remove temp files

Windows 98, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10

If you are running any of these versions of Windows we suggest running the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files and cleanup other portions of your computer.

• See the more infections definition for additional information and help.

Viewing and deleting temporary files

To view and delete temp files, open the start menu and enter %temp% in the Search field (in Windows XP and prior, click the Run option in the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Run field). Press Enter and a Temp folder should open. You can delete all files found in this folder and if any files are in use they can be skipped.

After restarting the computer, you should see at least some improvement in the performance of the computer, now that it does not have to load all those temp files.

Searching for .tmp files

If you are running Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows XP follow the instructions below to search for and delete any .tmp file found on your computer.

1. Click Start, Find, and click Find Files or folders
2. In the named box type *.tmp to search for any files ending with tmp.
3. Verify that the Look in section of the search box is pointing to the C: drive and not document folders.
4. Click Find Now
5. Delete all files that are found

Once the above section has been done it is also recommend that you ensure that the temporary folder on the hard drive is empty by following the instructions below.

1. Double-click My Computer
2. Double-click the C: drive
3. Double-click the Temp folder (if present) verify that all files within this folder are deleted.
4. Close the window and re-open My Computer
5. Double-click the C: drive
6. Double-click the Windows folder
7. Double-click the Temp folder (if present) verify that all files within this folder are deleted.

If you are running MS-DOS or Windows 3.x follow the instructions below to remove any temporary files currently on the computer.

1. If you are currently in Windows click File and choose the option to Exit Windows
2. Once at the prompt type:
   cd\ <press enter>
   del *.tmp <press enter>
3. Delete all temporary files found in the root directory of the C drive.
4. Next type:
   cd\ <press enter>
   cd temp <press enter>
5. If present or in the C:\TEMP> directory type del *.* and delete all files in the temp directory.
6. Once deleted or if the temp folder is not present type:
   cd\ <press enter>
   cd Windows <press enter>
   cd temp <press enter>
7. If present or in the C:\Windows\TEMP> directory type del *.* and delete all files in the directory.

Unable to delete .tmp file

If when deleting a .tmp file you get an error it is still being used. Close out of all programs, reboot, and try again if you want to delete the file. If you are still having problems see the document below.