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Mastertech:
This thread is pretty ridiculous but I feel like I need to provide this information.

First if you go to Folder Options in Windows Explorer (2000 or XP), View Settings and select "Show hidden files and folders" then uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)". You can now browse to the Temporary Internet Files folder. If you select the + sign on the left of the folder it will expand and show the Content.IE5 folder and again to show all the sub folders.

Cleaning this is rather easy, you have two simple solutions:
(SuperClean is not a free program these are)

1. CCleaner - Get the Slim or Basic builds (No Yahoo Toolbar). This program will clean all your Internet Temp Files and the Index.dat upon reboot. This will only clean up the Temp Files ect... for the account you are logged on to. To fully clean the Index.dat you have to have admin rights on the account.

Settings:
-Uncheck Old Prefetch Data (Deleting these will slow down Windows Boot and Application Launch times)
-Go to Options, Advanced, uncheck "Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours"
-If you want to securely delete these files go to Options, Settings, Secure Deletion, select "Secure file Deletion (Slower)" and select the number of passes you want.

2. CleanUp! - Is a good program to clean multi-Windows user accounts at the same time.

Settings:
-Options Uncheck Prefetch Files (Deleting these will slow down Windows Boot and Application Launch times)


Now it is possible to secretly hide files on your HD using Rootkits. You can detect these using RootkitRevealer. Viruses and complex Malware can use this technology.


Here is another program for paranoid people about their privacy;

MRU Blaster -  is a program made to do one large task - detect and clean MRU (most recently used) lists on your computer. These MRU lists contain information such as the names and/or locations of the last files you have accessed. They are located ALL OVER your registry, and for almost ANY file type. By looking at these MRU lists, someone could determine what files you opened/saved/looked at, what their file names were, and much more! (And, in many cases, the lists are displayed in drop-down menus automatically.)

Dark_Me:
We have kinda verified that they don't exist on later versions of Windows.
Also does the fact that you need all these different apps signify anything about Windows to you.?

Mastertech:

--- Quote from: Dark_Me ---We have kinda verified that they don't exist on later versions of Windows. Also does the fact that you need all these different apps signify anything about Windows to you.?
--- End quote ---
You don't need all those apps. I simply provided them for people that are interested. They each serve different functions. CCleaner and Cleanup! are similiar but CCleaner only cleans the account you are logged onto and Cleanup does all the accounts at once. CCleaner has other options too like a registry cleaner.

Rootkits are a problem on all Operating Systems. And the MRUBlaster program is for anyone paranoid about privacy.

Annorax:

--- Quote from: Calum ---i know it is highly unfashionable these days to say this, but the answer is staring you in the face, install linux, or a BSD, or get a mac. if you are not using windows, you are definitely 100% free of windows hidden files, for good.

and you NEVER hear of these hidden files in ANY other operating system do you? there must be a good reason for that.
--- End quote ---


Never let unfashionability get in the way of the truth.

Aloone_Jonez:

--- Quote from: Mastertech ---This thread is pretty ridiculous but I feel like I need to provide this information.
--- End quote ---

It is generally accepted on this forum that the "really hidden files" article is rubbish, most of us would like to see it removed and replaced with something better but Refalm (the admin of this site) doesn't actually have ftp access so it can't be done, it's a shame because the main page is now so outdated that it takes away our credibility. Many people here have offered to write new articles and I hope that one day the webmaster returns and allows Refalm to put them up on the front page.

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