Windows temp file: clear its contents? Solved

Question

Hello everyone,I would like to know if it is possible to delete the content of the temp file (more precisely: c/ documents & settings/ owner/local settings/temp) without crashing my computer. Or if that's not possible, what is its purpose and what can I delete.Thank you for your attention and responses.

Looch · Accepted Answer

The question has, I believe, found its answer.

The Temp folder contains all the temporary files stored for software installation, for example, including self-extracting downloaded files. You are not at risk by regularly deleting its contents.

In the case of a virus infection, temp files are included in full system scans of any good antivirus. (there are very efficient ones available for free download).

It is often recommended in the case of "recurring" viruses to disable system restore (start → right-click on This PC and properties → system restore → check the box disable system restore on all drives).

Software like Ccleaner allows you to safely remove those that have no utility.

I hope this is clear enough

Best regards.

Windows - My PC is slow, what to do?

azerty · Answer

Hi!
You can remove everything without danger, they will be recreated automatically by certain software. These are folders in which programs write information that is normally temporary and deleted later or when the programs are closed. You have the same for displaying web pages...

mariline · Answer

Hello everyone!
So, I would like to know if you are really sure that it's safe to delete the contents of the "temp" folder on our computer, because I read in a definition online of the word "temp" that says:
"The Temp directory can be permanent on some systems, and especially under DOS, it can be any directory when defined by an environment variable, including the root of the hard drive (it's better to be careful not to delete it... So it's a bad idea)."
So there you go, I hope someone can help me solve my problem because right now, many files in my "temp" folder are infected with viruses. Thanks!

Christian Waeber · Answer

I simply deleted the temp folder. My PC runs very well without it. Maybe even better.  I keep it in the recycle bin and hope I wasn't too bold.  I constantly had files that I couldn't delete.

CHEFFRE Patrice · Answer

Windows or any other applications create temporary files in the directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temp:

Once these applications are closed, these files are not deleted by the application that created them, whether it is Windows or other software. As a result, temporary files clutter the hard drive and eventually take up significant space. Emptying this folder from time to time is safe. They are just temporary files without utility.
If one of these files is being used by an application that is still open, it will be impossible to delete it.

MJU · Answer

Hello,

Like you, I had a virus under Docs & Settings> Local Settings> Temp.
In this "temp" folder, I wanted to delete everything, but I have 5 files that cannot be deleted.

How can I delete them? Perhaps they are the culprits of my virus! (Avast detected a trojan and spyware).

Thank you

kimiros · Answer

In the folder C:\Users\Pseudo\appdata\Local\Temp, I have a folder named avast that is shared with several users and a file called "WER-78031-0.sysdata". Can I delete them or not?  Thank you

JMBCHA · Answer

I am still on XP, and I was alarmed to see the free space on the hard drive (80 Go dropping to 20 Go free) gradually decreasing. I regularly perform cleanup, defragmentation, registry deletion... None of these actions worked.

Together, we found the problem: there were 2 "temp" files. One in C/windows/temp (the larger one), the other in local settings (accessible with the %temp% command which was regularly emptied by the hard drive cleanup). By deleting all the files in the folder (windows/temp), I recovered over 30 Go... The files that were not deleted were in use by programs. Now I will keep an eye on this folder.

Windows temp file: clear its contents?

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