What can be deleted in Temp file ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Buttuls
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Peter Buttuls

Hi,

In my directory... /Documents and Settings/Peter Buttuls/Local
Settings/Temp,
when I saved it as a backup I noticed that the folder Temp was about 500 MB
big.
Can anyone give me criteria what files I can and cannot delete in that
folder, because
I remember once that someone who is not exactly a novice deleted a file in
there
which caused him problems. Also, I notice that the disk cleanup program does
not
mention that folder.

Thanks,
Peter
 
Peter said:
Hi,

In my directory... /Documents and Settings/Peter Buttuls/Local
Settings/Temp,
when I saved it as a backup I noticed that the folder Temp was about 500 MB
big.
Can anyone give me criteria what files I can and cannot delete in that
folder, because
I remember once that someone who is not exactly a novice deleted a file in
there
which caused him problems. Also, I notice that the disk cleanup program does
not
mention that folder.

Thanks,
Peter
Click to expand...


Nothing of value should ever be stored there, so you should be able to
safely delete everything. If a file does happen to be in use, WinXP
won't let you delete it.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Peter Buttuls said:
Hi,

In my directory... /Documents and Settings/Peter Buttuls/Local
Settings/Temp,
when I saved it as a backup I noticed that the folder Temp was about 500
MB big.
Can anyone give me criteria what files I can and cannot delete in that
folder, because
I remember once that someone who is not exactly a novice deleted a file in
there
which caused him problems. Also, I notice that the disk cleanup program
does not
mention that folder.

Thanks,
Peter
Click to expand...

You posted EXACTLY the same question under EXACTLY the same subject EXACTLY
a week ago in this group and had good answers.

What's going on?
 
Olórin said:
You posted EXACTLY the same question under EXACTLY the same subject EXACTLY
a week ago in this group and had good answers.

What's going on?
Click to expand...

Tis a problem with temp space in cranium.
 
Hi,

In my directory... /Documents and Settings/Peter Buttuls/Local
Settings/Temp,
when I saved it as a backup I noticed that the folder Temp was about 500 MB
big.
Can anyone give me criteria what files I can and cannot delete in that
folder, because
I remember once that someone who is not exactly a novice deleted a file in
there
which caused him problems. Also, I notice that the disk cleanup program does
not
mention that folder.
Click to expand...


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.

Some people may suggest that you reboot before deleting anything, but
that's not necessary, for the reason described above (on the other
hand, it doesn't hurt to do it).
 
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