Temp Files.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bullwinkle. J. Moose
  • Start date Start date
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Bullwinkle. J. Moose

I have a large number of temp files in the windows/temp directory. They are
all zero byte files.

I am unable to delete them. I have run System Mechanic ver. 5 and Norton
System Works but they will not allow me to delete them. I have tried in safe
mode as well as in windows XT sp2, Professional. I have a Pentium III 1 gig
processor and 512 mb ram.

Can you help me on this one.
All advice appreciated.

Thanks and regards,
Werner
 
Hi,

Can I know the format and name of those temp files that you could not
delete?
Sometimes, antivirus and anti-spyware application produces logs as temp
files which are unable to remove.
 
When you delete Temporary Internet Files via IE Tools > Internet Options >
General > Delete files, accept the option to delete all offline content.
Outlook Express creates a zero-byte file of this type for every message you
open and every time you open it. For heavy OE users these can really add up
over time and bog your system down.
 
Ok, Thanks for the replies. However, I tried the suggestion by PA Bear but
that didn't work.

Rebooting didn't do anything either. The files are still impossible to
delete.

The format, I think you mean is as follows:
C:\Windows\Temp\tmp00005bf7\tmp00000000. This is just one example. There are
57 more dating from early march to current date.

Does this info help you find a solution that will work.

Thanks,
regards,
Werner
 
Possibly a virus (virus, worm or Trojan), or spyware.

Try this...

HijackThis Delete a file on reboot...

Download, install, run, update and run HijackThis again.

Open HijackThis, click the Config button, then click on the Misc Tools
button. Once at the new screen, click the Delete a file on reboot button.
You will be presented with a dialog asking you to pick a file.

Copy and paste C:\Windows\Temp\tmp00005bf7 into the file name field and
press the open button.

Reboot when HijackThis asks you to.
-----

HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

HijackThis log tutorial
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

HijackThis Log Tutorial
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm

How to use HijackThis to remove Browser Hijackers & Spyware
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42#warning

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
 
What's interesting is that the directories have the attribute of N.
I've never seen that before and I can't change it or remove it.
I've tried cccleaner also with no luck.

I have sent the hijackthis file to the site and will hopefully get some
input from there .

So, still can't delete these files. They have less than 1000 bytes but there
are over 60 files now.

I will report when I have gotten a response.

Thanks for all your help.

Regards,
Werner.
 
attribute of N??? Normal, None, No attribute set?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
It doesn't help. I am unable to delete the attribute "N" or replace it with
"A". Also when I look at the file in and explorer type program such as
Norton Navigator the files are not seen at all.
 
Try use the DEL command from a MSDOS prompt.

Use DEL /? if you want info how this command works.


Regards

/Kenneth
 
I'm finding the attribute "N" on these temp files. What does this
represent? How do I get rid of it so that I can delete the temp files?

Regards,
 
Werner,

Where and how are you seeing the N attribute?

In %windir%\temp folder using Windows Explorer?

Using attrib in a command prompt?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
This is becoming more odder by the minute.

I was using Take Command and got the attribute for all these files as "N". I
am able to delete other temp (tmp) files with the usual commands. But not
these. I get the continuous response of "Access Denied". Or "This files is
in use by another program.) although I can't figure out which file is using
these, some of them going back to January of this year.

I get the same responses using Norton Navigator's file command. They also
show up in Windows Explorer. I am trying to use the correct delete command
in each of these programs to no effect.

I'm at my wits end having passed half wit a while ago. (g.).

Regards,

Werner
 
Have you tried booting up in Safe Mode? Safe mode gives a basic, no frills,
boot by running the minimum possible. If it is one of these that's running
and blocking then if it isn't it can't!!

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions
 
In case anyone has had a similar problem, I've found a brute force method of
removing these files.

I downloaded from Iolo Technologies a program called "Incinerator" This is a
program similar to the recycle bin which doesn't work in this instance.

I am also an owner of ACD 7.0 and using the "move file" option I moved these
files one by one into the incinerator directory and they vanished.

I'm writing this message while I am down to 33 directories and files in the
temp folder.

It took a while and I thank you all for your help. It turns out that there
was no spyware/virus/etc causing the problem, simply a bunch of directories
and files created by Outlook express. So my next "project" is to find a way
to prevent these directories not to be created.

As for the "N" attribute I have been unable to locate any explanation for
this attribute. I even went to the terrible study of the manual both online
and in (heaven forbid) the manual.

Again thanks for your help.

Regards,

Werner
 
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