Microsoft's Really Hidden Files: Updated Specifically for XP:

http://www.****microsoft.com has a nice little tut on Microsofts Really Hidden Files which shows you how to find cached information stored about you and what your doing on your win95/98 box. Unfortunately, they do not tell you about XP, where they have changed everything around a little. This TUT is to show you where this information is stored on XP and how to get rid of it!

Before you begin:

Please ensure that you have done the following:
You are log 'd on as Administrator (or the first user created during setup)
You have set the XP theme to Classic (might work otherwise, didn't test)

1. double click my computer
2. double click your primary drive (i.e. C )
3. click Tools on the menu
4. select Folder Options
5. select View
6. make sure Show Hidden files and folders is Selected
7. Uncheck the box next to "Hide protected operating system files(Recommended)
8. click Apply
9. Click OK
10. double click Documents and Settings
11. Double click desired User (you can do this for each individual user, each has their own cache)
12. Double click Local Settings
13. Double Click Temporary Internet Files
14. Highlight the Address in the Address bar, copy it, put it in a TextPad (notepad)

This next part is a little tricky. You will need to open a Command prompt, click Start, Run, type Command, Press OK
You need to get dos to the same folder you browsed to, but in order to do that, you must Truncate the address so that Dos can understand it. For example, if my username were pothead, it would look like this:
C:\Docume~1\pothead\LocalS~1\Tempor~1
or if it were winbitazz it would look like this:
C:\Docume~1\winbit~1\LocalS~1\Tempor~1
Anything over 8 chars is truncated with a ~1, (this of course means that anything over 8 chars will have the first six chars showing followed by a '~1' makeing up 8 chars, for example georgecarlin.txt would be truncated to george~1.txt> Its called 8.3 filenameing system.) you may have to play with it a few minutes as not all systems and usernames are the same, sorry

15. Type: Edit desktop.ini
16. Once desktop.ini opens, push the down arrow once, putting your cursor on the second line. Put a minus sign at the beginning of this line. Also add a minus sign immediately after the =
17. Click File, Save
18. Click back to your Windows Explorer
19. Hit the Back button
20. double click Temporary Internet Files (yes i know you were just there)
21. A new folder should have appeared, Content.IE5. double click it
22. explore all the files, and see what Microsoft has been collecting about you

Side Note: I feel this comes under Personal Security, not to metion a real waste of space! I had 1.5 gigs in there and I only have a 6 gig drive! This is not really fair from a consumer point of view, seems they want your drive to fill up so you must upgrade it.... If anyone feels this should not be posted, let me know and I will delete it, no neg points needed.....