Temp Folder

[Lee Masson]

Can anyone help?

Is it safe to delete files/hidden files in c:\windows\temp?

 

[Alias]

Can anyone help?

Is it safe to delete files/hidden files in c:\windows\temp?

After a reboot, yes.

Alias

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Yes, you can delete files in TEMP folders. If you are unsure, reboot and
check the folder(s) again. XP will not let you delete a file that is in
use. Also if you just installed software you should reboot. Then check the
folder(s) again. Some programs require these files after a reboot. It is
good practice to always reboot after installing any software.

If a file ends with .TMP they are OK to delete.

TMP means temporary.

You can't hurt anything deleting tmp files, unless you just installed some
new program.

Most well mannered programs will delete tmp files when you reboot.

Yes, you can delete files in TEMP folders.

If you are unsure, reboot and check the folder(s) again.

XP will not let you delete a file that is in use. And will let you know
about it with a popup message.

If you try to select and delete all the tmp files in a folder and if any of
them are in use, you'll get an error message. Try to delete a few at a time
to avoid the error message. But, try to delete them all first.

If you're using ZoneAlarm, ZA has at least one tmp file that is almost
always in use.

Also if you just installed software you should reboot. Then check the
folder(s) again. Some programs require these files after a reboot. It is
good practice to always reboot after installing any software.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Lee Masson]

Well I have rebooted numerous times through numerous reasons, and the file
size
has stayed the same.

Im presuming this means that these files are now safe to delete.

Im justa bit dubious as one of them, a hidden file is 700Mb.

 

[Alias]

Well I have rebooted numerous times through numerous reasons, and the file
size
has stayed the same.

Im presuming this means that these files are now safe to delete.

Im justa bit dubious as one of them, a hidden file is 700Mb.

And the name of the file is? What happens when you try to delete it?

Alias

 

[Mike Brearley]

:-O a 700Mb hidden file in the temp folder? What's the name of the file?
Unless you do some serious video/audio encoding, I can't think of anything
that would use a 700Mb file in the temp folder. You may want to check for
maleware, spyware and viruses.

 

[David Candy]

Windows\Temp is only used by programs running when noone is logged in. This is quite rare.

 

[Lee Masson]

the file is a tmp filed called xtxu4z8p.TMP

ive googled and it found nothing.

The file is in fact 801Mb and last modified over 1 month ago

 

[Alias]

the file is a tmp filed called xtxu4z8p.TMP

ive googled and it found nothing.

The file is in fact 801Mb and last modified over 1 month ago

Nuke it with Del+Shift so it doesn't go into the recycle bin. I would
also run anti malware programs and your anti virus in Safe Mode.

Alias

 

[Mike Brearley]

I'd delete it...

--
Mike

the file is a tmp filed called xtxu4z8p.TMP

ive googled and it found nothing.

The file is in fact 801Mb and last modified over 1 month ago

 

[Lee Masson]

well it lets me delete it without any problems (although i did restore the
file)

anti virus is up to date.

whats the best "free" malware program to use?

 

[Lee Masson]

Thanks.

Were can i find a good and reliable "free" malware program?

 

[Lee Masson]

Is it definitely say to delete a "hidden" file though

 

[Alias]

Thanks.

Were can i find a good and reliable "free" malware program?

I recommend these:

AdAware SE (www.lavasoftusa.com)
Spybot, Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/)
SpywareGuard (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html)
SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
and
CWShredder (http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html)

Alias

 

[Alias]

Thanks.

Were can i find a good and reliable "free" malware program?

For a good clean up program that would have gotten rid of that file, get:

CCleaner at http://www.ccleaner.com/

Alias

 

[Haggis]

burning a movie lately ?

try google for "adaware" and "spybot search and destroy"

generally if a file is used by the OS it has hidden AND system attributes
(windows will not let you delete these without a warning and will not let
you delete files in use)

hence the "reboot and then delete" idea

hth

Is it definitely say to delete a "hidden" file though

<snip>

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Were can i find a good and reliable "free" malware program?

I recommend *against* malware programs, and recommend using anti-malware
software instead. ;-)

No single product is good enough and I recommend a combination of

Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware Blaster
Adaware

All of these are free.

 

[Lee Masson]

yeah, thats what i meant, anti-malware program

I have been using Webroot Spy Sweeper & Zonealarm Pro.

Do these do a similar/same job?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

yeah, thats what i meant, anti-malware program

Yes, I know.: I was just kidding.

I have been using Webroot Spy Sweeper & Zonealarm Pro.

Do these do a similar/same job?

Webroot Spy Sweeper does the same kind of thing, but since I have no
experience with it, I won't comment on how effective it is.

The regular free ZoneAlarm (which I use) does not include an anti-spyware
component, but ZoneAlarm Pro does. Again, I have no experoince with it, so
won't comment on how effective it is.

However, my view is that when there are excellent freeware choices
available, there's no reason to use paid-for products.

 

[Plato]

Can anyone help?
Is it safe to delete files/hidden files in c:\windows\temp?

Yes. It's Always safe to nuke them, whenever you remember....