Unable to Disable Thumbnail Cache

[Cyberwolf]

Hello,

I have followed the guides online for disabling the Thumbnail cache in Win7 (Specifically, the .db files generated when pictures are loaded in Windows Explorer)

I disabled it via the tutorial on this website, I have also disabled it in Group Policy Editor... I cleared the existing cache, rebooted, and when i load directories with pictures in them, the .db file(s) are still being generated.

I do not wish to disable the display of thumbnails in Windows Explorer...I realize this is the easiest method of ensuring they are not generated in the .db. However there must be a way to prevent windows from doing so. I am unclear as to why mine wont.

 

[Ztruker]

I'm curious why you want to do this as it will slow Windows Explorer down when displaying files that require icons.

 

[Cyberwolf]

I'm curious why you want to do this as it will slow Windows Explorer down when displaying files that require icons.

I am running a Samsung 840 Pro SSD. My average read is 519Mb/sec. Speed isnt an issue.

Security is the concern. Business security. Opening sensitive files that could be recovered or could be downloaded if the system ever became compromised.

 

[Britton30]

This should do it for you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10794-thumbnail-cache-enable-disable.html

 

[Cyberwolf]

This should do it for you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10794-thumbnail-cache-enable-disable.html

*Facepalm*

Perhaps you missed the part where I said I had followed the tutorials on this site. I ran the reg "hack" that was available (and in the past ive done the manual editing)

No effect. Windows still generates the .db when I open folders containing pictures, and when its configured to display thumbnails

 

[Britton30]

Well slap my face and pull my hair! I often read (or not) too fast.

Read my posts in this tut, I had the same problem. I also used CCleaner to delete the thumbs.db.
I use this Thumbnail Database Viewer - IT Samples to see if they indeed are gone.

This can clean them too. Thumbnail Database Cleaner - IT Samples

As Brink states thumbs are generated but the reg change keeps them from being cached, saved.

 

[Cyberwolf]

Well they are definitely being generated AND saved. Against registry settings and against Group Policies.

Very confused as to why Windows seems to be ignoring the settings and allowing them to persist...If I reboot, the previous thumbnail cache exists as it did before the reboot. So its not even like Windows is storing them for one session only.

 

[Britton30]

Odd behavior that. I can only suggest the two free programs I listed. I find my system still had the db folders but have notin in them. If you haven't tried it, as I say I use CCleaner too. CCleaner - Update Free version from Piriform site.

 

[Cyberwolf]

Is there a method to prevent Windows from writing to a particular directory? Perhaps setting it read-only?

 

[Britton30]

Is there a method to prevent Windows from writing to a particular directory? Perhaps setting it read-only?

I don't know that one. You can try read-only though.

 

[Cyberwolf]

Windows must ignore or over ride "Read Only" settings as its still writing to that directory and those .db files. Despite verifying its read only status

 

[Britton30]

Brink may have a solution for you as I'm in the dark. Post you issues in the tutorial thread I linked too.

 

[Cyberwolf]

Windows is still generating and saving the .db files after disabling thumbnails via the registry AND Group Policy editor.

Any ideas why or how to finally tell Windows enough is enough, and to enforce its own rules?

 

[Brink]

Hello David,

Since you do not want thumbnail previews, you could just disable thumbnail previews to not have them.

As far as the thumbnail cache, you might see if resetting it may help to no longer generate it since you disabled the thumbnail cache.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10797-thumbnail-cache-clear-reset.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[logicearth]

You are turning off the wrong thumbnail caching. In group policy where you turned the other thumbnail catching off you want: "Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files"

There are two thumbnail caches in Windows 7, the first one is a central store at "C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" this handles all thumbnail caching for the whole computer. Now, thumbs.db files are created for network locations, or in Windows 7 libraries and other interfaces seem to go though a network interface fooling the caching routines as if local files were on a network drive. Thus you get thumbs.db when you should not.

Registry key if you don't have group policy:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders"=dword:00000001

 

[Brink]

Thank you logicearth. I've updated the .reg files in the tutorial to include that as well now.

 

[Britton30]

In GPE both need to be turned off then?

 

[Brink]

In GPE both need to be turned off then?

Hey Gary,

Yep, both need to be set to "Enabled" in GPE like in OPTION TWO below to disable the cache.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10794-thumbnail-cache-enable-disable.html

 

[Cyberwolf]

The only issue with the above given advise, is that I already HAD set ENABLED to the two listed sections in Group Policy. I have also already cleared the cache and rebooted via the Disk Cleanup option. After reboot, the thumbs are still being generated in /User Account Here/App Data/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Explorer.

After browsing a few folders with pictures in them, thumbcache_96.db is sitting at 15 Megs. Using software to view the .db shows the thumbs of the pictures folders I had opened.

Clearly something isnt going on as intended. I dont view disabling them altogether as an option, seeing as there are options to SUPPOSEDLY disable caching.

 

[logicearth]

Cyberwolf, even when you disable Thumbnail caching those files "thumbcache_*.db" are always created. ALWAYS.