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From: SC Tom on 27 Jan 2010 23:51
*** reply in line

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake(a)this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:qno1m5d97vs750a8i020avn4tdjsktvv7v(a)4ax.com...
> On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:14:01 -0500, "SC Tom" <sc(a)tom.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake(a)this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>> news:13b1m55a45ejll72vo7nblatrrge72sodj(a)4ax.com...
>> > On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:52:06 -0800, siamoose
>> > <siamoose(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> In my C:\Windows\Temp folder I have 17 folders like this
>> >> "tmp00001cef"
>> >> Each one has different files in them,(for a total of 51 files) ranging
>> >> from
>> >> 0MB to 1.46GB. Total size of them is 48.6 GB.
>> >>
>> >> My question is can I delete these safely? I have no idea what they
>> >> are
>> >> for.
>> >
>> >
>> > Yes, 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).
>> >
>> > --
>> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
>> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>
>> I'm sure what you're saying is probably true, but I've had a batch file
>> that
>> I run on start-up every day that deletes all the files in my temp folder,
>> and I have never had a bad program installation since using it.
>
>
> Yes, it runs after any installations are complete.

*** I was wondering about that, whether the installation process completes
before any other batch files are run. Since I've never had a problem with
it, I have to assume that's pretty much the way it works.
--
SC Tom


>
>
>> It doesn't
>> always get everything (some Zone Alarm data files) the first day, but
>> then
>> those files are replaced and erased the following day, and so on.
>
>
> Yep, as I said.
>
>
>
>> I find it amazing the amount of stuff that gets written there and is
>> still
>> there even after it's no longer needed. Through forgetfulness (and maybe
>> a
>> touch of laziness), I managed to not empty it out for weeks on end before
>> I
>> finally wrote the batch file.
>> That works for me, but I'm not stating that everyone should go this
>> route.
>> But if you do, use at your own risk :-)
>
>
> There is little if any risk in doing what you do. I think it's fine.
>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

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