a cache for Internet Explorer. Everytime you see a picture in a webpage, your computer saves it (and a few other trhings, but mainly pics) here, because it is faster to pull the pic from your hard drive than from the net.

Temp folders: Windows and some other programs use these folders kinda like scratch paper. When you install a program, all the files being installed are usually extracted to a temp folder (manly for tidiness) and the temp folder just loads up with all the temporary files that missed being deleted after the action was completed. Also, Windows uses the Temp folders for other things, like mini-dump files when you get a system error and things like that. If you are worried about deleting the contents, just right click on the temp folder, and choose copy. Then rename the copy of the temp folder, and then go to the original and delete the contents. If anything acts crazy, then just drag and drop the contents of the copied Temp folder back into the original temp folder.