tmp file - delete?

[thewolfe]

tmp file - delete?

I was helping a friend cleanup his comp so I ck'd the "Temp" folder under "Windows" and it was full along w/ this kind of file "fffe1dc9_{C7801960-E0AF-11D9-815A-0040F48365C3}.tmp".

I also found that same kind of file in his "Windows" folder but didn't know if it was OK to delete them.

What are these files and are they OK to delete?

[Rick]

if your not sure about what TMP files to delete
Just use the disk cleanup in XP and let it get rid of them

If Windows needs or is using the file it won't allow it to be deleted
Everything else can go

[classicsoftware]

What version of Windows are you running??

[thewolfe]

It's Win 98 and The Disk cleanup will not clean up files in Windows only Window/Temp.

These are in the Windows folder.

[classicsoftware]

You need to boot to a command prompt or DOS prompt

Then type deltree /y c:\windows\temp\

This should erase everything in the temp folder.

[thewolfe]

There in the Windows folder, noy the Windows/Temp folder.

[Rick]

If they are in the windows folder
Check the date on the files.
if they don't today as the date then delete them

If need be use the dos prompt
Then change directory "CD windows "
then delete "delete *.tmp"
without the quotes ""

They look like windows update files and folder
If they are and you delete them
You may not be able to uninstall them at a later date if you need to

[classicsoftware]

I ck'd the "Temp" folder under "Windows" and it was full along w/ this kind of file "fffe1dc9_{C7801960-E0AF-11D9-815A-0040F48365C3}.tmp".



Now I'm confused????

[andyswork@beci.net]

First, close ALL open programs, including any running in the background, like your AV program, etc.

Click on your start button, then go to Find, then Files or Folders (In Windows XP, go to Start, then Search). In this dialog box, make sure where it says "look in", that it is looking at your C: drive (or, if you have multiple hard drives or partitions, be sure "All Local Drives" is selected) and be sure there is a check in the box next to where it says "include subfolders". (This is in "More Advanced Options" in XP. Also, in Windows XP you need to put checks in the boxes that say "Search hidden files and folders" and "Search system folders".) Now, click your mouse pointer in the box that says "named" (in XP, it says "All or part of the file name") and type the following, exactly as it is here.

*.tmp,*.chk,~*.*

That's asterisk period t m p comma asterisk period c h k comma tilde asterisk period asterisk .....with no spaces.

(The "tilde" is the little squiggle above the Tab key on the left end of your keyboard.....DO NOT FORGET THE TILDE as ~*.* will find all files which begin with ~, but *.* without the tilde would find all files on the drive and you DON'T want to do that!!) To be sure you've got it right, just highlight this ---> *.tmp,*.chk,~*.* <--- copy it and paste it in that box.

Once it finds all the files, it will list them and at the bottom it will tell you how many it found

Hit ctrl+a to select them all, then hit your delete key. If it won't delete some of them, that's because they are attached to some program running in the background, so you may have to delete them one at a time. If one or two won't delete, they will probably delete when you reboot next, so don't worry about them. NOTE: Windows XP tends to hang onto temp files more than the earlier versions, so you may run into more that you can't delete. If so, just note the name of the file Windows won't delete and find it in the list, then hit ctrl+a to select them all again, then hold down your control key and click on the one Windows won't delete. This will select all but that one. Try deleting them again. If XP finds another it won't delete, repeat this same process. If this won't work for you, try deleting them in Safe Mode (or go to Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Cleanup and use the Windows utility to delete them, however this won't find any that are not in your Windows Temp folder) . Bottom line is these particular files will probably be deleted by Windows when you reboot, but then will be recreated again because XP needs them while it's running. So, if you delete all but the ones XP is temporarily hanging onto, you will be fine.

All of these files and folders (yes, ALL of them) are safe to delete and removing them can solve some crazy problems you may be having. However, if you are concerned about this, leave the files you deleted in your recycle bin for a few days until you are sure all is working properly. This way, you can restore the files from the recycle bin if you have a problem ... or, as is *always* the case when I do this, just permanently delete the files from the recyle bin once you are sure all is well.

[classicsoftware]

First, close ALL open programs, including any running in the background, like your AV program, etc.


There is no way I would follow this part of the advice. DO NOT disable any AV or anti-spyware programs. Inadvertantly clicking on one of these can result in infection.

The next problem is he has Windows 98, not XP.

[thewolfe]

Classicsoftware,
I think you are/were confused because you didn't follow the second half of my post.
"I also found that same kind of file in his "Windows" folder but didn't know if it was OK to delete them.

What are these files and are they OK to delete?"

[classicsoftware]

The advice is the same.
First try to delete the folders in Windows.
IF not, try to delete them in safe mode.
If not, use the deltree command to wipe out the folders in question.
If you use deltree, be very carefull, you can easily wipe out something you may want.

[thewolfe]

Not folders, just files in the Windows folder.

[classicsoftware]

There is no reason to have strange named files in the Windows folder. That is usually bad.

I guess you should post a Hijackthis log to see if anything bad is going on. You can also use HJT to erase the files....

[Sylvander]

Tried out the method recommended by andyswork.

Did the deletions in "msconfig->Diagnostic Startup".
Disconnected the broadband modem whilst doing that.
The files deleted ok, but then the problems began.
AVG couldn't do it's normal update; the download froze.
When I restarted the PC it wouldn't boot into Windows.

Had to restore my C: D: and E: partitions from backups made the day before.
Things now running as per normal. :)