Temp file Folders : ok to delete contents of all on the computer?

[Pete Carr]

I have some temp file folders (more then one in different locations using
search)
and some of them seem to contain files that maybe should not be deleted.....
Is it OK to delete the contents of ALL temp file folders on your computer?
(XP Pro)

Thanks a million my friends
Pete Carr
www.playthatguitar.com
Fifth Wave Media Inc.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I have some temp file folders (more then one in different locations
using search)

Start > Run: %TEMP%

That's your temp folder and the files can be safely deleted. Files in
use cannot be deleted anyway.

and some of them seem to contain files that maybe should not be
deleted.....

If additional temp folders have been created by applications within
their program paths you should leave them alone.

Is it OK to delete the contents of ALL temp file folders on your
computer?

See above.

 

[Pete Carr]

Thanks Friend!!!!

Start > Run: %TEMP%

That's your temp folder and the files can be safely deleted. Files in
use cannot be deleted anyway.


If additional temp folders have been created by applications within
their program paths you should leave them alone.


See above.

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

Thanks Friend!!!!

You're welcome!

 

[antioch]

Thanks Friend!!!!

Also consider Start/Run/TEMP without the % sign -
These can also build up over time - but not everybody has this happen?

Antioch

 

[ColTom2]

Hi Pete:

If you want the best utility application (free) to keep your computer
clean then download and install CCleaner at http://www.ccleaner.com/download
Just run it prior to shutdown each time and it will keep your computer
clean. It's highly recommended.


I have some temp file folders (more then one in different locations using
search)
and some of them seem to contain files that maybe should not be deleted.....
Is it OK to delete the contents of ALL temp file folders on your computer?
(XP Pro)

Thanks a million my friends
Pete Carr
www.playthatguitar.com
Fifth Wave Media Inc.

 

[antioch]

Hi Pete:

If you want the best utility application (free) to keep your computer
clean then download and install CCleaner at
http://www.ccleaner.com/download
Just run it prior to shutdown each time and it will keep your computer
clean. It's highly recommended.

In addition, I believe the Reg Scanning side should be avoided(as with any
Reg Cleaners) - unless you know what you are doing in the Registry.

Antioch

 

[ColTom2]

I have used the Registry Scan component of CCleaner now for a good period
of time and have never had any problem with it. However, I always do back up
any changes, but have never had to use them with CCleaner. So far it has
been 100% safe.

It's the only application that I use other than manual "Regedit" for
Registry changes.

Hi Pete:

If you want the best utility application (free) to keep your computer
clean then download and install CCleaner at
http://www.ccleaner.com/download
Just run it prior to shutdown each time and it will keep your computer
clean. It's highly recommended.

In addition, I believe the Reg Scanning side should be avoided(as with any
Reg Cleaners) - unless you know what you are doing in the Registry.

Antioch

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have used the Registry Scan component of CCleaner now for a good period
of time and have never had any problem with it.

And what did it accomplish for you? How did you measure it?

Certainly registry cleaners do *not* cause a problem every time
someone uses them. None of us claims that. In fact, it's true that
most times someone uses a registry cleaner, no problem results. Many
people who have run a registry cleaner, even many times, have never
experienced a problem caused by it. It's only *sometimes* that
registry cleaners cause a problem. It's a matter of increased risk of
problems, not of certainty.

The reason not to use a registry cleaner is that the tradeoff of
increased risk for no benefit is a very bad bargain.

However, I always do back up
any changes, but have never had to use them with CCleaner.

Backing up is certainly good to do if you must use a registry cleaner.
But if the result of using the registry cleaner is an unbootable
computer (and that *does* sometimes happen), your backup won't do you
any good.

So far it has
been 100% safe.

"So far" are the correct words here.

 

[Pete Carr]

What about the TEMP folfer unter the WIndows Folder?
Is it ok to delete all of the files out of that one?
It sure looks like it has a lot of files in there that some programs
ans WIndows itself might need.......

Thanks again guys.

 

[Pete Carr]

Hi,
Yes I have CClear and used to use it all the time myself but with
a lot of the functions it it cleaned (like cookies because a lot of cookies
keep log in info etc.) turned off. When cleaning the drive it showed things
like .NET 1.1. files and others I was afraid to clean out. I have got a
clean reatore of XP Pro and all mt programs working great and want to keep
the system clean of course. Especually before I Defreag ) I use Diskeeper
which I think works great.
But the CCleaner clean disk tool (not the regcleaner part) doesn't allow
you to uncheck files that you think might be suspect before it deletes them
which I wish it that function. The Regcleaner part of it does allow you to
uncheck things which is good. But I agree I used to use it all the time and
it seemed to work fine MOST of the time. But I have turned a little leary
about using Reg Cleaners. Like Ken said I really never saw any performance
boost and I had one program called Reg Cure which after running a few times
in a row a lot of errors kept coming back that were fixed on the previous
run. Reg Cure finally did mess up some things it shouldn't have after a few
after another runs. Thats probably my fault because even though I can use
Regedit for normal things I am no expert at the resgistry.
But I like and want to keep my computer clean and free from errors with no
wasted disk space.
Thanks friend!!!!!
(And yes I also think CCleaner is the best and and safest I have found.)

