INetCache: Delete-able?
Dell XPS 13. Windows 8.1 Just over one (1) year old.
Windows recently flashed a message telling me I was running low on disk space. I couldn't understand why. I barely keep any files on this computer.
After rooting around for three (3) days, I discovered the following folder:
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Low\IE
It contains over eleven-thousand (11,000) files, twelve (12) subfolders, and more than 43 GB of internet data!
The files all appear to be data from internet browsing, dating back to nearly the first day I purchased the computer.
I tried to use the standard IE delete browsing history, Windows disk cleanup,, and other utilities to dump internet temp files, but these tactics apparently never touched these.
Is it ok to manually delete these subfolders and files?
And how can I ensure they don't creep up again?
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Hi jmm,
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Low\IE
Using File Explorer to open and find that folder (on my user account).....I do not have that folder on my computer...
If you have not done a Windows update in a while, please do so. There were changes made to how IE loads 32bit ActiveX controls in the internet zone some months ago and that Low folder is where copies of those controls would have been stored.
then try
1. Tools>Internet Options>General tab, Browsing History section, 'Settings' button, 'Temporary Internet Files' tab,
select "Automatically check for new versions of web pages"
(note: at the bottom of that tab you should see the same folder address that you have provided... I have exactly the same address except for my current username).
2. Tools>Internet Options>Advanced tab, scroll down and check "Empty Temporary Internet Folder when browser is closed" ( I do not have that setting checked)...
close all open IE windows and start it again for the full changes to take affect... go to say http://microsoft.com and then close the browser again, then using File Explorer inspect the TIF folder to see if has been cleared...
3. Start>Control Panel>Flash Player 32bit> Select "Block all sites from storing information on this computer" then
click the Delete button.....
return to file explorer and (refresh the view first (f5)) see if the files/folder has been removed....
I am using an Enterprise version of Windows8 so I cannot say if deleting that folder will affect your computer...
Generally purchased home computers from Manufacturers like Dell include a lot of additional software. They may require some of that data... I also have not installed any Apps.
Without more details about exactly what is in your folder I would have to say leave it... My best suspicion is that you have not done regular Windows update (second Tuesday of each month) and doing one now will bring it up to date with changes for ActiveX controls
in the IE cache.
Also post back with the full address of some of the web sites you visit (eg. youtube.com, pogo.com ) this may hint what type of information is being stored there.
Regards.
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