C:\Windows\Temp garbage files?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrBill
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M

MrBill

There are hundreds of files in my \Windows\Temp folder. Since this IS
a temporary storage folder, I think that the OS should have deleted
them. Since it hasn't, is there any reason I can't get rid of them?

Thanks, Bill
 
MrBill said:
There are hundreds of files in my \Windows\Temp folder. Since this IS
a temporary storage folder, I think that the OS should have deleted
them. Since it hasn't, is there any reason I can't get rid of them?
Click to expand...

It is not the responsibility of the OS to keep temp clean. It is the
responsibility of the application that uses temp to clean up its temp
files when they are no longer needed. As you see, there are many, many
apps that don't do a good job of cleaning up their temp files.

A good general rule of thumb for cleaning up files in temp is to reboot
your machine and then delete any file that is older than current date.
 
There are hundreds of files in my \Windows\Temp folder. Since
this IS a temporary storage folder, I think that the OS should
have deleted them. Since it hasn't, is there any reason I can't
get rid of them?

Thanks, Bill
Click to expand...


Run Disk Cleanup
 
Tom said:
It is not the responsibility of the OS to keep temp clean. It is the
responsibility of the application that uses temp to clean up its temp
files when they are no longer needed. As you see, there are many, many
apps that don't do a good job of cleaning up their temp files.

A good general rule of thumb for cleaning up files in temp is to reboot
your machine and then delete any file that is older than current date.
Click to expand...

Either that or use an OS that does empty them on shut down or reboot
like Ubuntu does. www.ubuntu.com

Alias
 
Alias said:
Either that or use an OS that does empty them on shut down or reboot
like Ubuntu does. www.ubuntu.com
Click to expand...

The problem with emptying temp on shutdown is some app installs use temp
as a storage location for install files that need to be processed on
next reboot. As the OS can't know for sure which of these files might
be there pending a reboot, it can't safely delete these files. The
correct behavior would be for the application to clean up these files
once it is finished with them.
 
Tom said:
The problem with emptying temp on shutdown is some app installs use temp
as a storage location for install files that need to be processed on
next reboot. As the OS can't know for sure which of these files might
be there pending a reboot, it can't safely delete these files. The
correct behavior would be for the application to clean up these files
once it is finished with them.
Click to expand...

The only thing I have seen that needs a reboot in Ubuntu is a kernel
update and I have never had a problem with it clearing temp files it
needs on reboot.

With Windows, you have a point. With Linux, it isn't an issue just like
defragging, viruses, malware, etc. aren't issues to worry about.

Alias
 
MrBill said:
There are hundreds of files in my \Windows\Temp folder. Since this IS
a temporary storage folder, I think that the OS should have deleted
them. Since it hasn't, is there any reason I can't get rid of them?

Thanks, Bill
Click to expand...

Download and install Crap Cleaner. It will clear out all the temp files
and more. You can configure it to delete all cookies except those you
designate so you don't have to be signing in again at web sites. Just be
sure to run it after a reboot.

Alias
 
Alias said:
Download and install Crap Cleaner. It will clear out all the temp files
and more. You can configure it to delete all cookies except those you
designate so you don't have to be signing in again at web sites. Just be
sure to run it after a reboot.

Alias
Click to expand...

URL: www.ccleaner.com

Alias
 
I rebooted, then deleted everything from yesterday on back (21 MB and
432 files), then booted again. There were no problems and the Temp
folder looks a LOT better! I've only had this machine for 2 weeks -
that's a lot of garbage for such a short period of time!

Thanks for the help Tom.

- Bill
 
My new Dell PC (purchased 2 weeks ago) is replacing an older PC which
had the full Zone Alarm Suite. This suite had a crap cleaner which
worked great. Since the new PC came with a 3-year license for the
McAfee Security Center, I didn't bother reinstalling ZA, but I did
miss the ZA "crap cleaner". I had planned on searching for a
replacement, but you saved me the trouble . . .

