Temp file removal - is it ok?

[Terri]

Can I remove temp files that are in Documents & Settings/Local etc etc.
There are so many files in there and am certain they are taking up room. I
did a Clean Disk and it removed a great deal of files, but not these.
Thanks!

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Terri you can delete the temp files. The easiest thing to do is delete them
to the recycle bin and keep them there for a few days - just in case an
application has put a file there that it may need. If reboot your pc and
after a few days if everyhting is running ok you can permanently delete them
from the recycle bin.

 

[Ron Martell]

Can I remove temp files that are in Documents & Settings/Local etc etc.
There are so many files in there and am certain they are taking up room. I
did a Clean Disk and it removed a great deal of files, but not these.
Thanks!

The safe procedure is to reboot the computer then delete the Temp
files manually.

The reason for the reboot is to finish up any program installs or
program updates that may require a restart for final completion. When
programs require a restart they usually place files in the Temp folder
and set up a routine to copy these files from the Temp folder to their
correct final destinations at the beginning of the startup.

Deleting the Temp files after the computer has been running for a
while could result in the deletion of these update files, meaning that
the new programs or updates will not be fully installed and therefore
problems or errors may result.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Alex Nichol]

Can I remove temp files that are in Documents & Settings/Local etc etc.
There are so many files in there and am certain they are taking up room. I
did a Clean Disk and it removed a great deal of files, but not these.

Yes - but do it straight after booting up, before any programs start to
put files there (if in use they will not be deletable, but it makes it
that bit easier)