deleting files

  • Thread starter Thread starter saughton
  • Start date Start date
can I safely delete all *.tmp files


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 the next time you delete
manually.
 
Hello Saughton
As suggested on this group, I use the below method, once a week.
Each time you switch on your comp. a new set are loaded, so you can get
quite a few. One poster recently reckoned he had a thousand plus. I've had
hundreds without knowing it - but that was no surprise to me?
You can do it manually. You will not be allowed to delete the latest two,
three or four though.

Start > Run > %temp% > OK and delete all the files that you are allowed to.
Select the whole block from the oldest to the one before current files and
delete on block.
Rgds
Antioch
 
Yes;you can.
Over time, these files accumulate, eating up hard disk space and, at
times, impairing computer performance.

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]
 
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