tmp files

[Jane]

I need to get rid of some files before I can defrag my
hard drive. I've only got 13 percent free space. Can I
delete .tmp files? They are taking up a lot of space.
When I click on them to see what they are, a box pops up
stating that windows needs to know what program created
them to be able to open them. I have no idea what they
are. Can you tell me some of the things I can get rid of?
This was my son's computer. He was killed in an auto
accident last year, so I can't ask him what all this
stuff is. I'd appreciate your help. Thanks! Jane

 

[wojo]

Some people say you shouldn't blindly delete all the files in your temp
folder but I do it all the time and have never had a problem because of it.

--
If I can help you I will.
If you can help me thanks.
(e-mail address removed)
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Useful Links
AdAware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S & D:
www.safer-networking.org/
Check for Parasites/Worms:
www.gemal.dk/browserspy/parasites.html
Blaster Security Patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
TweakUI and other PowerToys:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

 

[Bruce]

I need to get rid of some files before I can defrag my
hard drive. I've only got 13 percent free space. Can I
delete .tmp files? They are taking up a lot of space.
When I click on them to see what they are, a box pops up
stating that windows needs to know what program created
them to be able to open them. I have no idea what they
are. Can you tell me some of the things I can get rid of?
This was my son's computer. He was killed in an auto
accident last year, so I can't ask him what all this
stuff is. I'd appreciate your help. Thanks! Jane
----------------------------------------------

In IE: Tools>Internert Options>Delete Files>Check: Delete all offline
content>OK.

Bruce

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I need to get rid of some files before I can defrag my
hard drive. I've only got 13 percent free space. Can I
delete .tmp files? They are taking up a lot of space.

Tmp stands for "temporary." They can, and should be, deleted
periodically. You can safely delete anything except those in use,
but since Windows won't let you delete a file in use, it's safe
to try to delete them all.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Jane;

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315246&Product=winxp

 

[Jane]

Hi, Wes,
I've already used the disk cleanup tool and have deleted
the temporary internet files. The tmp files are in the
WINDOWS\Temp folder and the disk cleanup doesn't give the
option to clean these up. The other day I deleted some of
these files from the folder and my internet explorer quit
working. I had to do a system restore to be able to get
the use of it back. Any other ideas? I appreciate your
help.
Thanks again,
Jane

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Jane;

Take a look at this, more options.

How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q315246

Try this:
IE | Tools | Internet Options | General tab | Delete Files button | OK |
Delete Files button (Yes, again!) | Check: Delete all offline content |
OK
===

To display Hidden files and folders

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]
===

This will open your temporary files:
Start | Run | Type: %TEMP% | OK | Click the Folders icon to display
the tree view in the left-hand pane | Click the [+] next to Temporary
Internet Files |
Highlight Content.IE5 | Delete what you can in the right hand pane

 

[David Candy]

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary Files

Set Folder to
%temp%|c:\windows\temp

If it doesn't work, and i've not tried mixing environmental variables and full paths, set both to full paths.

Change LastAccess to how many days since file was last accessed. It only deletes files not used for 7 days as standard.