What are "imagecache" files?

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Level 1

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What are "imagecache" files?

I don't understand what's happening with my computer. I'm finding something called "imagecache" files in a "Recovered Files" folder in my trash. I didn't delete them and when I try to open them (after dragging them out of the trash to the desktop) I get an error message saying Color Utility something-or-other can't open files of this type. I don't want to delete them if I need them but I don't know what to do with them. Can anyone help me? Is it a virus or something attacking my machine?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Apr 15, 2008 5:06 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,978 points

Apr 15, 2008 7:12 AM in response to acbica

acbica

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

No it's not a virus or anything attacking your machine:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh2267.html

has more details.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

acbica Author

Level 1

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Apr 15, 2008 7:31 AM in response to acbica

Is there any way to tell what these files are/were and what application(s)were using them?

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,978 points

Apr 15, 2008 8:15 AM in response to acbica

Every app on your machine creates cache files. They are used to speed up the running of the application. In your Web Browser, for instance, you will have a 'Refresh' (or 'Reload') button. If you click the button the webpage refreshes, no news there. But if you look at the button, when you press it the icon on the button changes while the process is running. If the app had to go back through it's own innards to find the icon for the new state it would take time. So the app makes a cache of such images for fast access.

In this case, all that's happened is that the app didn't clean up after itself when it quit. That's all.

They could be literally any app on your Mac. This really is a minor wee glitch and nothing to concern yourself about.

Regards

TD

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