Question about C:\Windows\Temp files

[JR Berry]

Hi All,

I am running Windows 98 SE. I have 698 files scattered over
78 sub-folders in the

C:\Windows\Temp folder. These files take up 115 MB. I don't
know what they are or why they are there.

Can I safely delete these files AND folders?

Thanks much..........

[Mostly Me (MM)]

JR Berry wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am running Windows 98 SE. I have 698 files scattered over
> 78 sub-folders in the
>
> C:\Windows\Temp folder. These files take up 115 MB. I don't
> know what they are or why they are there.
>
> Can I safely delete these files AND folders?
>
> Thanks much..........
>
>
>
Hi,
Generally speaking yes. It's wise to reboot beforehand, especially if
you have recently installed something as there may be some files needed
to complete it upon a reboot.

Although I have never seen or heard of an important file being stored in
there, other than as I pointed out, you could back them up to a CD or
move them to a different folder before deleting them --maybe name it
"junk", and run your system for a week or so before doing away with them
completely.

mm

[Gary S. Terhune]

Only "important" files I've ever see stored in TEMP are files related to
errors (debug logs, etc.), files that were mistakenly saved there, or
timed-backups. So my standard advice, in addition to the reboot requirement,
is that the folder shouldn't just be emptied (should be copied) if there are
any problems outstanding that might involve recovering timed-backups, error
logs, etc. And I recommend the user review the contents for "missing" files.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"Mostly Me (MM)" > wrote in message
...
> JR Berry wrote:
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I am running Windows 98 SE. I have 698 files scattered over
> > 78 sub-folders in the
> >
> > C:\Windows\Temp folder. These files take up 115 MB. I don't
> > know what they are or why they are there.
> >
> > Can I safely delete these files AND folders?
> >
> > Thanks much..........
> >
> >
> >
> Hi,
> Generally speaking yes. It's wise to reboot beforehand, especially if
> you have recently installed something as there may be some files needed
> to complete it upon a reboot.
>
> Although I have never seen or heard of an important file being stored in
> there, other than as I pointed out, you could back them up to a CD or
> move them to a different folder before deleting them --maybe name it
> "junk", and run your system for a week or so before doing away with them
> completely.
>
> mm
>
>

[Mostly Me (MM)]

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Only "important" files I've ever see stored in TEMP are files related to
> errors (debug logs, etc.), files that were mistakenly saved there, or
> timed-backups. So my standard advice, in addition to the reboot requirement,
> is that the folder shouldn't just be emptied (should be copied) if there are
> any problems outstanding that might involve recovering timed-backups, error
> logs, etc. And I recommend the user review the contents for "missing" files.
>
Hi,
Thanks. I shall amend my advice to include your tips.

mm

[PA Bear]

What a wuss! <eg,d&r>
--
~PAÞ

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Only "important" files I've ever see stored in TEMP are files related to
> errors (debug logs, etc.), files that were mistakenly saved there, or
> timed-backups. So my standard advice, in addition to the reboot
> requirement, is that the folder shouldn't just be emptied (should be
> copied) if there are any problems outstanding that might involve
> recovering timed-backups, error logs, etc. And I recommend the user
> review the contents for "missing" files.

[Gary S. Terhune]

I didn't say *I* follow such recommendations! It's just what I recommend to
other users, <g>.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x

"PA Bear" > wrote in message
...
> What a wuss! <eg,d&r>
> --
> ~PAÞ
>
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> > Only "important" files I've ever see stored in TEMP are files related to
> > errors (debug logs, etc.), files that were mistakenly saved there, or
> > timed-backups. So my standard advice, in addition to the reboot
> > requirement, is that the folder shouldn't just be emptied (should be
> > copied) if there are any problems outstanding that might involve
> > recovering timed-backups, error logs, etc. And I recommend the user
> > review the contents for "missing" files.
>

[PCR]

(1) Delete the contents of C:\Windows\TEMP. Delete contents only.

Under normal circumstances, C:\WINDOWS\TEMP can be cleared of
files/folders after a fresh boot. You need the fresh boot, because
something may be sitting there, waiting to "complete" an install. You
will likely have seen a message about it, though. Anyway, you should
know whether you've installed something since boot. Now, some files may
return after the delete. "WebPoolFileFile" is one. That will come back
next boot or when you run McAfee.