Thanks, MrBill
 
Right on queue. Preaching Ubuntu again. That is your solution to every
problem. A toy OS. Good job there.
 
Alias,

I think you screwed up. Your URL should point to where Ubuntu lives.
Please correct and post again.
 
Bill said:
Alias,

I think you screwed up. Your URL should point to where Ubuntu lives.
Please correct and post again.
Click to expand...

For Windows users, the URL is spot on. Your help is what?

Alias
 
Either that or use an OS that does empty them on shut down or reboot
like Ubuntu does. www.ubuntu.com
Click to expand...

The problem with emptying temp on shutdown is some app installs use temp
as a storage location for install files that need to be processed on
next reboot. As the OS can't know for sure which of these files might
be there pending a reboot, it can't safely delete these files. The
correct behavior would be for the application to clean up these files
once it is finished with them.[/QUOTE]

Or to put a clean temp batch file into the Startup folder. This
processes after install routines. I have used this method on all client
machines for years and it is very effective.

Unfortunately, MS products are one of the worst offenders of not
removing temp files after closing.


--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
How to YOU help the VISTA group? Telling everyone about Ubuntu? You are
just causing problems. Go away.
 
There are hundreds of files in my \Windows\Temp folder. Since this IS
a temporary storage folder, I think that the OS should have deleted
them. Since it hasn't, is there any reason I can't get rid of them?
Click to expand...


Yes, they can, and should be, deleted periodically. The temp folder provides
workspace for programs. Programs can create temporary files there for their
own temporary use. Each program should delete all its temporary files when
it closes, but for various reasons it doesn't always happen (for example, if
the program crashes, it never gets to do this). That's why it's a good idea
to periodically clean out anything left there.

Also note that there are some program installations which work in two steps.
The first step concludes by writing temporary files and rebooting. The
second step starts automatically after rebooting and needs to find those
files there (and then deletes them when it's done).

Other than doing it automatically when rebooting (that would interfere with
installations like the kind I described), it's always safe to delete the
contents of the temp folder. Because it's safe to delete any temp files that
aren't open and in use by an application, and since Windows won't let you
delete open files, it's safe to (try to) delete them at any time. If any
fail to delete because they're open, they'll either be deleted automatically
when the app using them closes, or you'll get them next time.
 
To Alias,

Anybody who makes the statement "You won't have malware or virus issues with
Linux" has his or her head up their ass. The same applies to any Apple OS.
Both Linux and Apple operating systems have been attacked and/or infected by
many malicious applications. Many of these malicious applications are now
written specifically for the Linux and Apple operating systems. Some are
written for Microsoft, Apple and Linux.

If you are not aware of this I suggest you read the news sometime, or go to
one of the many security websites that report these problems. You are not
helping anyone by disseminating false information. I hope people aren't
stupid enough to believe your statements. The majority of your statements and
opinions are nothing but pure organic fertilizer.

I think Apple has a very nice OS. However, most Linux operating systems,
including Ubuntu, are mediocre at best. You get what you pay for, and yes, I
have tried the different Linux operating systems. I wasn't impressed enough
to keep them on my systems. I have two desktops and two laptops. I prefer to
run XP Home on two of them, XP Professional on one and Vista on the other.
People can choose to go first class and use Windows or Apple, or they can use
Linux.

I don't worry about security issues with Windows. I don't do stupid things
with my computers. Therefore, I don't have malware problems. A little common
sense goes a long way.

Alias, you have your head so far up your ass I don't think you will ever be
able to see daylight again. Did someone drop you on your head when you were a
child? Of course, most people reading these Vista newsgroups recognize you
for the whining, know nothing blowhard you are. My condolences to your wife
and children, if you have any, for having to put up with your constant
idiotic manner of thinking. Please give me the name of your psychiatrist so
that I can tell others not to visit him or her. He or she has not done a good
job of repairing your brain. Alias and fubar: the words are different but the
meaning is the same. Please pardon my bluntness but "the truth shall set you
free".

Please subject me to one of your tirades. I haven't had a good laugh for a
few days.

