Hidden Files and Folders

Why are the temporary internet files and folders hidden in Windows 7 Pro?

No idea why really, it has been designed that way by IE developers and maintained over many versions now. It doesn't make much sense to me, since the browser's cache isn't anything "dangerous", but it's easier to make explorer show the files anyway.

Alejandro85 said:

No idea why really, it has been designed that way by IE developers and maintained over many versions now. It doesn't make much sense to me, since the browser's cache isn't anything "dangerous", but it's easier to make explorer show the files anyway.

Thanks for the reply Alejandro.......I have been a long time XP Pro guy and it used to be quite simple to go here: C:\Documents and Settings\main user\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files and you would be able to see all the temporary internet files in one place.

With Windows 7 Pro, I go here:
C:\Users\main user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5\A0UKRFK1..............and there are 32 folders with 8 numbers/letters like A0UKRFK1 listed under Content.IE5 which makes it really hard to find anything as you have to open each Folder until you find what you are looking for.

In fact, the true structure of temporary internet files is what your Win7 shows, with all those rare names and files scattered everywhere. In XP, Windows Explorer "lies" to you by showing all files together (this is controlled by the file desktop.ini there, just delete using DOS and you'll get the same). What I don't understand is why it isn't working on Win7 in the same way as it did in XP.

Anyway, I think there is an easier way. If all you want is to look at the cache's content and copy files out of there, this little program may help: Play offline/Save .flv video files from Web browser cache
(while it says "video", it really can show all files there).

Brink said:

Hello Kenny, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That folder is hidden because it's a protected operating system file, and so you will not see it since you should not mess with them. :)

Hi Brink..........I'm not making any changes or messing around in there. I usually dump the temporary internet files weekly but always like to go in and have a look before I send it off to cyberspace.

TinCanKenny

Alejandro85 said:

In fact, the true structure of temporary internet files is what your Win7 shows, with all those rare names and files scattered everywhere. In XP, Windows Explorer "lies" to you by showing all files together (this is controlled by the file desktop.ini there, just delete using DOS and you'll get the same). What I don't understand is why it isn't working on Win7 in the same way as it did in XP.

Anyway, I think there is an easier way. If all you want is to look at the cache's content and copy files out of there, this little program may help: Play offline/Save .flv video files from Web browser cache
(while it says "video", it really can show all files there).

Thanks Alejandro....

TinCanKenny said:

Why are the temporary internet files and folders hidden in Windows 7 Pro?

Simple and straightforward answer is that Microsoft does want inexperienced users to mess with the temp files which might result in the browser being not able to launch or display webpages properly due to messed up files.

nilank said:

TinCanKenny said:

Why are the temporary internet files and folders hidden in Windows 7 Pro?

Simple and straightforward answer is that Microsoft does want inexperienced users to mess with the temp files which might result in the browser being not able to launch or display webpages properly due to messed up files.

I get that part Nilank but I am still having a problem sorting out everything that is in the Windows 7 temporary internet files and where it is "all" stored. If I navigate to
C:\Users\mainuser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files and check the properties, it shows that I have 469mb in there. Then when I navigate to: C:\Users\mainuser\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5 it displays the 32 folders that are listed under Low\Content.IE5, the properties of those folders only total 102mb. So this leads me to believe that 367mb are hidden somewhere else and I would like to find them.
Also I would like to know the purpose of setting a recommended limit of 250mb for the temporary internet files as nothing seems to happen if you exceed that limit.