why so many temporary directories in local settings/temp?

[David Baker]

I've noticed a large number of temporary directories
within Local Settings, many are empty and others have an
odd file or two connected with the installation of a
program and are labelled eg., Temporary Directory 1 for
smart.zip and Temporary Directory 2 for photo.zip. Are
these used just once and can they be safely deleted as
they are in a Temp directory?

 

[Malvern]

I've noticed a large number of temporary directories
within Local Settings, many are empty and others have an
odd file or two connected with the installation of a
program and are labelled eg., Temporary Directory 1 for
smart.zip and Temporary Directory 2 for photo.zip. Are
these used just once and can they be safely deleted as
they are in a Temp directory?

I've read on here that XP won't allow deletion of temp files still needed or
in use. A safety valve is to write down their location, move them to a
folder you know location of, then try relevant programs. Any problems;
replace in folder where originally found.

Malv

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I've read on here that XP won't allow deletion of temp files still
needed or in use. A safety valve is to write down their location,
move them to a folder you know location of, then try relevant
programs. Any problems; replace in folder where originally

found.


It's true that Windows (XP or any other version) won't let you
delete open files (temp or otherwise). However it's entirely safe
to try to delete all temp files; no other safety valve is really
needed, since the deletion of any temp file needed will simply
fail.

The only thing to be aware of is that some program installations
work in two steps: the first step ends by creating some temp
files and rebooting; the second step needs to find find those
temp files there after rebooting. Any attempt to delete temp
files automatically upon booting can wreak havoc with this
process and shouldn't be attempted.

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for the replies from Malvern and Ken. I shall
move some to another folder created for the purpose and
then try deleting them from the Temp directory. I presume
that those created while installing a program will not be
needed once the machine has re-booted and are thus safe to
delete and all others that are all in the temp directory
will also be safe to remove.

David

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In (e-mail address removed)

Many thanks for the replies from Malvern and Ken. I shall
move some to another folder created for the purpose and
then try deleting them from the Temp directory.

You're welcome.

Although it isn't necessary, it certainly can't hurt to do it
that way.

I presume
that those created while installing a program will not be
needed once the machine has re-booted and are thus safe to
delete and all others that are all in the temp directory
will also be safe to remove.

Yes.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

 

[Alex Nichol]

I've noticed a large number of temporary directories
within Local Settings, many are empty and others have an
odd file or two connected with the installation of a
program and are labelled eg., Temporary Directory 1 for
smart.zip and Temporary Directory 2 for photo.zip. Are
these used just once and can they be safely deleted as
they are in a Temp directory?

You can always delete files in a temporary folder - if they are in use
then the system will not let you. There should be a general one for
each user - this sounds as if you have individual programs making their
own working directories, but the same applies

 

[Malvern]

Yerr welcum

Malv