Clearing Temp directories

[Don]

We were told in W98 to clear the \Windows\Temp directory
periodically. I used a batch file at startup, which worked
fine. When I use the "Disk Cleanup" in (XP Home) Drive C:
properties, this folder doesn't get cleared out. Is it safe
to delete the files in this folder (or any temp folder)
when no apps are running, or doing so at first bootup?

Thanks, Don

 

[Plato]

We were told in W98 to clear the \Windows\Temp directory
periodically. I used a batch file at startup, which worked
fine. When I use the "Disk Cleanup" in (XP Home) Drive C:
properties, this folder doesn't get cleared out. Is it safe
to delete the files in this folder (or any temp folder)
when no apps are running, or doing so at first bootup?

Yes its safe to delete the contents of the temp folders. I however,
wouldn't make any settings that did it automagically on startup as often
when you install new software it often puts things in temp that it needs
to see/use on the restart to complete the software installation. So, you
can run your "batch" file but run it manually after windows boots up.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

We were told in W98 to clear the \Windows\Temp directory
periodically. I used a batch file at startup, which worked
fine. When I use the "Disk Cleanup" in (XP Home) Drive C:
properties, this folder doesn't get cleared out. Is it safe
to delete the files in this folder (or any temp folder)
when no apps are running, or doing so at first bootup?

Yes, they can, and should be, deleted periodically. You can do it
any time (but see last paragraph below) whether or not apps are
running.

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.

Also note that if you've started to install a program that calls
for a reboot to finish installation, don't delete any temp files
before rebooting. There may be some needed to complete the
installation.

 

[Alex Nichol]

We were told in W98 to clear the \Windows\Temp directory
periodically. I used a batch file at startup, which worked
fine. When I use the "Disk Cleanup" in (XP Home) Drive C:
properties, this folder doesn't get cleared out. Is it safe
to delete the files in this folder (or any temp folder)
when no apps are running, or doing so at first bootup?

Yes it is, preferably at boot. The physical TIF Folder though contains
subfolders (that do not show) and an index.dat file, which Disk Cleanup
will leave. And there may be 'Offline' files in the physical folder but
not shown, and cleaned only from Internet Options - in Temp Internet
Files click Delete Files and check to delete Offline ones. That is what
I would do in the ordinary way

To get rid of *everything* including index, you need to do it after
booting to the F8 menu and Safe Mode - Command Prompt. Navigate with CD
into the Temporary Internet Files folder under
C:\Documents and Settings\you\Local Settings
and use
DEL *.* /S /F