Temp Files Help

[GreyTop]

I look in the windows temp directory and I have 101 temp files
Starting with CS*.* They are put there on each reboot with the time of
boot. My question what do they belong to. I have not added any thing
lately. The can not be erased as they are in use and to close the
program. Question what program? I have closed some of my start up
programs by so far I have not hit the right one.
Are these by chance Operating system files. I am running Windows XP
w/sp2.

 

[Malke]

I look in the windows temp directory and I have 101 temp files
Starting with CS*.* They are put there on each reboot with the time of
boot. My question what do they belong to. I have not added any thing
lately. The can not be erased as they are in use and to close the
program. Question what program? I have closed some of my start up
programs by so far I have not hit the right one.
Are these by chance Operating system files. I am running Windows XP
w/sp2.

Anything in Temp can be deleted. If something is being used by Windows,
you'll get a message that the file is in use. Usually this only happens
right after you've installed something and the installation is still
using the files it put in Temp. You will never find important operating
system files kept in Temp.

That said, it would not hurt for you to do a scan for spyware just to
make sure nothing unwanted is living on your machine. You can get the
free programs Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy (latest versions are
1.06 and 1.4 respectively). Install them, update them, and then do a
scan with each (not simultaneously!). Post back if you need more help.

www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware

Malke

 

[GreyTop]

Anything in Temp can be deleted. If something is being used by Windows,
you'll get a message that the file is in use. Usually this only happens
right after you've installed something and the installation is still
using the files it put in Temp. You will never find important operating
system files kept in Temp.

That said, it would not hurt for you to do a scan for spyware just to
make sure nothing unwanted is living on your machine. You can get the
free programs Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy (latest versions are
1.06 and 1.4 respectively). Install them, update them, and then do a
scan with each (not simultaneously!). Post back if you need more help.

www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware

Malke

I have run all the spy ware checkers IE Spy Sweeper Ad-Aware Pest
Patrol. They All come up clean.
These temp files appear on all of my computers. Two Desktops and a
Notebook The note book has very little in the way of programs
installed and has XP Home operating system.
They are definitely in use as I can not delete on any machine. I can't
find out what they belong to.

 

[Malke]

I have run all the spy ware checkers IE Spy Sweeper Ad-Aware Pest
Patrol. They All come up clean.
These temp files appear on all of my computers. Two Desktops and a
Notebook The note book has very little in the way of programs
installed and has XP Home operating system.
They are definitely in use as I can not delete on any machine. I can't
find out what they belong to.

If they are on all your machines, then are all the machines from the
same OEM? Do you always install the same programs? I don't have any
files like that in any of my Windows Temp directories (looked on 3
machines, two running XP Pro SP2, one running Home SP2).

Here are some suggestions:

1. Go into Safe Mode. Right-click on one of the files in question and
see if there is a version listed or something to identify the "owner".

2. Delete in Safe Mode.

3. Do clean-boot troubleshooting to see what is running that is creating
the files:

Clean Boot - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310353
and How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

Malke

 

[Guest]

Try going to Task Manager and ending all the processes that you can (with the
exception of the svchost.exe, explorer.exe and taskmgr.exe processes). Once
you've ended all of them, then try to delete one of the files. If you can,
then you know it was one of the processes that you ended that caused it.
Then you can step by step through it (after a reboot) to see which one.

Also, you can try the free program "StartUpCPL" by Mike Lin (
www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml ) to examine your startups

Good luck! This can be a vexing problem!

 

[Mike Hyndman]

I look in the windows temp directory and I have 101 temp files
Starting with CS*.* They are put there on each reboot with the time of
boot. My question what do they belong to. I have not added any thing
lately. The can not be erased as they are in use and to close the
program. Question what program? I have closed some of my start up
programs by so far I have not hit the right one.
Are these by chance Operating system files. I am running Windows XP
w/sp2.

GT
try the folowing:

Thanks to MS-MVP Kelly Theriot for this tip.

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs.
Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End
Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the
Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other
undeletable file) is located in. At the command prompt type DEL
<filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete. Go back
to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart
the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.
HTH
MH
remove -bats- to reply

 

[Malke]

GT
try the folowing:

Thanks to MS-MVP Kelly Theriot for this tip.

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs.
Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End
Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the
Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other
undeletable file) is located in. At the command prompt type DEL
<filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete. Go back
to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart
the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.
HTH
MH
remove -bats- to reply

 

[Sharon F]

I have run all the spy ware checkers IE Spy Sweeper Ad-Aware Pest
Patrol. They All come up clean.
These temp files appear on all of my computers. Two Desktops and a
Notebook The note book has very little in the way of programs
installed and has XP Home operating system.
They are definitely in use as I can not delete on any machine. I can't
find out what they belong to.

Process Explorer should help you to find out what is creating and using
those files. http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

 

[Malke]

Process Explorer should help you to find out what is creating and using
those files. http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

 

[GreyTop]

I look in the windows temp directory and I have 101 temp files
Starting with CS*.* They are put there on each reboot with the time of
boot. My question what do they belong to. I have not added any thing
lately. The can not be erased as they are in use and to close the
program. Question what program? I have closed some of my start up
programs by so far I have not hit the right one.
Are these by chance Operating system files. I am running Windows XP
w/sp2.

First of all a big thanks to all that have replied.
I have found the problem even if I don't like it..
Webroot spy sweeper version 4 3 363 is the culprit.
I don't think some of the earlier versions did this. They did load
slower so maybe that is the reason for all the temp files. Time will
tell.