I just deleted about a zillion cookies from my computer

[yardwork]

Most of which I never heard of before and don't recall ever accepting.

I wonder what if anything won't work now? I wonder what all those cookies were doing? Hmmmmmmm............

[Lex]

1. mmmmmm . . . cooooookies

:homer simpson:


:hi:

[Brundle_Fly]

2. now do a search for

*.tmp files, and delete those too...they are a huge slowdown.

some might not delete, as they are being written too...a reboot to delete the rest should finish them off.

[yardwork]

3. What is a *.tmp file?

[mcscajun]

8. TMP Files are "Temporary" Files

created during your use of various Windows-based programs; they aren't needed once the program is done. Cleaning them out is simply routine maintenance. Just leave the ones with Today's Date intact; they might still be in use by one or more programs.

[miss_kitty]

12. the dates are hidden

i have 1580 that came up on search-some have a 'last modified' date of 2002 on them (drivers). I wrote 0s and reloaded last feb. It's too scary. :scared:

[mcscajun]

17. You can see the dates by modifying the View in Windows Explorer

by selecting the Detail View.

[miss_kitty]

4. you mean everything that comes up under a search with *.tmp

is unnecessary? what are they for?

[yardwork]

5. Yeah, watch us delete them all and then crash-bang

[mcscajun]

19. Nope...no 'crash-bang'

These aren't operating files, they're Temporary files, which is why the TMP extension is there.

If left alone, they will clog up your hard drive and eventually slow down your PC.

[mcscajun]

18. TMP files are created during the normal work of Windows

keeping things on the hard drive to free up memory during processing. When the program is finished, so is the need for the created file with the TMP extension.

[supernova]

6. If you use Firefox

it asks you what cookies you want to accept or deny for each site you visit. You would be amazed at how many sites want to set 4 and 5 cookies, those 3 is more typical.

[yardwork]

7. I use Netscape Navigator

Has that become hopelessly uncool?

I've never used microsoft (what a name for a company anyway).

[IronLionZion]

9. if you like netscape, you'd love FireFox

try it
www.getfirefox.com

[miss_kitty]

13. you can set IE to ask if you want to accept cookies

under privacy, IIRC. But I run FF.

[Berserker]

10. What browser

do you use? Do you use any kind of Anti-Spyware programs like Ad-Aware or Spybot? They will delete tracking cookies. Cookies Suck. I only allow cookies for this site and very few other sites. I use FireFox and it askes if you want to allow a cookie to be set.

[Berserker]

14. Throwing Out The Trash

http://9337387.home.icq.com/main17.html

[yardwork]

16. Yes - I have Ad-Aware, also Zone Alarm

plus we have a firewall because we're on a network. I'm really clueless about this. Thank you for your advice!

My kids usually wrestle the computer away from me about once a week and clean things up. They're always surprised by how little crap I have on my computer compared to theirs. Doh! I don't visit as many dodgy sites as they do!

[IronLionZion]

11. now clean your registry too

Try Crap Cleaner, it's free
http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144_4-10346218.html?tag=lst-0-1
remember to backup your registry before deleting anything

there's lots of other stuff you can clean with that too. That should speed things up for you.

[Brundle_Fly]

15. crap cleaner

Thank you IronLion, just opened up 750 megs for me!