Temp & Tmp Folders & Files

W

WupDeeDoo

Does Windows XP Pro store any usable data in these folders and files or
can they be deleted ?? TIA
 
M

Malke

WupDeeDoo said:
Does Windows XP Pro store any usable data in these folders and files or
can they be deleted ?? TIA

Files in temporary folders can be deleted and should be as part of
regular computer maintenance. Reboot just to be sure nothing is using them.

Malke
 
J

jmatt

Does Windows XP Pro store any usable data in these folders and files or
can they be deleted ?? TIA

One step at a time, if you have XP pro, here is your 1st.

Auto Delete Temporary Folder
http://www.tweakxp.com/display.aspx?id=2021

First go into gpedit.msc ( only available in the Pro version of XP )
Start > Run, type in > gpedit.msc & press Enter.

Next select -> Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates >
Windows Components > Terminal Services > Temporary Folder

Then right click "Do Not Delete Temp Folder Upon Exit"

Go to properties and hit disable.

Now next time Windows puts a temp file in that folder it will
automatically delete it when its done!
 
W

WupDeeDoo

One step at a time, if you have XP pro, here is your 1st.

Auto Delete Temporary Folder
http://www.tweakxp.com/display.aspx?id=2021

First go into gpedit.msc ( only available in the Pro version of XP )
Start > Run, type in > gpedit.msc & press Enter.

Next select -> Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates >
Windows Components > Terminal Services > Temporary Folder

Then right click "Do Not Delete Temp Folder Upon Exit"

Go to properties and hit disable.

Now next time Windows puts a temp file in that folder it will
automatically delete it when its done!


Appreciate the responses.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

WupDeeDoo said:
Does Windows XP Pro store any usable data in these folders and files
or can they be deleted ?? TIA


Yes, 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.
 

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