Temp files/directories

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Any cautions about deleting files and directories in the c:temp and c:windowstemp directories? I can understand not deleting anything with a recent date, but some of these things have been in there forever, and it some cases are sucking up ALOT of disk space; I found 1 file with 305MB! And what about those subdirectories, such as c:temp_ISTMP0.DIR or other such unrecognizable name? However, there are a couple of subdirectories with recognizable names, such as “FrontPageTempDir” and “VBE”. Can I just assume the parent applications will recreate them as needed?

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In general, it is safe to delete everything in the Temp folder when no applications (except Explorer) are running. Files and subfolders in Temp are either useless, or they will be recreated the next time they are needed.

The directories such as VBE contain .exd files; they cache information about controls on userforms. If you delete them, they will be created anew the next time you insert a control on a userform; this will result in a slight delay, but on modern PC’s it is hardly noticeable.

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Hans,

Thanks for the info. I was pretty sure that was the case for the most part, but I wanted to make sure. I’m trying to extend the life of an older laptop which is getting a little slim on available disk space, and this will help alot.

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Mark,

You might want to go to StartProgramsAccessoriesSystem Tools and run DiskCleanup. Choose your C: drive when prompted and then check the boxes next to the folders you want to clean up. I generally recommend that you check Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin & Temporary Files, but everyone has their own preferences. It’s a quick easy way to keep thing a bit less cluttered. HTH.

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Hi Mark:
I use a shortcut that deletes temp files every time I reboot. If you right click hte desktop & choose “Create shortcut”, then put this in the command line:

C:WINDOWSCOMMANDDELTREE.EXE /y c:windowstemp

After you create your shortcut, you can put it in the Windows/Start Menu/ProgramsStartup folder.
Cheers,

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Hi Phil,

I like the idea of being able to “custom-tailor” commands to perform everyday tasks more simply and often wish I had gotten into computing sooner, forcing me to learn DOS and the command line. Batch files and shortcuts such as the one you posted here seem to have the capabilities to perform these tasks quickly and easily without disrupting one’s work (or play ).

I do have one question about your shortcut that is directly related to my lack of knowledge about these things. When that command executes will it delete everything in the specified folder ?? Files, cookies, etc ??? The underlying reason for the question concerns cookies stored there for places like the lounge that help the site to recognize you when you visit. Disk Cleanup always seems to leave those behind, along with several other cookies that most of us would like deleted in the process.

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Hi Doc:
I wish I had learned more about DOS, too. I just get tips from others. R2 once posted a web site that gave basic DOS commands & their explanation, but I can’t find it right now.

In any event, to answer your question, the command deletes everything in the Temp folder. However, no cookies are stored in the temp folder & so they’re not deleted. On my system, the default location is C:WindowsCookies. The only thing that’s deleted are files & folders in the Temp folder. The primary files that this shortcut deletes are the temp files that the system puts there. For me, it’s usually when Word crashes. Zone Alarm puts a bunch of temporary log files there also.

I read somewhere that the system uses temp files as you boot up, but this shortcut runs late in the boot process & doesn’t interfere with any programs, as far as I can tell. In combination with Neil Rubenking’s End It All (from PC Magazine), the batch file is extremely handy.
Cheers,

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Do ypu mean this site?

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Hi Granville:
I’m not sure…but I’ve bookmarked that site now too.

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I have DOS The Easy Way in my bookmarks but I don’t know where I got it or if it’s of any help.

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Thanks. Looks like a good one. I’ve bookmarked it now also.

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Thanks. Looks like a good one. I’ve bookmarked it now also.

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Hi Granville:
I’m not sure…but I’ve bookmarked that site now too.

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Do ypu mean this site?

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Just to lend support to this thread and Phil’s comments. The “Temp” folder is not supposed to hold your Temporary Internet Files folder — although I have seen boxes where this inappropriate relationship existed!

The Temporarily Internet Files folder does not really hold your cookies — what you are seeing when you open the TIF is the insides of the Cookies index.dat file (I know that sounds weird, but it is true). The Cookies folder holds your actual cookies.

The Temp folder can be used to hold files that will be used during the reboot process. It will hold files that are “in use” by Windows and then swap them when you reboot. I think Windows Update used to use this folder, but now it creates its own “WUTemp” folder to use. Other programs still use it to hold files during reboot.

