Cookie info and question

[Splatster]

Hi folks, it seems some are asking about cookies so I did a search and found this topic on cookies.

Want to prevent cookies or at least have your computer warn you before it accepts them? Well, here's a tip that will help :-)
First, my advice.
I recommend that if you are worried about cookies to set the browser prompt you before accepting them. In my "humble" opinion, it's not a good idea to shut them off altogether. Cookies are about the only way a site can recognize you. If you do any online shopping, have sites that store your passwords, or have a page that is set up for you based on your preferences, you'll lose all that if you disable cookies.
That's my 2 cents worth, here's how to set your browser to prompt you before accepting cookies or to disable them altogether:
With Internet Explorer (5.0 +):
Click your Tools menu, Internet Options. Click your Security tab and click the "Custom Level" button.
You'll find an option for either disabling cookies or having the computer prompt you before taking them.

Now for my question...If I delete all my cookies will it hurt my system? I see that some of these files are dat. files. Will these files be deleted as well? Okay I know that's two questions. Any help would be appreciated!



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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!

[Welshjim]

Splatster--No you will not hurt your system, but you will lose the settings to post/participate at sites like VirtualDr, your bank, etc. as examples. The alternative is to selectively delete cookies. See http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q278835
And you will have to use DOS to delete the index.dat files. Do a Search on this Board to do this. Unless you plan to delete all your cookies, I am not sure it worth the fuss.
I assume you are deleting your cache (the parts of the Temporary Internet Files that are deleted from Tools|Internet Explorer|General tab|Delete Files) every now and then as part of your regular maintenance procedures. The cache is everything in TIF except for cookies and index.dat.

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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[Splatster]

I kinda thought that was the case WJ. Thanks for the link and input.

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I must be a newbie, I bought a Compaq!

[Welshjim]

Splatster--You're most welcome!! Glad I could help.

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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[Report_2]

I use a different method to manage my cookies.

Firstly, I have set my IE Tools, Internet Options, Advanced to empty my TIF when broswer is closed and then.

Using Explorer, Expand the tree down to C:\Windows\Temp Internet File folder, Click and drag the folder from the left hand pane of Explorer to the desktop, release and select Create Shortcut Here.

Each time after exiting my browser I open the TIF shortcut and there I will see only my Cookies remaining in the TIF.

The first time doing this I clean out all of the undesirables.
Then I click on the column title bar of the right hand pane called 'Last Checked'. At this point I take a mental note of the one on the top of the list.

The next time I open it I can scroll down until I can see the one I noted, select the one directly above it while holding down the shift key. This will select all of the new and I then just hit delete unless of course I had just visited a webpage that produced a cookie that I want to keep then...

I actually store the shortcut on the Office Shortcut Bar to keep it out of the way.


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"A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse" - Rod Stewart