Temporary Internet Files

Is it just me, or are there others who feel the same way about the temporary Internet files? Years ago before we had the wide-band connections, when we had the slow dial-up connections, the Temporary Internet Files was a good idea. But these days, in my opinion, I think that it's not only un-necessary, but when you have too many files it can actually slow things down. I can't understand why MS just doesn't do away with them. But then, maybe there is just something I don't understand about them.

Ummmm. Sorry but you are just plain wrong. On so many accounts.
Things would be a lot slower if a browser had to re download everything single item on the web page every time it was visited or refreshed. Nor is it the cause of your "slow-down" something else is going on with your system. Furthermore, every single browser maker out there implements a cache. It having a cache was problematic or only required for "slow" connections then why would they have one too?

logicearth said:

Ummmm. Sorry but you are just plain wrong. On so many accounts.
Things would be a lot slower if a browser had to re download everything single item on the web page every time it was visited or refreshed. Nor is it the cause of your "slow-down" something else is going on with your system. Furthermore, every single browser maker out there implements a cache. It having a cache was problematic or only required for "slow" connections then why would they have one too?

Yes, I certainly could be wrong; and the thought has occurred to me that, as you said, if the files were not necessary, why would the other browsers, also, have them. On the other hand, if that folder gets too full (bloated), couldn't that slow things down?

The folder never gets too full. IE only keeps a maximum number of files, about 50 MB by default. And no it wouldn't slow down your computer if you had 1 GB. Using Hard Drive space does not make things slow.

I had a client who for some reason ended up with a 200 MB browser temp file directory and a huge windows temp directory. The windows temp file had over 850,000 files in it and was really slowing the computer down. changing the browser temp directory size to 10-20 megs was sufficient to make it fast but not slow it down.

The windows temp directory was filled up by a rogue web page that kept creating temp files until the plug was pulled. Cleaning them out was a real job.

I recommend cleaning out the browser temp files and the windows temp directory on a regular basis. Your system will run much more smoothly and faster.

YMMV