 

[ColTom2]

I know that you are not going to probably like this answer, but it is a
solution if your computer will not boot to Windows. Use Knoppix 6 (Linux)
and boot with it then restore the back up with it.

Knoppix is one of the best untold stories for fixing Windows problems. I
have used it and it works....

*********************************************
However, I always do back up
any changes, but have never had to use them with CCleaner.


Backing up is certainly good to do if you must use a registry cleaner.
But if the result of using the registry cleaner is an unbootable
computer (and that *does* sometimes happen), your backup won't do you
any good.

So far it has
been 100% safe.

"So far" are the correct words here.

 

[ColTom2]

Hi Pete:

I do agree with Ken about not using Reg Cleaners and the only exception I
have found is CCleaner Registry Scan. I would not have installed it
separately had it not already being a component of CCleaner. I am not an
advocate of Reg Cleaners.

I tried it some months back and like I said have found it to be safe so
far. However, like Ken indicated it's normally best not to use any type Reg
Cleaner. The less you mess with the Registry the better unless you really
know what you are doing and then use Regedit. Again back up.....

As to CCleaner itself I have used their standard default settings, with
the exception of one item, for a long long time and have never had a problem
in using it. If you have Windows Defender installed then you need to take
the check from it under the Applications Tab and Utilities. Other than this
one item and you have not changed any of the original default settings then
CCleaner should be safe.


Hi,
Yes I have CClear and used to use it all the time myself but with
a lot of the functions it it cleaned (like cookies because a lot of cookies
keep log in info etc.) turned off. When cleaning the drive it showed things
like .NET 1.1. files and others I was afraid to clean out. I have got a
clean reatore of XP Pro and all mt programs working great and want to keep
the system clean of course. Especually before I Defreag ) I use Diskeeper
which I think works great.
But the CCleaner clean disk tool (not the regcleaner part) doesn't allow
you to uncheck files that you think might be suspect before it deletes them
which I wish it that function. The Regcleaner part of it does allow you to
uncheck things which is good. But I agree I used to use it all the time and
it seemed to work fine MOST of the time. But I have turned a little leary
about using Reg Cleaners. Like Ken said I really never saw any performance
boost and I had one program called Reg Cure which after running a few times
in a row a lot of errors kept coming back that were fixed on the previous
run. Reg Cure finally did mess up some things it shouldn't have after a few
after another runs. Thats probably my fault because even though I can use
Regedit for normal things I am no expert at the resgistry.
But I like and want to keep my computer clean and free from errors with no
wasted disk space.
Thanks friend!!!!!
(And yes I also think CCleaner is the best and and safest I have found.)

 

[Pete Carr]

Hi ColTom2,
What about the TEMP folder under the WINDOWS folder.
Thera are a LOT of files in there and some I'm afraid to delete because
other porgrams may need them etc.
Is it OK to delete ALL of the file in this TEMP folder?

Thanks a million friend.

 

[Pete Carr]

ii Ken,

What about the TEMP folder unter the Windows Folder?
Is it ok to delete all of the files out of that one?
It sure looks like it has a lot of files in there that some programs
and Windows itself might need.......

Thanks again guys.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

ii Ken,

What about the TEMP folder unter the Windows Folder?
Is it ok to delete all of the files out of that one?

Sure. 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.

It sure looks like it has a lot of files in there that some programs
and Windows itself might need.......

Files in the temp folder are, by definition,temporary. Nothing should
be needed there.

 

[antioch]

What about the TEMP folder unter the Windows Folder?
Is it ok to delete all of the files out of that one?
It sure looks like it has a lot of files in there that some programs
and Windows itself might need.......

Thanks again guys.

Hello Pete
The Temp Folder located My Comp/C Drive/Windows is the same as Start/Run/
type in TEMP click OK or type temp click OK.
They are the same.
Another Temp Folder is accessed by Start/Run and type in %TEMP% or %temp%
and click OK.
My understanding is that they are different.
In the past, some people, including myself, found that this %temp% was
bloated with thousands of files and folders - I myself had in excess of
1500.
Every time you started your computer 4 or 5 new ones would be created, and
over a period of months, the folder grew and grew. The main problem was that
if you tried to delete manually they duplicated themselves :-( [which
doubled the numbers].
If I remember clearly, this is also the temp folder that should be cleaned
when you run Disk Cleanup.
In addition, this %temp% should clear itself when you shut down, and create
new entries when you switch on.
If you find any dated/timed prior to the most recent switch on of your
computer, you can delete these. You will probably find, if you try, that
those entered after this recent switch on, cannot be deleted as mentioned by
Ken already.

Rgds
Antioch

 

[Andrew Murray]

If the files are in use, the system won't let you delete them.