our system really slowed down (loading internet explorer,
opening outlook express etc.) since I deleted files in
the temp folder. Could I have deleted something in error?
Where do I check for memory or whatever?
Jerry, after deleting the temp files - delete them from Recycle Bin. If the
system is still running slow, right click on the icon for your hard drive.
On the Tools page, click the "Defragment Now..." button. In the next
window, click your C: drive. You can Analyze and then Defragment -or-just
go ahead and Defragment from here.
You did not delete anything that could have damaged your system. Temp
folders house temp files. Once they are used, they are discarded. When
programs forget to discard the files due to bad shutdowns, program errors
or other system problems. These leftovers can add up over time and a manual
cleanup is necessary.
If there were many, many temp files in that folder, it left gaping "holes"
on the hard drive - the places those files used to reside. Running the disk
defragmenter will close those holes and help the system to perform better.