Have a nice day.

C.B.
 
On 7/13/2007 6:12 PM On a whim, CB pounded out on the keyboard
To Alias,

Anybody who makes the statement "You won't have malware or virus issues with
Linux" has his or her head up their ass. The same applies to any Apple OS.
Both Linux and Apple operating systems have been attacked and/or infected by
many malicious applications. Many of these malicious applications are now
written specifically for the Linux and Apple operating systems. Some are
written for Microsoft, Apple and Linux.

If you are not aware of this I suggest you read the news sometime, or go to
one of the many security websites that report these problems. You are not
helping anyone by disseminating false information. I hope people aren't
stupid enough to believe your statements. The majority of your statements and
opinions are nothing but pure organic fertilizer.

I think Apple has a very nice OS. However, most Linux operating systems,
including Ubuntu, are mediocre at best. You get what you pay for, and yes, I
have tried the different Linux operating systems. I wasn't impressed enough
to keep them on my systems. I have two desktops and two laptops. I prefer to
run XP Home on two of them, XP Professional on one and Vista on the other.
People can choose to go first class and use Windows or Apple, or they can use
Linux.

I don't worry about security issues with Windows. I don't do stupid things
with my computers. Therefore, I don't have malware problems. A little common
sense goes a long way.

Alias, you have your head so far up your ass I don't think you will ever be
able to see daylight again. Did someone drop you on your head when you were a
child? Of course, most people reading these Vista newsgroups recognize you
for the whining, know nothing blowhard you are. My condolences to your wife
and children, if you have any, for having to put up with your constant
idiotic manner of thinking. Please give me the name of your psychiatrist so
that I can tell others not to visit him or her. He or she has not done a good
job of repairing your brain. Alias and fubar: the words are different but the
meaning is the same. Please pardon my bluntness but "the truth shall set you
free".

Please subject me to one of your tirades. I haven't had a good laugh for a
few days.

Have a nice day.

C.B.
Click to expand...

Your last two paragraphs were unnecessary. And I doubt you even know
where your quote originally came from and the context in which it was
being said.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
CB said:
To Alias,

Anybody who makes the statement "You won't have malware or virus issues with
Linux" has his or her head up their ass. The same applies to any Apple OS.
Both Linux and Apple operating systems have been attacked and/or infected by
many malicious applications. Many of these malicious applications are now
written specifically for the Linux and Apple operating systems. Some are
written for Microsoft, Apple and Linux.

If you are not aware of this I suggest you read the news sometime, or go to
one of the many security websites that report these problems. You are not
helping anyone by disseminating false information. I hope people aren't
stupid enough to believe your statements. The majority of your statements and
opinions are nothing but pure organic fertilizer.

I think Apple has a very nice OS. However, most Linux operating systems,
including Ubuntu, are mediocre at best. You get what you pay for, and yes, I
have tried the different Linux operating systems. I wasn't impressed enough
to keep them on my systems. I have two desktops and two laptops. I prefer to
run XP Home on two of them, XP Professional on one and Vista on the other.
People can choose to go first class and use Windows or Apple, or they can use
Linux.

I don't worry about security issues with Windows. I don't do stupid things
with my computers. Therefore, I don't have malware problems. A little common
sense goes a long way.

Alias, you have your head so far up your ass I don't think you will ever be
able to see daylight again. Did someone drop you on your head when you were a
child? Of course, most people reading these Vista newsgroups recognize you
for the whining, know nothing blowhard you are. My condolences to your wife
and children, if you have any, for having to put up with your constant
idiotic manner of thinking. Please give me the name of your psychiatrist so
that I can tell others not to visit him or her. He or she has not done a good
job of repairing your brain. Alias and fubar: the words are different but the
meaning is the same. Please pardon my bluntness but "the truth shall set you
free".

Please subject me to one of your tirades. I haven't had a good laugh for a
few days.

Have a nice day.

C.B.
Click to expand...

I can see you don't understand the architecture of Linux.

Alias
 
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