advice on temp folder

i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and folders
in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but it
has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big an
example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run programs
,thanks for any help
--
martyb

"marty" <> wrote in message
news:0CC9E7C4-5DF5-4E4A-A002-...
>i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and
>folders
> in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but
> it
> has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big
> an
> example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run
> programs
> ,thanks for any help
> --
> martyb


You can usually delete everything in there, unless you're in the process of
installing a program or updates, in which case delete them after a reboot.

--
Jon

thanks for the help
--
martyb


"Jon" wrote:

>
> "marty" <> wrote in message
> news:0CC9E7C4-5DF5-4E4A-A002-...
> >i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and
> >folders
> > in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but
> > it
> > has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big
> > an
> > example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run
> > programs
> > ,thanks for any help
> > --
> > martyb
>
>
> You can usually delete everything in there, unless you're in the process of
> installing a program or updates, in which case delete them after a reboot.
>
> --
> Jon
>
>
>

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:14:19 -0700, marty
<> wrote:

> i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and folders
> in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but it
> has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big an
> example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run programs
> ,thanks for any help


Yes, they can, and should be, deleted periodically.

The temp folder provides workspace for programs. Programs can create
temporary files there for their own temporary use. Each program should
delete all its temporary files when it closes, but for various reasons
it doesn't always happen (for example, if the program crashes, it
never gets to do this). That's why it's a good idea to periodically
clean out anything left there.

Also note that there are some program installations which work in two
steps. The first step concludes by writing temporary files and
rebooting. The second step starts automatically after rebooting and
needs to find those files there (and then deletes them when it's
done).

Other than doing it automatically when rebooting (that would interfere
with installations like the kind I described), it's always safe to
delete the contents of the temp folder. Because it's safe to delete
any temp files that aren't open and in use by an application, and
since Windows won't let you delete open files, it's safe to (try to)
delete them at any time. If any fail to delete because they're open,
they'll either be deleted automatically when the app using them
closes, or you'll get them the next time you delete manually.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

thanks ken that was most informative and helpfull i will periodically check
my temp folder and clean it out
--
martyb


"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:14:19 -0700, marty
> <> wrote:
>
> > i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and folders
> > in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but it
> > has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big an
> > example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run programs
> > ,thanks for any help
>
>
> Yes, they can, and should be, deleted periodically.
>
> The temp folder provides workspace for programs. Programs can create
> temporary files there for their own temporary use. Each program should
> delete all its temporary files when it closes, but for various reasons
> it doesn't always happen (for example, if the program crashes, it
> never gets to do this). That's why it's a good idea to periodically
> clean out anything left there.
>
> Also note that there are some program installations which work in two
> steps. The first step concludes by writing temporary files and
> rebooting. The second step starts automatically after rebooting and
> needs to find those files there (and then deletes them when it's
> done).
>
> Other than doing it automatically when rebooting (that would interfere
> with installations like the kind I described), it's always safe to
> delete the contents of the temp folder. Because it's safe to delete
> any temp files that aren't open and in use by an application, and
> since Windows won't let you delete open files, it's safe to (try to)
> delete them at any time. If any fail to delete because they're open,
> they'll either be deleted automatically when the app using them
> closes, or you'll get them the next time you delete manually.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:20:02 -0700, marty
<> wrote:

> thanks ken that was most informative and helpfull i will periodically check
> my temp folder and clean it out


You're welcome. Glad to help.



> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:14:19 -0700, marty
> > <> wrote:
> >
> > > i would like to know if it is ok to delete all of the temp files and folders
> > > in my temp folder . i have used disk clean to to delete temp folders but it
> > > has left empty folders and a lot of of files ,some of which are quite big an
> > > example is Winsat_kernallog.etl 12mb are these files needed to run programs
> > > ,thanks for any help
> >
> >
> > Yes, they can, and should be, deleted periodically.
> >
> > The temp folder provides workspace for programs. Programs can create
> > temporary files there for their own temporary use. Each program should
> > delete all its temporary files when it closes, but for various reasons
> > it doesn't always happen (for example, if the program crashes, it
> > never gets to do this). That's why it's a good idea to periodically
> > clean out anything left there.
> >
> > Also note that there are some program installations which work in two
> > steps. The first step concludes by writing temporary files and
> > rebooting. The second step starts automatically after rebooting and
> > needs to find those files there (and then deletes them when it's
> > done).
> >
> > Other than doing it automatically when rebooting (that would interfere
> > with installations like the kind I described), it's always safe to
> > delete the contents of the temp folder. Because it's safe to delete
> > any temp files that aren't open and in use by an application, and
> > since Windows won't let you delete open files, it's safe to (try to)
> > delete them at any time. If any fail to delete because they're open,
> > they'll either be deleted automatically when the app using them
> > closes, or you'll get them the next time you delete manually.
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup