More on where Windows 7 puts important files

By Fred Langa PC users who have made the jump from Windows XP to Windows 7 are in for a surprise when they go looking for temporary files. In the Feb. 25 Windows Secrets newsletter, I answered the question, “Where did ‘Documents and Settings’ go in Win7?” This week, a subscriber wants to know where Win7 puts temporary Internet files.

Scattering temp files improves Win7 security

Reader R. Jones wants access to his Win7 temporary Internet files, but he can’t find them where they used to be in XP.

• “In Win7, how do I see temporary files while I’m on the Internet? With XP, the temporary files were available under ‘local settings.’ Now, when I search for ‘temporary files’ I see several choices for dealing with such files but I don’t see a path to a temporary folder.”
  

The simplest way to view most temporary Internet files is to do so from right inside your browser. In IE 7 and 8, for example, click Tools, Internet Options. On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Settings, View files. That’s all it takes!

If you prefer navigating to those files more directly, Win7 caches temporary Internet files in the following folder:

C:   Users  username  AppData  Local  Microsoft  Windows  Temporary Internet Files

Another location holds many subfolders containing more temporary files used by the browser, add-ons, and other utilities and applications. That folder’s path is:

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3. Change All Windows At Once
4. Free! “Empty Temp Folders”
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