The standard procedure is to “Rename” the files during reboot by using the transient “wininit.ini” file. An example of one is here:

[Rename]
NUL=C:WINDOWSSYSTEMSHDOCVW.DLL
C:WINDOWSSYSTEMSHDOCVW.DLL=C:WINDOWSTEMPSET7203.TMP
NUL=C:WINDOWSSYSTEMURLMON.DLL
C:WINDOWSSYSTEMURLMON.DLL=C:WINDOWSTEMPSET7241.TMP

This deletes the shdocvw.dll and urlmon.dll files (renames them “nul”) and then swaps in new ones from the Temp directory. You could NOT do this in Windows (the files are “in use”), but the wininit.ini file runs EARLY in the boot sequence (before WIndows is ‘active’). If you then EMPTY the Temp folder LATE in the boot sequence (i.e., after Windows has started — like from the Startup folder) you are not in any risk of deleting important files.
________

I hope that is at least partially comprehensible. If not, let me know…

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Just to lend support to this thread and Phil’s comments. The “Temp” folder is not supposed to hold your Temporary Internet Files folder — although I have seen boxes where this inappropriate relationship existed!

The Temporarily Internet Files folder does not really hold your cookies — what you are seeing when you open the TIF is the insides of the Cookies index.dat file (I know that sounds weird, but it is true). The Cookies folder holds your actual cookies.

The Temp folder can be used to hold files that will be used during the reboot process. It will hold files that are “in use” by Windows and then swap them when you reboot. I think Windows Update used to use this folder, but now it creates its own “WUTemp” folder to use. Other programs still use it to hold files during reboot.

The standard procedure is to “Rename” the files during reboot by using the transient “wininit.ini” file. An example of one is here:

[Rename]
NUL=C:WINDOWSSYSTEMSHDOCVW.DLL
C:WINDOWSSYSTEMSHDOCVW.DLL=C:WINDOWSTEMPSET7203.TMP
NUL=C:WINDOWSSYSTEMURLMON.DLL
C:WINDOWSSYSTEMURLMON.DLL=C:WINDOWSTEMPSET7241.TMP

This deletes the shdocvw.dll and urlmon.dll files (renames them “nul”) and then swaps in new ones from the Temp directory. You could NOT do this in Windows (the files are “in use”), but the wininit.ini file runs EARLY in the boot sequence (before WIndows is ‘active’). If you then EMPTY the Temp folder LATE in the boot sequence (i.e., after Windows has started — like from the Startup folder) you are not in any risk of deleting important files.
________

I hope that is at least partially comprehensible. If not, let me know…

Reply | Quote

Hi Doc:
I wish I had learned more about DOS, too. I just get tips from others. R2 once posted a web site that gave basic DOS commands & their explanation, but I can’t find it right now.

In any event, to answer your question, the command deletes everything in the Temp folder. However, no cookies are stored in the temp folder & so they’re not deleted. On my system, the default location is C:WindowsCookies. The only thing that’s deleted are files & folders in the Temp folder. The primary files that this shortcut deletes are the temp files that the system puts there. For me, it’s usually when Word crashes. Zone Alarm puts a bunch of temporary log files there also.

I read somewhere that the system uses temp files as you boot up, but this shortcut runs late in the boot process & doesn’t interfere with any programs, as far as I can tell. In combination with Neil Rubenking’s End It All (from PC Magazine), the batch file is extremely handy.
Cheers,

Reply | Quote

Hi Phil,

I like the idea of being able to “custom-tailor” commands to perform everyday tasks more simply and often wish I had gotten into computing sooner, forcing me to learn DOS and the command line. Batch files and shortcuts such as the one you posted here seem to have the capabilities to perform these tasks quickly and easily without disrupting one’s work (or play ).

I do have one question about your shortcut that is directly related to my lack of knowledge about these things. When that command executes will it delete everything in the specified folder ?? Files, cookies, etc ??? The underlying reason for the question concerns cookies stored there for places like the lounge that help the site to recognize you when you visit. Disk Cleanup always seems to leave those behind, along with several other cookies that most of us would like deleted in the process.

Reply | Quote

Hi Mark:
I use a shortcut that deletes temp files every time I reboot. If you right click hte desktop & choose “Create shortcut”, then put this in the command line:

C:WINDOWSCOMMANDDELTREE.EXE /y c:windowstemp

After you create your shortcut, you can put it in the Windows/Start Menu/ProgramsStartup folder.
Cheers,

Reply | Quote

Hans,

Thanks for the info. I was pretty sure that was the case for the most part, but I wanted to make sure. I’m trying to extend the life of an older laptop which is getting a little slim on available disk space, and this will help alot.

Reply | Quote