Computer heads - I'm drowning in files, HELP please!

[Bundbuster]

6 months ago I installed Windows XP Home on a completely wiped-clean hard drive. After loading all software, Windows upgrades, jpegs, mpegs, etc. I had a total of 37,000 files. Since then I've added virtually nothing, yet now have 116,00 files showing. The only files I could think of coming in would be Norton anti-virus updates, but no way they could total 80,000 files in 6 months.

Someone said that alot of it may be spyware & 3rd-party cookies(?), and suggested running a new "Spy Sweeper" program by Webroot, to identify and delete all spyware. Could you computer veterans tell me where all these files might be coming from, whether this "Spy Sweeper" program might help, or suggest other remedies?

Thanks in advance - bundbuster.

[twistedliberal]

1. Temporary Internet Files.

Those will rack up the file count in a hurry.

You can wipe them out by running Disk Cleanup.

[Bundbuster]

2. I run disk cleanup every day, and

De-frag once a week.

[mouse7]

3. This will help right away...

Click the bottom left start button...

Click control panel on that menu...

Click Internet options in that window

On the General tab up front find the "Temporary Internet Files" section...

Click delete files.

That will eliminate all the web page images you've downloaded and stored. The computer keeps those so you don't have to re-download pages every time you go back to it.

[Bundbuster]

4. Thanks, mouse, but...

That's already taken care of when I do "disk cleanup". Those 80,000 files are coming from somewhere else.

Has anyone ever used/run a spyware program?

Could it possibly identify and delete tens of thousands of files?

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. I'm not quite sure how you actually count TOTAL files

.
.

but my only concern would be disc usage.

For example,if 6 months ago you were using 4gig of a 20 gig, and now you are using 12gig, THAT's quite an increase.

If you are saving web pages, like lets say one thread in DU, which I do now and then. That ONE page can create dozens of files, I just checked the last two I saved, one had 55 files, and the other 72 files.

Oh - I just rechecked sumthing, I saved the page with the avatar images ? - THAT on had 511 files!!

Mind you, most of those "files" are tiny,(1,5 10k) one file for each avatar, graphic, image whatever, just for the one "page".

So, don't worry about the NUMBER of files, just disc usage . . . .

OH, by the way . .

I WOULD like to know how to find out exactly how many files I have on my OWN computer: if anyone could let me know.

[Bundbuster]

6. Hi CC -

When I run a Norton virus scan, the final readout gives the total # of disk files.

On your note, I do save occasional web pages, so maybe if I delete the non-essential ones I'd see an obvious difference.

My hard drive space usage has not gone up dramatically, but noticeably.

If all else fails, I'll call Comp USA tomorrow during the Super Bowl and have a techie all to myself.

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. Aaah, right, I run AVG 6.0, but never paid attention to that number !

.
.

doh