Deleting files

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I read the following online recently.

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When it says delete everything within the temporary folders, does that mean the .tmp files or all the files irrespective of extension and all the subfolders as well?

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You can navigate to the Temp folders and delete all files contained in them, regardless of file extension, or you can download and run a program such as CCleaner and/or Privacy Mantra Free here.

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I ran Ccleaner as suggested. It said it had deleted a vast number of files. But MY Computer still shows exactly the same amount of free disk space as before and the folder C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp is still full of files and subfolders.

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Deadeye81 said I could navigate to C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp and delete all files contained in them, regardless of file extension but did not mention the other subfolders in that folder. Is it safe to delete them also?

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Deadeye81 said I could navigate to C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp and delete all files contained in them, regardless of file extension but did not mention the other subfolders in that folder. Is it safe to delete them also?

If all programs are closed, and nothing is actively using the Temp folder, you can delete everything in it including all of the subfolders. Nothing that should be permanent is stored in there.

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If all programs are closed, and nothing is actively using the Temp folder, you can delete everything in it including all of the subfolders. Nothing that should be permanent is stored in there.

I agree.:rolleyes:

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Have you checked the tick-box status in
Ccleaner->Options->Advanced: Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 24 hours?
Easy to miss.

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Leave it to Gerald to beat me to the draw (I just got home from work). I second his recommendation on these 2 fine apps.

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I also have a small batch file on my desktop (courtesy of Fred Langa many years ago and several Windows versions ago) that can be customized to clean temp files from any folder:

27365-Cleanup.bat_

You would have to change the lines to reflect the paths on your PC including the path you wish to clean up. I suspect you have not selected the right cleaning entries in CCleaner.

I use CCleaner, Privacy Mantra and the batch file to clean my PC.

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I have 9 entries checked in Ccleaner, including IE Temporary Internet Files and System Temporary files. I ran it again this morning and although it claimed to have removed a vast number of files my free disk space is still the same as it was two days ago. My C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp directory is still full of files and sub-directories. I fail to see whereI am going wrong.

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I have just installed Ccleaner on another PC which is networked with my other one. I have run Ccleaner and it has cleaned out my C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp folder apart from half a dozen DAT files, so why it can’t do so on the first PC I tried it on is beyond me.

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When some programs are working they sometimes store their temp files in the temp directory.
(Not so Word, which stores it’s temp files in the same directory as the doc, but with the ~ prefix.)
Windows will usually prevent you from deleting the file if a program is currently using it.
Perhaps there are programs (perhaps running in the background) that are currently using those files, so Windows won’t let you delete those files.
Try restarting the computer, then deleting the files.
Or even starting in Safe mode and then deleting the files.
A program like Sysinternals ProcessExplorer can help you find out what program has it locked.
Peter

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Microsoft has Disk Cleanup which will also do what you are asking about if CCleaner did not get it.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Delete-files-using-Disk-Cleanup

I use CCleaner too, excellent for temp files and registry.

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