What are temporary files, what do they do, and how do you erase them?

Question

Three questions I know but inter-related. I'll have more details when I get some answers!!

Answer 1

There are two kinds of temporary files. Temporary Internet files (used by IE, Mozilla, Netscape) and Temporary Computer Files (Used by programs), both are used to store temporary data onto your computer.

Example is if you download a program off the Internet and you choose "Open" instead of "Save" it will store it in the Temporary files.

You can have temporary Internet files cleared by simply opening up the folder and deleting them, as long as they aren't being used.

Other ways:

1.) "Clearing Temporary Internet files"
a.) Open the Control Panel and double-click Internet Options.
b.) On the General tab, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet files
c.) In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the Delete all offline content if you want to remove all web page content that is available offline.
d.) Click OK

2.) "Clearing everything and cleaning up the computer"
a.) Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System > Disk Cleanup
c.) Choose Temporary files and Temporary Internet files
d.) Click OK
e.) Click OK to confirm

Answer 2

There are hundreds of temporary files all over your computer. If you open a picture in Photoshop, it has temporary "snaps" of all your work. If you are on the WEB, your browser ( ie IE explorer) has thousands of jpgs. gifs, htmls, and links stored, so that you can press the BACK button. Running an INSTALL EXE will dump temporary files into a folder as it uncompresses the files, and places them in the correct folders. Almost all programs that you click on leave behind a trail of TEMP files, somewhere.

As someone states, there are many software programs that get rid of SOME of these. Spybot and ADAWARE GET RID OF SOME HIDDEN FILES. You can go into C:\Windows\TEMP and look at generic TEMP files. In Internet Explorer, you can go into the control settings and empty some of the temp files. For programs like photoshop, etc. you have to know where they are hidden, or use a Window Washer like program. On your START menu, just look at RECENT files - these are in a temp folder called ' recent" and can be emptied. If you use win98, the folders are fairly accessible. If you have WinXP you probably need a software program or two to even find them!
If you open MS Word, you can click OPEN and WORD will give you a list of the last documents that you used - these would be in a temp folder. Many programs will automatically keep backup copies of all your recent files, and offer them in OPEN. All of these
folders can be emptied.
good luck

Answer 3

Looks like all of your questions have been answered but while I'm here I may as well earn my 2 pts and add that you can also go to Internet Options for the temporary file deletion feature, and get rid of cookies too with the later Windows programs. I use Mozilla's Firefox system, which is even easier, simpler, and slightly faster. You just go to Tools, on the toolbar, and click on Clear Private Data. It also gives you the option to get rid of cookies.

Answer 4

Temp files can always be erased.
In fact if you don't, you may run into problems when trying to install some new programs.
You don't need a special program to do it. Just go to to your C: drive (which ever drive you have windows on), then Documents and settings, the folder named for the computer owner, Local settings, Temp delete both, folders and files under that
Some files won't be deletable (because they are being used) just exclude them and go on.

Answer 5

They r files of sites that u have visited on the internet.
They tell u where u have been on the internet.
Go to internet options,select General tab,you'll c Temporary internet files delete cookies & delete files.

Answer 6

Temp files are files a program makes to make it run or save data and they are usually deleted when program quits or windows deletes them automatically but temp files are still on your system.If you want to remove them and clean your computer get yourself this free program called CCleaner http://www.ccleaner.com/

Answer 7

go in to internet options and delete them if u want