Delete Temporary Internet Files

Dr. Roland B. Herman

     If you use Windows 95 or Windows 98 and you log onto the Internet, your computer will have Temporary Internet Files. These files are copied onto your hard drive without your knowledge. Their supposed purpose is to speed up your access to the Internet sites that you revisit. However, these files accumulate rapidly and in a few days of using the Internet, your computer may contain thousands (yes, thousands) of these files. They really do not speed things up enough to warrant keeping them. They just take up room on your hard drive.

You can check your hard drive by launching Windows Explorer, and checking C:\ Windows\Temporary Internet Files. There may be subfolders and you will see the number of files. Don't be surprised if you find a bewildering list of files. You will also find cookies. What are cookies? All these files can be deleted without harm.

Here is how:
In Windows 95
1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. In the Control Panel double click Internet Options
3. Choose the General tab
4. In the center click on the Delete Files button
5. Also check the box that appears to Delete All Offline Content
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK.
Now go back and check the Temorary Internet Files folder in Windows Explorer. The cookies may still be there, but the other files will be deleted.
You may delete the cookies by highlighting them and pressing the Delete key.

Repeat this in a few days.

In Windows 98
1. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Tools > Disk Cleanup
2. Choose the correct drive usually C:\
3. Check the boxes in the list and delete the files.

In AOL version 5.0; 6.0; 7.0
1. Log on to AOL
2. Click on My AOL in 5.0 or Settings in 6.0 and 7.0 on the menu bar.
3. Click on Preferences > WWW icon.
4. On the General tab click the Delete button on Temporary Internet Files.
5. In the Delete Files Box that appears, you may also check the box to delete all offline context.

Repeat this in a few days.