Temp Folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don
  • Start date Start date
D

Don

I am running XP SP3 and have a ton of files in 'Documents and
Settings/Username/Local Settings /Temp".
Can I safely delete all this stuff?

Thanks
 
Don said:
I am running XP SP3 and have a ton of files in 'Documents and
Settings/Username/Local Settings /Temp".
Can I safely delete all this stuff?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You can delete anything which isn't currently in usage.
The fun part, is figuring out which one are derelicts.

For example, I have a 31MB Wireshark file in there right now,
and I know it belongs to my currently running Wireshark session.
So I can't delete that one. And some of the temporary files,
disappear when the owning program closes. I just closed
Acrobat Reader, and half the files in %temp% disappeared :-)

Paul
 
I am running XP SP3 and have a ton of files in 'Documents and
Settings/Username/Local Settings /Temp".
Can I safely delete all this stuff?
Click to expand...

Probably, but not necessarily. The system or an application may be
using a file in the Temp directory, and deleting it may cause something
to malfunction. Often the file will be locked while open and won't let
you delete it, but that may not always be true.

You can safely delete any files in the Temp directory that were placed
there since your last reboot. If you use Windows Disk Cleanup feature,
or a program like Piriform's CCleaner, it will delete older Temp files
but keep the most recent onces.
 
The safest way to clear the Temp folder on your system (including the
[..\Local Settings\Temp\.] folder) is to use the built-in Window's utility
: Disk Clean Manager.

To start the Disk Clean Manager, either locate the utility on your Start
Menu at :

"Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Disk Cleanup"

....or type "cleanmgr.exe" into the "Run" box on your Start Menu.


When it starts, first select the drive you wish to clean (normally your
system [C:] drive), then wait while the program scans the drive for
deletable file-types.

When it has finished scanning, it will present you with a list of
safe-to-delete file-locations - each next to a checkbox - some are not
checked but, at this point, you are safe to just press on the [ok] button
to clear those [default] checked items and close the manager.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Don said:
I am running XP SP3 and have a ton of files in 'Documents and
Settings/Username/Local Settings /Temp".
Can I safely delete all this stuff?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Bottom line is YES. OS won't let you delete it if it's "in use" so there's
nothing to fear selecting all of them including folders. May have to do that
more than once omitting any can't delete to get rid of them all is only
hassle as it kicks out once it finds one can't be deleted and doesn't
continue with the rest.
 
Probably, but not necessarily. The system or an application may be
using a file in the Temp directory, and deleting it may cause something
to malfunction. Often the file will be locked while open and won't let
you delete it, but that may not always be true.

You can safely delete any files in the Temp directory that were placed
there since your last reboot.
Click to expand...

Not since but before your last reboot, right?
 
Don said:
I am running XP SP3 and have a ton of files in 'Documents and
Settings/Username/Local Settings /Temp".
Can I safely delete all this stuff?
Click to expand...

Yes. Ideally, you should delete temp files right after a start or a
re-start of the computer. A really simple way to do this is to download
this little utility to your desktop:
ATF-Cleaner.exe -
http://www.atribune.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=25

After you start or re-start the computer, double-click ATF-Cleaner, put
a check in the boxes for "Windows Temp", "Current User Temp" and "All
Users Temp" (and any other of the items that you want to delete), then
press the "Empty Selected" button. "Exit" when done.
 
Back
Top