Internet explorer temp files build up even when disabled?

[lan101]

I have a customer with a 7 year old windows 7 32-bit machine. She runs Ccleaner a few times a day and every time there's 100's of MB's of temp files from IE and IE is disabled. She generally uses chrome or firefox for browsing. Also uses Norton for A/v but she's always had good luck with that end of it. I can't think of any other specifics that would pertain to why these temp files build up to huge amounts.

I've ran through all the normal list of malware cleanup tools and just some minor pickups of things but nothing out of the ordinary pup's etc.

Anything else to check?

Thank you Everyone

 

[MichaelBits]

What do you mean by IE is disabled? Meaning it's shut off in Windows Programs and Features?
Also, what are the temp files? How do you know they're from IE?

She runs it a few times a day? Wow... Just why...?

 

[lan101]

What do you mean by IE is disabled? Meaning it's shut off in Windows Programs and Features?
Also, what are the temp files? How do you know they're from IE?

She runs it a few times a day? Wow... Just why...?

Yeah disabled through windows programs and features.
I just saw the report of ccleaner showing "internet explorer temporary internet files" and its always some huge amount she tells me. I've seen 2 separate reports of 300 plus MB in just a few hours a part from each other.

Yeah I told her no reason to run it that much, but not sure she'll listen to that lol. I say once a week or 2 is sufficient. In this case though maybe it wouldn't be with temp files building like that.

 

[glennd]

There is no such thing as "disabling" internet exploder in windows 7. Switching it off in Features just makes the shortcuts to the browser go away. IE is so tightly integrated into windows that true disabling is impossible. It is always running and always making temporary files. Your customer needs to put ccleaner away and worry about important things.

Edit: By always running, there is much software about that uses windows api calls for their normal functions and many of these calls are part of what we might think of as IE. The lines between IE and Windows are blurred. Tell the customer this is the normal Windows 7 function and do not be concerned about it.

 

[Mick]

If she really wants rid of these temp files and CCleaner isn't helping, try this: https://addpcs.com/software/tfc/#/about Dangerously thorough

 

[lan101]

Yeah I know you can't really "disable" IE but I did just so I know for sure she didn't use it. It just had compiled a rather unusually large amount of temp stuff in my opinion. I mean 300-400 MB or more a few times a day seemed rather excessive to me, but either way I told her lets not run ccleaner for at least a week and see what happens from there.

 

[lan101]

FTFY.

In all probability it's the same temporary files every time and CCleaner is unable to delete them. This is really not a big deal!

The solution is to delete CCleaner, not the temporary files. It could be your client's first step on the road back to sanity.

Great point that makes sense.

 

[glennd]

Yeah I know you can't really "disable" IE but I did just so I know for sure she didn't use it. It just had compiled a rather unusually large amount of temp stuff in my opinion. I mean 300-400 MB or more a few times a day seemed rather excessive to me, but either way I told her lets not run ccleaner for at least a week and see what happens from there.

Most likely either they are not really being deleted as @Computer Bloke suggests or some software she uses is generating them. For example, a program that generates html reports can make api calls to do the generation. I might be wrong but I seem to recall Outlook uses IE to render html emails. etc....

 

[nlinecomputers]

Most likely either they are not really being deleted as @Computer Bloke suggests or some software she uses is generating them. For example, a program that generates html reports can make api calls to do the generation. I might be wrong but I seem to recall Outlook uses IE to render html emails. etc....

Correct. Windows Explorer is also based on Internet Explorer. Run any .NET programs? You are calling IE routines.

 

[GTP]

Try disabling the ETW Collector Service in services.msc as well. Even though IE is not being used it still collects data/reports etc.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

She runs Ccleaner a few times a day and every time there's 100's of MB's of temp files from IE and IE is disabled.

I cant remember does CCleaner remove temp files in C:\Windows\System\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 ? check and see if thats where your temp files are. If so confirm that ccleaner is actually removing them each time, if they are and you are getting 100's of MB of temp files multiple times a day take a closer look and see what those temp files are.

You know if my memory is serving me correctly I don't think CCleaner removed those files but I havent seen those files become a problem since zero access was running rampant.

 

[lan101]

Will try both suggestions. Thank you.