Another killer is the *.tmp (any file ending in .tmp) files. And the tilde files (and file with a ~ as part of the name. These are always leftover junk files from some abnormal exit or other anomaly. These need to be purged at least weekly. Sometimes they are huge. They are usually found in c:\windows\temp and sometimes in c:\temp. BUT DO NOT REMOVE THESE FROM WINDOWS. Make sure you reboot your computer into the commend prompt. Reboot and hold down the F8 key when the screen says "starting Windows 95", select the command prompt and use the DOS DEL command to remove these files. Some folks write a simple batch file to do this every time they start the computer. You can recover large hard disk capacity and make strange problems disappear if you do this religiously. If you remove these from Windows with the Windows Explorer, you will probably trash your system because Windows does make legitimate .tmp files which it removes when it exits normally. Also run Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter at least once per week. Windows 95 will sometimes crash and burn with over 5 - 8% fragmented hard disk. Make sure the Scandisk "fixes problems" and deletes crosslinked and lost files (options on the advanced menu ) Jerry's reference to cache is probably a reference to the Interenet Browser cache. These files can be removed from within the Browser and a limit on the size of these files can be set in the Browser software too. > -----Original Message----- > From: Jerry & Pam Munson [SMTP:jmunson@fidalgo.net] > Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 1998 9:31 AM > To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com > Subject: Re: Electronic Charting/Visual Navigation Suite > > Hi all... > Joe Engle is correct regarding fragments of files degrading the > overall > operation of the 'puter. Microsoft Magazine had a blurb in the > technical > hints section an issue or two ago wherein instructions were provided > to > erase the cache files (everything older than 'today's' date). > Unfortunately, I can't find the copy of the magazine (probably made > its way > into the recycle bin). I also can't recall the steps to get to the > cache > files, but I remember that there was a TON of stuff in there when I > looked, > and this Compaq Presario was only about 5 weeks old when I cleaned up > that > aspect of the fragments. Thus, if Cap'n Wil had been using his rig > for a > couple years, no telling how many fragments were in there slowing > everything down. > I'll continue to look for the technical article & post it if I > come across > it. A colleague suggested a visit to the local library to browse > their > copy. I might do that. Stay tuned. These newer technology rigs can > be > pretty temperamental. Not like the old Commodore 64 or TI-99A, eh? > Cheers & regards to all. > > Jerry & Pam Munson > m/v PassageMaker (47' C&L Marine Pilothouse) > Anacortes, WA 98221-3158