I have seen one poster who objected, saying one should browse through
those files, looking for .log's. He said it might be interesting to see
whether there is an error message or something inside. It was too late
for me by then.

Naturally, if you have actually installed something into TEMP, there
might be a Registry connection to it. Those, you need to un/re-install
elsewhere. Finally, I even saw a poster who had system files in there,
perhaps it was the Temporary Internet Files in there. That shouldn't be!
Well, to be certain, is C:\Windows\TEMP mentioned in any of these
Registry keys?

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\She
ll Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Use
r Shell Folders

(2) "Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Files button, bolt Delete
all offline content, OK, OK"

These were your Temporary Internet Files, which, since V4, has an
involvement with Windows Update. It's main purpose is to hold
bits/pieces of sites you visit, to make it quicker to load next visit.
Also, it is a work area for OE6. Naturally, TIFs will grow back. It's
size is controllable by the slider & input box under the Settings
button.

(3) Most of the following shall never return again, and were work files,
pre-V4:
(a) "START, Settings, Folder Options, View tab"; bolt "Show all
files" & UNcheck "Hide file extensions...".
(b) Open Explorer to "C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate", and
(c) Delete everything in this folder EXCEPT the V4 folder.
(d) Open the V4 folder, and delete everything in it EXCEPT for the
"iuhist.xml" file.

(4) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q238165
Deleting APPLOG Content
(a) You won't even see it, unless "START, Settings, Folder Options,
View tab" is bolted "Show all files"; may as well uncheck "Hide file
extensions..." too.
(b) START, Find, Files or Folders, Applog"
(c) Double-click the Applog folder to open it.
(d) On the Edit menu, click Select all.
(e) On the File menu, click Delete, and then click Yes when you are
prompted to confirm the deletion.

APPLOG is used by Defrag to optimize the location of files on your
partition. (Some files in it seem extraordinarily large.) It will be
recreated and the contents will accumulate, as the second time any app
is run it generates an .LGC in that folder. (Optlog.txt, in that folder,
will be recreated, when next you Defrag. Save the old one only to retain
a record of every app that has run, at least twice, to the date of your
last Defrag.)

(5) "START, Find, F/F, fff*". Got any, with a name that is tons long?
Then...

.......Quote.........
You find that you are accumulating a lot of temporary files in your
Windows directory that start with fff and have a .tmp extension, similar
to this:

fff137e3_{3BC6A120-EFC3-11D2-96F7-D0634EC10000}.tmp
fff137e3_{3BC6A121-EFC3-11D2-96F7-D0634EC10000}.tmp

These files are created by a bug in certain versions of MDM.EXE....two
every time it is loaded.
See here:
OFF2000: Files Whose Name Begins with 'fff' Appear in Windows Folder"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221438

OFF: How to Turn Off Machine Debug Manager, Mdm.exe
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321410

MDM is loaded with programs such as Office, and Microsoft Script
Debugger.
The fix is to prevent it from loading, by renaming the file, and
removing its reference in the startup group.

Rename MDM.EXE to MDM.EX_ or MDM.BAD, or something like that.
Look for any reference to MDM.EXE in the Startup folders:
C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
C:\Windows\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
and in the registry run key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run
and delete it.

Then delete all those fff___.tmp files.
Note that if you reinstall any of the programs that added MDM.EXE, you
may get it loaded back, and will have to disable it again.

....glen
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
.......End....of quote.......

(6) Also, do you have SpyBot? Then...
"START, Find, F/F, 'Checks*.*, Fixes*.*'" (No quotes; yes comma). If you
have a ton of these, then delete them. Go to the Settings screen of
SpyBot, & turn off both the Checks & Fixes logs.


http://www.pcmag.com/ 's HDValet can help with that. It is configurable,
& installs with pre-configured suggestions. By design, it will not
delete empty folders, after the files are gone. Also, it will not delete
files that are "in use". It isn't pre-configured to delete it's own log
& doesn't over-write it. So, occasionally, do go in and trim it.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"JR Berry" > wrote in message
...
| Hi All,
|
| I am running Windows 98 SE. I have 698 files scattered over
| 78 sub-folders in the
|
| C:\Windows\Temp folder. These files take up 115 MB. I don't
| know what they are or why they are there.
|
| Can I safely delete these files AND folders?
|
| Thanks much..........
|
|
|