Can I delete stuff from my Temp Folder?

blue_monkey_2

I've downlaoded some stock images this morning from a supplier and they go into my Temp folder. I noticed that the images were building up so I decided to delete them (I have already moved them to another folder where I rename them).

After doing this I have noticed there are a ot of things in this folder that have 0 bytes. Also, set up files - I guess from things I have downloaded. There are also little videos and word/excel documents I have been sent - again they would either be saved elsewhere or are attached to an email.

Do they go into the temp folder when I open the document, or when I receive the document on email?

I've started deleting them (still in my recycle bin).

The items named TMP File with 0 bytes can they be deleted or will something stop working on my computer.

And things like 'install flash player' can these be deleted? If they are 'install' documents and I have installed the software, can these be deleted too?

I also have some MHTML items on there - can they go too?

Would doing this make room on my computer?

I am trying to understand how these work. If I save them elsewhere, they can be deleted from the Temp file can they? Should I be doing this quite often?

Thanks for any help.

KillerWatt

Anything in the Temp folder can be safely deleted.

Ocentric

Windows Software use the temp directory to store files while they are processing them. For example, if you download a file but choose to view the file, and not store it, Windows will put it in the temp directory.

I personally use software to clean up my Windows Temp file but it is also safe to manually delete it. The free software that I use is CCleaner from Piriform, they also have a better defrag tool.

Hammyman

+1 for Piriforms CCleaner. You may find it removes a few GB the first time you run it.

blue_monkey_2

Thanks, most appreciated. Another job for the 'to do' list then.

Dave_C_2

+1 for Ccleaner.

Make sure you fully close all applications before cleaning out your temp folder. For instance MS word creates a temporary file in temp when you are editing a document. Deleting the temporary file with Word open can cause Word to crash and the loss of the file you were editing.

Dave

John_Gray

Dave_C wrote: »

Make sure you fully close all applications before cleaning out your temp folder. For instance MS word creates a temporary file in temp when you are editing a document. Deleting the temporary file with Word open can cause Word to crash and the loss of the file you were editing.

The design of Windows operating systems for as long as I can remember was that open files could not be deleted. I keep on coming across this protection in XP and W7, so you must have been unlucky with the instance you report.

Cricri

+1 for CCleaner.
It won't delete used files, but nothing can. Besides, if they stop getting used, CCleaner will delete them then. I typically run CCleaner at least once a day, so I wouldn't say that persistent temp files are really a problem, or at least not a long term one.

Sublime_2

Another +1 vote for Ccleaner from me. Keeps my system running well.

Dave_C_2

John_Gray wrote: »

The design of Windows operating systems for as long as I can remember was that open files could not be deleted. I keep on coming across this protection in XP and W7, so you must have been unlucky with the instance you report.

You are quite right. On the old server system that we had at work anything was possible . Maybe I was remembering the (almost daily) crash recovery problems.

Dave

Cricri

If you are desperate to delete them, you try try "Unlocker". If the file is not used but as a remaining opended handle, it will close the handle and will let you delete it.
If it's genuinely in use, then you can't and shoudln't delete it.