MS moved Temporary Internet Files folder location

Running XP-Pro SP3 with IE8

I use CCleaner to clean my Temporary Internet Files folder.

By IE default this file was always located at> Local Disk C:\Documents and Settings\%User Name%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files. The History folder is also located under the Local Settings folder.

I had previously moved my Temporary Internet Files folder (via Internet Options) to my secondary hard drive, partition J: and cleaned it from there.

After installing the 6/14 Windows updates Tuesday, which included 2 Internet Explorer updates: KB2530548 and KB2544521, I noted that the Temporary Internet files were no longer being cleared by CCleaner or the IE Delete Browsing History selection.

Upon investigating, I noted that the location of the Temporary Internet Files folder had been moved to Local Disk C:\Documents and Settings\%User Name%\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files (note now under Temp sub-folder) along with new folders for History and Cookies.

Thinking there may have been some confusion with the IE updates since the TIF folder was on a different drive, I moved the folder back onto my secondary hard drive, partition J; via the Internet Options> General Tab> Setting button. Upon reboot it was set back to under the Temp sub-folder. (Also note that when this happens, the History gets confused and no History is recorded or deleted either).

A check of the registry shell area shows that the Temporary Internet Files folder is still located on the partiton J: drive.

I checked the internet for any posting and finally contacted Microsoft Tech Support. After some research and discussion amoung themselves, they concluded that MS did change the location of the Temporary Internet Files folder due to some hacking concerns. They also said that as long as the Internet Options still allows the folder to be moved, it can be .......... but not true, at least not for a drive other than the IE default drive.

Anyone else with this problem? Please check the location of the Temporary Internet Files folder as shown above and advise. The Registry entries are located here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders and here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

If it has been moved we need to redirect our Cleaners.

Thank You.

Was this change only made to XP / IE8?

Running windows 7 SP1 (Fully updated too) and IE9, I didn't see a folder placement change.

That's more-or-less been a "feature" I guess of IE since way back in the Win9x era, you change your TIF folder location and all on its own it will starting using the original location, or another, etc.

Old topic Resurrectted for important information

why are my Temporary Internet Files, Cookies and History folders are located in the Temp folder?

This is a consequence of damaged index.dat files. When Internet Explorer cannot read one of the index.dat files from the standard locations, usually C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings, it will create new folders under the Temp folder. To fix this:

  1. Start -> Control Panel -> Internet Options;
  2. Click the Settings button, then click Move;
  3. Specify some temporary folder, e.g. C:\MyCache;
  4. Click OK, you'll be prompted to logoff and logon again, click Yes (restart Windows manually if not prompted);
  5. After logon open Windows Explorer;
  6. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\;
  7. Delete Cookies folder;
  8. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings;
  9. Delete History and Temporary Internet Files folders;
  10. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Temp;
  11. Delete History, Cookies and Temporary Internet Files folders;
  12. Start -> Control Panel -> Internet Options;
  13. Click the Settings button, then click Move;
  14. Specify C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings;
  15. Click Yes when prompted to logoff (restart Windows manually if not prompted).