The other day, after approx 2 hours on the internet , I was looking for a downloaded file and did a search for files accessed in the previous day and was shocked to find hundreds of files created during the online session. What is the best way to monitor and delete unwanted files?
I tried guesswork deleting and it resulted in a changed home page and I really do not want any deletions to result in a crash.
fitzalan
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Temporary Files
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Windows » Windows Vista, XP and earlier » Questions: Vista, XP back to 3.1 » Temporary Files
- This topic has 12 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 23 years, 7 months ago.
AuthorTopicWSfitzalan
AskWoody LoungerNovember 20, 2001 at 6:56 pm #363138Viewing 2 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSJerryC
AskWoody Lounger -
WSGranville
AskWoody Lounger -
WSjimbo h
AskWoody LoungerNovember 21, 2001 at 1:10 pm #553546I tried that it told me there was 7.9MB in the temp files folder.
I ticked the box to delete the contents.
If i look in windows explorer and look at c:windowstemp and then right click, properties, it tells me there is 177MB !!!!!
There are loads of folders and files in there.
Is it safe to delete these ??????regards
JIM -
WSchrisgreaves
AskWoody LoungerNovember 21, 2001 at 2:24 pm #553557I use a batch file delTrans.bat and you can find it here.
I determined what directory Netscapr uses for cache, then used that name as part of my regular (each morning) deletion of transient files immediately following my regular (daily) backup procedure.
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WSjimbo h
AskWoody LoungerNovember 21, 2001 at 3:58 pm #553576 -
WSMerC
AskWoody LoungerNovember 21, 2001 at 6:36 pm #553607Hi
Temporary Internet Files and the Temp file are not related (except that you might find them sitting next to each other). Unused files in the Temp. folder are litter. Delete ’em. If there is a file in there in current use, Windows won’t let you remove it, so you’re safe. Any file elsewere on your hard disk with the extension .tmp, .temp, .~mp and such like – litter also.
If you want to make a convenient task-bar button that will empty this folder in a single click, pop over to my site, press the Index button and find the instructions in the ‘Autoclean Temp Files PDF or DOC.Rgds
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WSfitzalan
AskWoody Lounger -
WSchrisgreaves
AskWoody LoungerNovember 22, 2001 at 12:39 am #553659> it’s the temp folder in windows itself. Am I safe to delete the contents of this folder?
Go for it.
If in doubt, delete it immediately after your daily backup. You do do a daily backup, don’t you? A backup? It’s what happens to me when they don’t and they expect me to recover their files.
AFAIK any directory described by a DOS environment variable of the form TMP or TEMP points to files that are up for grabs.
Deleting your WindowsTemp while Windows is running might cause it to burp, but oughn’t to cause it to crash. I think my DelTrans batch file deletes every TEMP directory I’ve ever discovered, and I run the job in a DOS window.
>”You use computers don’t you ?”
I use stereo systems too. Right now my 17″ monitor is raised on a stereo tuner, I needed more height. Doesn’t seem to affect reception or transmissioon at all, not eben withb the computer truned ok.
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WSjimbo h
AskWoody Lounger -
WSd_rasley
AskWoody LoungerNovember 26, 2001 at 12:30 am #554026I’ve done a little tweaking in my Autoexec.bat that may be useful too. Lovely little DOS command named DELTREE.
Two little lines go a long way to keep things cleaned up automatically:[indent]
DELTREE /Y C:WindowsTemp > NUL
MD C:WindowsTemp
[/indent]With every reboot the trash is automagically dumped. The ‘/Y’ tells DELTREE to run without prompting, and the ‘> NUL’ (note – only one ‘L’, not two) runs it nice and quiet, but also can be omitted if desired.
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DaveA
AskWoody_MVPNovember 26, 2001 at 3:09 am #554044BUT, if you have installed some new software that requires a reboot, this deleting of the temp files may mess up the install, because it will delete the files needed when rebooting.
Also with Windows Nt, 2K and XP the temp files are stored in each users folder under “Settings and Documents”, so this tip will not work for these OS’s.DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living
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WSDreamboat
AskWoody LoungerNovember 21, 2001 at 12:46 pm #553535If it’s internet explorer, I have complete instructions at:
Viewing 2 reply threads -

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