What does Temp folder do?

I very often see tons of files or folders in temp folder.
If I delete them, will it cause some problems with operation of WinXP?
Roman


"Og" <Og.DeleteThis@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
news:O1F%23121DIHA.5856@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Roman King" <machocraig.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23Lc83szDIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>I regularly clean garbage with CCleaner.
>> I found that it did not clean files/sufolders in Temp folder,which is
>> found under Local Settings.
>> I saw tons of files and folders in the Temp folder.
>> What does this Temp folder do?
>> It looks that I should manually delete those stuff under Temp.
>>
>> Roman
>
> The Temp folder does not *do* anything.
> Temp is simply a place for application software to temporarily store works
> in progress.
> Well-behaved applications erase temporary files that they have placed in
> Temp.
> Ill-behaved applications do *not* erase temporary files that they have
> placed in Temp.
> Applications that terminate unexpectedly do not, perforce, erase temporary
> files that they have placed in Temp.
> ** Note** if the Operating System terminates unexpectedly,
> no files are removed from Temp.
> Steve
>

You can safely delete the contents of Temp folders.
However it is best to reboot just before doing so.
Rebooting helps ensure all programs are finished with the contents and
you may find the contents done after a reboot.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Roman King" <machocraig.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e28pcB2DIHA.4748@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I very often see tons of files or folders in temp folder.
> If I delete them, will it cause some problems with operation of
> WinXP?
> Roman

"Roman King" <machocraig.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e28pcB2DIHA.4748@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I very often see tons of files or folders in temp folder.

They can be cleared. By definition, if they are in that folder, they are
temporary.

> If I delete them, will it cause some problems with operation of WinXP?

No, it can safely be cleared.

You *can* run into minor problems with web and compressed installers for
programs, where the installer creates a temp folder and runs from there.
When you clear the temp folder, the uninstaller is gone and when you try to
run that from add/remove programs, it will naturally fail.

In that case, you need to re-download or re-run the installer, which should
recognise that the app is installed an offer a fix/uninstall options, or,
simply re-run the installer and immediately run the uninstaller.

HTH
-pk

> Roman
>
>
> "Og" <Og.TakeThisOut@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
> news:O1F%23121DIHA.5856@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> "Roman King" <machocraig.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23Lc83szDIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>I regularly clean garbage with CCleaner.
>>> I found that it did not clean files/sufolders in Temp folder,which is
>>> found under Local Settings.
>>> I saw tons of files and folders in the Temp folder.
>>> What does this Temp folder do?
>>> It looks that I should manually delete those stuff under Temp.
>>>
>>> Roman
>>
>> The Temp folder does not *do* anything.
>> Temp is simply a place for application software to temporarily store
>> works in progress.
>> Well-behaved applications erase temporary files that they have placed in
>> Temp.
>> Ill-behaved applications do *not* erase temporary files that they have
>> placed in Temp.
>> Applications that terminate unexpectedly do not, perforce, erase
>> temporary files that they have placed in Temp.
>> ** Note** if the Operating System terminates unexpectedly,
>> no files are removed from Temp.
>> Steve
>>
>
>

Do you remember the name of installer in temp?

Roman




"Patrick Keenan" <test.TakeThisOut@dev.null> wrote in message
news:uOAZPK2DIHA.5328@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Roman King" <machocraig.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:e28pcB2DIHA.4748@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I very often see tons of files or folders in temp folder.
>
> They can be cleared. By definition, if they are in that folder, they are
> temporary.
>
>> If I delete them, will it cause some problems with operation of WinXP?
>
> No, it can safely be cleared.
>
> You *can* run into minor problems with web and compressed installers for
> programs, where the installer creates a temp folder and runs from there.
> When you clear the temp folder, the uninstaller is gone and when you try
> to run that from add/remove programs, it will naturally fail.
>
> In that case, you need to re-download or re-run the installer, which
> should recognise that the app is installed an offer a fix/uninstall
> options, or, simply re-run the installer and immediately run the
> uninstaller.
>
> HTH
> -pk
>
>> Roman
>>
>>
>> "Og" <Og.TakeThisOut@NoSpam.com> wrote in message
>> news:O1F%23121DIHA.5856@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> "Roman King" <machocraig.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23Lc83szDIHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>I regularly clean garbage with CCleaner.
>>>> I found that it did not clean files/sufolders in Temp folder,which is
>>>> found under Local Settings.
>>>> I saw tons of files and folders in the Temp folder.
>>>> What does this Temp folder do?
>>>> It looks that I should manually delete those stuff under Temp.
>>>>
>>>> Roman
>>>
>>> The Temp folder does not *do* anything.
>>> Temp is simply a place for application software to temporarily store
>>> works in progress.
>>> Well-behaved applications erase temporary files that they have placed in
>>> Temp.
>>> Ill-behaved applications do *not* erase temporary files that they have
>>> placed in Temp.
>>> Applications that terminate unexpectedly do not, perforce, erase
>>> temporary files that they have placed in Temp.
>>> ** Note** if the Operating System terminates unexpectedly,
>>> no files are removed from Temp.
>>> Steve
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Jupiter

Done or gone?


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:
> You can safely delete the contents of Temp folders.
> However it is best to reboot just before doing so.
> Rebooting helps ensure all programs are finished with the contents and
> you may find the contents done after a reboot.
>
>
> "Roman King" <machocraig RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:e28pcB2DIHA.4748@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> I very often see tons of files or folders in temp folder.
>> If I delete them, will it cause some problems with operation of
>> WinXP?
>> Roman

Another mistake!!
You are correct
It should be:
"...and you may find the contents gone after a reboot."

A case where spell check did not help.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Gerry" <gerry DeleteThis @nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ONWnV$2DIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Jupiter
>
> Done or gone?
>
>
> --
> Regards.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:
>> You can safely delete the contents of Temp folders.
>> However it is best to reboot just before doing so.
>> Rebooting helps ensure all programs are finished with the contents
>> and
>> you may find the contents done after a reboot.