C:\Documents and Settings\Temp

[Jstyr]

I was wondering if it is safe to delete the entire contents of this folder from time to time? It seems to mostly get filled up with ad banner type things from web pages and whatnot. It also takes up a large portion of time when doing virus/spyware scans. Can I just go ahead and delete it all?

[TonyT]

C:\Documents and Settings\Temp ????????

[Jstyr]

C:\Documents and Settings\Temp ????????

Sorry, I mean
C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

and
C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Local Settings\Temp

[YeOldeStonecat]

You talking about the one located at C:\Documents and Settings\<user profile name>\Local Settings (hidden)\Temp, and \Temp Internet Files ?

I've cleaned them out. You still won't be able to delete all contents, there are a few more hidden (by default)....but in my opion, anything truely legitimate, that installs in any directory named "tmp", or "temp", is safe to delete.

Exception being, when you install some software, which requires a reboot, and often has some temp run once cabs to finish up on the reboot.

[Jstyr]

You talking about the one located at C:\Documents and Settings\<user profile name>\Local Settings (hidden)\Temp, and \Temp Internet Files ?

I've cleaned them out. You still won't be able to delete all contents, there are a few more hidden (by default)....but in my opion, anything truely legitimate, that installs in any directory named "tmp", or "temp", is safe to delete.

Exception being, when you install some software, which requires a reboot, and often has some temp run once cabs to finish up on the reboot.

Yea, there's all kinds of weird stuff in there, one folder is a history folder, but then I have a seperate History folder in the C:\Documents and Settings\<user profile name>\Local Settings (hidden). I have all kinds of stuff in there, folders with old chipset drivers it looks like (VIA stuff), empty folders, Lycos installer...bleh.

[Jstyr]

Ok all in my Temp folder I have a "Cookies" folder, "Default" folder, "History" folder, and "Temporary Internet Files" folder which I am worried about deleting, everything else seems to be remants of past installs, or empty folders.

[Norm]

You can delete all those folders without worrying. Windows (explorer.exe) recreates them when needed if they don't exist.

Here's a batch file to save so you can use one click to cleanup all of them, and your recent docs list as well.


echo off
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f
RD /S /q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"
RD /S /q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Cookies"
RD /S /q "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History"
RD /s /q "%USERPROFILE%\Recent"
RD /s /q "%Temp%"
start explorer.exe
pause

Copy/paste into notepad, then save, then rename to clearcache.cmd
Click your new file to clear (history, temporary internet files, temp files, cookies, and most recent documents cached list.

Note: Always reboot first if you have just installed new software since 'some' softare uses the temp dir to store files used on the first reboot after the install.

[TonyT]

Sorry, I mean
C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

and
C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Local Settings\Temp

Yeah, but what the heck wasur question about these dirs??????? Please post your questions when you make a post so we can see exactly what you want and do not have to guess or say "If you mean......"

[Jstyr]

Yeah, but what the heck wasur question about these dirs??????? Please post your questions when you make a post so we can see exactly what you want and do not have to guess or say "If you mean......"

I thought I stated it crystal clear Tony... "was wondering if it is safe to delete the entire contents of this folder from time to time?"

The thread sort of evolved once Stonecat answered my first question. Thanks Norm for the awesome batch file :thumb: and heads up.

I sometimes ramble a bit....usually trying to include too much info