Firefox Profiles Cache?

Ok, when I run my anti-malware scanners, I pay attention to the files it scans. I've noticed that when it gets to individual user accounts, it spends a lot of time scanning hundreds if not thousands of firefox profiles in a cache directory. To be more specific, the path for these profiles is:

Then there are several Cache directories under that...ie: Cache, Cache(2), Cache(3) etc.

Now I know FF keeps it's current profile at:

So what are these other profiles in the cache directories and can I remove them? I notice that the directory, "Cache" contains 2011 files but "Cache(2), (3) and on contains files dating back to 2008! I would spend at least 30 minutes less time malware scanning if they were removed.

I'm running FF 6.0 on a Windows XP Home Edition OS w/SP3

 

There are many Firefox users here so you will probably get a better and more detailed response.

One approach would be to backup the essential parts of your profile, like bookmarks, browsing history, extensions, etc.
Then do a total uninstall of Firefox, do a fresh install of the latest version and restore bookmarks etc. from your backup.

The idea is that the uninstall will remove everything and the fresh install will create only what is needed initially.

Here is an extension that can help:
Firefox Environment Backup Extension

Also:
Firefox Help: Backing up your information

Backing up and restoring bookmarks

 

If you want to view first what's in Fx cache: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/mozilla_cache_viewer.html Read the instructions first.

I downloaded it just prior to posting, ran it and have 0 items in my cache as I delete all of it prior to exiting Firefox.

 

Thanks for the replies!

mjnc...my first thought was to do the same thing, backup, delete, fresh install, import/restore but, I have several other user accounts and I didn't want to get their preferences messed up as well as taking all that time to do each account. I think this might be solved a bit easier!

oma...I downloaded the cache viewer and ran it. When using "My Computer", I see several cache folders located in that profile folder. For instance, when I open the folder, "C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxx.default", I have the following folders and files present:

I noticed a few folders and files located in the folder, "Cache" and then I emptied my cache through FF. Now, those files are gone but, the folders, "Cache(2)(3)(4) and (5) don't change. As a matter of fact, the "Date Modified" on them shows 2008 thru 2009. When I view the folder "Cache" in MozillaCacheView, it shows me everything but, when I changed the path to "Cache(2), (3), (4) or (5), the page is blank, but I know through "My Computer" that there are tons of files in each. Now, I believe that the reason MozillaCacheView can't see the files in these folders is because they are compressed, and these are the files/folders I'm concerned with deleting. I've got FF set to delete cache on every log-off but, these folders or the compressed files in them do not get removed. Therefore, I don't see where these folders are being used and see no reason why I can't just manually delete them!

Any thoughts?

 

Also oma, your post a few days ago about "New Feature in FF6?" also showed me the cache directory that is being used...."about:cache"! It even shows the information like "mozillacacheview"! I still think I can manually delete those other folders, Cache(2),(3),(4) and (5)!

 

I'm showing those caches as well in Local Settings and show 2 profiles there, one of them is an old one. The largest ones that takes up most of the MB is urlclassifier3.sqlite at abt 45 MB each. That urlclassifer3.sqlite is a file of phishing sites from google in Firefox that warns you if you go to phishing and forgeries sites. That's in Options>Security - ticked *Block reported attack sites* and *Block reported web forgeries* (don't know if *warn me when sites try to install add-ons* is included in that) If you like that security in Firefox I just would leave that alone. Just prior to seeing your reply here I posted on MozillaZine forum whether the old profile in Local Settings is safe to be deleted and hopefully get an answer there.

No, MozillaCacheViewer won't show cache is Local Settings as I found out later. Bummer!