What's up with the Window's Temp File? And what's a PKG File?

[Jericho]

Hi, I'm brand new to this board and consider myself Computer Illiterate. I'm slowly trying to learn a bit about my computer and joining this board is a step in the right direction. Here is the first of my 1,000 questions. I have a rapidly-filling 13-gig HD, and I'm always trying to get rid of files I don't need or don't use. I get frustrated looking through my system with Window's Explorer when I come across so many files that I simply don't understand, don't know what they do, if anything. I sometimes find such files in the TEMP File under Windows. Is it safe to delete files in the Windows Temp folder? For example, I have this mysterious item -- pftw1.pkg, 84,125 kb, PKG File. What is this that's taking up 84 MBs of my hard-drive? I play a lot of games, install a lot of game modifications. Perhaps this is a remnant of something I've uninstalled? Would it be safe to get rid of this? Could anybody clue me in on what a PKG file is? Here's hoping that my questions here will get less and less idiotic. And thanks in advance http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Jericho (edited 12-12-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hi and Welcome,

It's usually safe to delete anything in the Temp directory. When you install programs, files needed for installation are placed in the temp directory. That's the most common reason, although other files end up there for one reason or another.

So go ahead and delete the files in the Temp directory. You can also delete Cookies and/or Temporary Internet Files.

Have fun.

Big Blue 66


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Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[Pianorak]

<<You can also delete Cookies >>

Correct, which is what I did recently and lost all my ID and passwords in the process. So before deleting cookies it might be worthwhile to make a note of all your various ID and passwords. Anyway, cookies take up very little space.

[kayofcircles]

Pianorak: You're right in that Cookies are small text files that don't take up much space, but the whole Cookie concept bugs me. Seems to me that there ought to be a way to only get 1 cookie per place that you WANT to go regularly, like my Hotmail box or here, and no further cookies without having to install some program which I assume still collects cookies from the places you go every time you go there again? Or better yet, no cookies at all because IE has options to "remember" passwords and such. I grant you that I am bit vague on whole concept/need for cookies, but it still seems spyware somehow. I get the same 10 suspicious cookies every time I run AdAware.

Jericho: Another space saver is setting your browser (assuming you're using IE) to empty out all the Temporary Internet files every time you close it out. Has eliminated the need for DiskClean for me..although I do check from time to time to make sure nothing has crept into the Temp files. And now you can proceed to question number 2 (of 1000), yes? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Pianorak]

Kay <<. . . but it still seems spyware somehow. I get the same 10 suspicious cookies every time I run AdAware.>>
I am sure you are right there. The odd thing is that AdAware hadn't picked up any "double-click" for ages while cookies were still enabled, but as soon as I deleted and disabled the cookies "double-click" was back in business, and continues to be although I have now "enabled" cookies once again, so that I can read my daily paper on-line.

[kayofcircles]

Pianorak: Me too, but I think it is cuz the "don't let Doubleclick cookies get onboard" was itself a cookie, so when I deleted all cookies last time, it went "out" too.

[Pianorak]

Kay of course that's it. Why didn't I think of that. You don't by any chance remember the name of the opt-out website?
And why do I still have to type in my PCGuide UserName and Password? Surely by now I should have had the relevant cookie back on my system.

[kayofcircles]

Sea posted it..the opt out stuff. Probably find it through either Google or off Gibson, maybe? SEA????? I remember a minor furor over that thread. On your other question..don't know. I usually only have to redo all passwords once after deleting cookies...did you check your Cookie settings in IE again? I set mine once to "prompt" for cookies..which it did approx 3 times, then it just stopped talking to me and went back to collecting cookies as per usual. (One sometimes wonders which idiot is driving..me or my puter..lol.)