Deleting Temporary + Set Up Files etc - OK to do that?

Hello

My first question is that Windows Cleanup always "discovers" many files for cleaning up. However, it usually only ticks a few items such as temp internet files. How about those Set up log files, Temporary Files, Per user archived windows error report, System archived windows error report? Why does it not choose those?

Actually I always tick those manually and then delete them all. On second thoughts, I am not sure if it is OK to do so Advice please?

Also, my (previous) broadband provider used remote control to delete all the files below (to speed up the pc):
%temp%
C:\Windows\Temp

Is it safe to do?

Can you please tell me what you think about these? Thank you in advance

You might want to consider CCleaner, which gives you a greater degree of control over what to delete. A total of maybe 50 checkboxes. I have most of them checked. If you check too many, you will soon discover that you shouldn't have, and can then just uncheck it so it won't be cleaned in the future.

I only see 7 categories in Disk Cleanup's list on my PC. Of those you list, I see only "temporary files".

I don't think you'd have trouble deleting from C Windows Temp, but I just checked mine. It contains only 22 kb---hardly worth the trouble.

My first question is that Windows Cleanup always "discovers" many files for cleaning up. However, it usually only ticks a few items such as temp internet files. How about those Set up log files, Temporary Files, Per user archived windows error report, System archived windows error report? Why does it not choose those?

These files were created for a reason. You may have no interest in them but for some people they are of considerable value. Windows tends to be conservative about these things and thus leaves them unchecked. Anything Disk Cleanup makes available for deletion will be safe do do so. Unless of course they are of value to you.

Deletion of temporary files created in the current session can cause problems. When an application creates a temp file it may wish to access it later. If it isn't there the results are unpredictable. Here too Windows is conservative in what it deletes.

Manual deletion of files in %temp% or in c:\Windows\temp\ may cause problems.

ignatzatsonic said:

You might want to consider CCleaner, which gives you a greater degree of control over what to delete. A total of maybe 50 checkboxes. I have most of them checked. If you check too many, you will soon discover that you shouldn't have, and can then just uncheck it so it won't be cleaned in the future.

I only see 7 categories in Disk Cleanup's list on my PC. Of those you list, I see only "temporary files".

I don't think you'd have trouble deleting from C Windows Temp, but I just checked mine. It contains only 22 kb---hardly worth the trouble.

My trouble will be I do not know how to select what to be deleted .... I think I am a tidy freak, and just want to get rid of ANYTHING that is useless .... Regarding CC Cleaner, it seems the options are mixed. A lot of people use it, but some MS Engineer said it is not that safe ....

Thank you for the reply :)

Callender said:

Here's what I personally select in Disk Cleanup:





Note: If you select Windows Update Cleanup you may not be able to remove installed updates.

If you select Thumbnails it will initially take longer to load images when you want to view them.

If in doubt just stick to the regular settings.

As for temp files take a look at this post.

Yes, that is pretty much I will see on Windows Cleanup selections ... and I usually just delete EVERYTHING without even thinking

Oh... actually I do not see so much selections ... but it doesn't matter. I just delete whatever is shown to me :)

If it is ok to delete all in %temp% + C:\windows\temp ... it is probably enough for me ... just to fulfill my tidy freak intention, nothing more than that

If it is ok to delete all in %temp% + C:\windows\temp ... it is probably enough for me ... just to fulfill my tidy freak intention, nothing more than that

As I said previously, there are risks in deleting temp files created in the current session. I cannot quantify that risk but it exists. By default Windows only deletes temp files older then 7 days. If an application tries to access a deleted temp file the results are unpredictable.

OK then ... I cannot delete as much as I want then ... It is a shame to me...