Temp-folder - what is it? Can I delete the Temp folder?

Not all users, of course, but very many if they do not encounter the Temp folder in their daily work, then at least they have heard and know that it exists on Windows systems. Why do I need a Temp-folder, what is it, what functions it performs, and whether it can be deleted, now it will be considered. As an example, let's take Windows 7, although there is no fundamental difference in what system to adopt as a basis, in this case there is no.

Temp-folder: what is it and why is it needed?

So, to understand the purpose of this directory can be provided the usual interpretation of the abbreviation Temp from the word temporary. The main interpretation, in simple terms, means "a directory for storing temporary files".

If someone does not know, in the course of their work, the operating system or programs that are installed for their own needs create temporary files necessary for correct installation or operation. Temp folder files usually have a .tmp extension, some of them are automatically deleted, for example, after the completion of some process, some remain in the system, and if the associated process is in the active stage, let's say it works in the background, then Get rid of these files just will not work. So it turns out that the contents of this directory, in fact, is the most common computer garbage, from which you can and need to get rid of, but do it without harm to the system.

Where is the Temp folder in Windows?

Now a few words about where you can find the directory of temporary files. The fact is that the Temp folder on Windows is not the only one. Many will wonder why they should have several folders in the system. Here you should pay attention to the use of multi-user mode. The directory in which temporary files are stored is created for each specific user, not counting the main directory in the system itself.

Thus, as a rule, the Temp folder in Windows 7 can be located either at the root of the system partition (in most cases it is the "C" drive), either in the system directory (Windows) or in the Local directory located in the AppData folder of the user section (Users \"Username"). In Windows XP, the Local folder is named Local Settings.

In principle, in order not to rummage in the same Explorer for a long time, you can use the built-in search system, in which the% Temp% line is specified as the criterion. This is done in order to find all available directories that can be hidden. If the search is done in manual mode, you should enable the hidden objects display in the "View" menu of the standard "Explorer" or any other file manager. By the way, some temporary files can also have such an attribute.

How can I clean the Temp folder with the simplest method?

If we talk about whether it is possible to delete the Temp folder from any location, we will make a reservation at once: it is by no means recommended to do this. It's another matter to clean up its contents. There are several ways to do this.

In the simplest version, follow it into it, select all the files, and then delete it. How to make a selection, everyone decides for himself. But, as you know, it's best to use Ctrl + A, rather than marking with the cursor, and even more so by executing the appropriate commands from different basic or additional menus.

But there may be a small problem. The matter is that some files can be involved in some process, and just so they can not be deleted. First, you need to terminate the active services that use them, but the easiest way is not to figure out which process is blocking files, just restart the computer and try to remove it again. But this method does not always work.

Disk Cleanup Tool

One of the most effective methods can be called disk cleaning. It is the "native" "operating system" tool that allows you to delete temporary files without affecting the system or running programs, applications and services.

To do this, use the disk properties menu, where you need to click the clear button and select the items to be deleted. Can I delete the Temp folder this way? No. As such, the directory remains on the disk, but its contents are completely and completely cleaned.

Cleaning through the command line

To clean up the temporary files directory, you can use the command line, but entering long commands for each section seems inexpedient.

The easiest way is to create an executable file with the extension .bat (for this you can use the usual "Notepad" and write the following commands in it:

DEL / F / S / Q / A "C: \ Windows \ Temp \ *"

DEL / F / S / Q / A "C: \ Temp \ *"

DEL / F / S / Q / A "C: \ Users \ Name \ AppData \ Local \ Temp \ *"

Name is the name of the user. This method of launching the BAT-file allows you to clear all folders that are present in the system, without much effort. As practice shows, it's best to save such a file directly on the desktop to always have it on hand and in case of which to perform this operation for only a couple of minutes.

Using third-party tools

Now a few words about how to clean the Temp-folder. What is it is, perhaps, a little understandable. Let's see how to get rid of its contents using special programs, usually called optimizers.

In any such package there is a special module for searching and deleting temporary files, with absolutely no difference where they are. And, as a rule, it is used to clean and optimize the system by default, although with the necessary knowledge it is possible to make your own customization. Let's explain with the example of the simplest utility CCleaner.

Here in the cleaning section you should pay attention to the tabs located on the right side (Windows and Applications). In principle, for deep cleaning you can select all the items, including not only temporary files, but also memory dumps, the clipboard, the history of the system messages, etc. In fact, all this information can also be attributed to temporary objects, and, more simply, to ordinary computer garbage. Further all is simple. We activate the analysis process, and after the results are output, we confirm the deletion of files using the corresponding button. As you can see, nothing complicated. By the way, it is the use of such programs that allows the most complete and safe cleaning.

Conclusion

Here, in fact, briefly and all on the topic "Temp-folder: what it is and how to clean it." Naturally, in this case, the means of optimizing the directories of this type were not considered using the settings of the variable environments. But, I think, to an ordinary user this is by and large not necessary.

As for the removal of these directories, as already understood, this should not be done, although some users delete them without a twinge of conscience. But here, as they say, a double-edged sword: somebody will automatically create a directory when rebooting, and someone will fly off at somebody else. So it's better not to take risks, but apply either standard or third-party cleaning tools. So it will be much safer.