Is it safe to delete Temp files with long numbers in front?

[Cheeki]

Hello Guys and Gals - hope someone out there can help?
I have noticed that my laptop is not operating up to par over the past few months - HP Pavilion g7 4 GB Memory x64 Windows 7 - bought in Jan 2012.

Periodically things don't work right - Sep'12 on I experienced Blue screen and now when turning on I quickly hit esc and it starts up fine. Sometimes programs won't download - I have also noticed at times that my AV was 'Off' and now has expired. Decided to go back to Avast and chose the 'pay' option. I managed to download it to the desktop but it won't 'Run'. Phoned Support and spoke to 3 'helpers over this afternoon. None could help. The last gal investigated further than the 2 before her.... she went to Temp Files and told me that I had 100s more than I should and that a lot were corrupt and I need to take the PC to an 'expert' to clean - not to do myself as, If I delete these Temp files I could be deleting files that are required for running programs. She also showed me 'Start/reliability history where there are a lot of red Xs and problems. She told me I will not be able to d'load Avast or probably any other program until I get the computer cleaned. Either she was trying to steer me to Avast Tech which we discussed, and is $169 per year!!! Or she was genuine. How can I resolve this dilemma ? At the moment I have no Anti Virus - !!!!

 

[windude99]

Hello Guys and Gals - hope someone out there can help?
I have noticed that my laptop is not operating up to par over the past few months - HP Pavilion g7 4 GB Memory x64 Windows 7 - bought in Jan 2012.

Periodically things don't work right - Sep'12 on I experienced Blue screen and now when turning on I quickly hit esc and it starts up fine. Sometimes programs won't download - I have also noticed at times that my AV was 'Off' and now has expired. Decided to go back to Avast and chose the 'pay' option. I managed to download it to the desktop but it won't 'Run'. Phoned Support and spoke to 3 'helpers over this afternoon. None could help. The last gal investigated further than the 2 before her.... she went to Temp Files and told me that I had 100s more than I should and that a lot were corrupt and I need to take the PC to an 'expert' to clean - not to do myself as, If I delete these Temp files I could be deleting files that are required for running programs. She also showed me 'Start/reliability history where there are a lot of red Xs and problems. She told me I will not be able to d'load Avast or probably any other program until I get the computer cleaned. Either she was trying to steer me to Avast Tech which we discussed, and is $169 per year!!! Or she was genuine. How can I resolve this dilemma ? At the moment I have no Anti Virus - !!!!

Do not delete temporary files that are in your TEMP folder manually. Use disk cleanup to clean it out: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html
Disk cleanup cleans more than just your temporary files.

You may have a virus. Try running a full scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free: Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
Note: At the end of the installation, there will be a checkbox titled "Enable Free Trial of Malwarebytes PRO." Uncheck that unless you want the free trial.

If Malwarebytes finds anything, remove the things it finds and reboot your computer. Then, download and install Microsoft Security Essentials from here: Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
After the installation finishes, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials. Remove anything it finds and reboot your computer. Then, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials again. Repeat the steps above until both Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials don't show anything.

Also, people here also like to use this tool to remove viruses: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline

I would also suggest you run Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (Beta): Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit

Then, open up an administrative command prompt by going to start, type in cmd, right click on it in the results and select Run as administrator. Type in your administrator password (if you have one) and then click on Yes. Then, type in sfc /scannow. If it finds corrupted files, reboot your computer and run the scan again. Repeat the steps until it doesn't have any more corrupted files. If it still has corrupted files after several runs, please say so.

 

[Cheeki]

Hello Guys and Gals - hope someone out there can help?
I have noticed that my laptop is not operating up to par over the past few months - HP Pavilion g7 4 GB Memory x64 Windows 7 - bought in Jan 2012.

Periodically things don't work right - Sep'12 on I experienced Blue screen and now when turning on I quickly hit esc and it starts up fine. Sometimes programs won't download - I have also noticed at times that my AV was 'Off' and now has expired. Decided to go back to Avast and chose the 'pay' option. I managed to download it to the desktop but it won't 'Run'. Phoned Support and spoke to 3 'helpers over this afternoon. None could help. The last gal investigated further than the 2 before her.... she went to Temp Files and told me that I had 100s more than I should and that a lot were corrupt and I need to take the PC to an 'expert' to clean - not to do myself as, If I delete these Temp files I could be deleting files that are required for running programs. She also showed me 'Start/reliability history where there are a lot of red Xs and problems. She told me I will not be able to d'load Avast or probably any other program until I get the computer cleaned. Either she was trying to steer me to Avast Tech which we discussed, and is $169 per year!!! Or she was genuine. How can I resolve this dilemma ? At the moment I have no Anti Virus - !!!!

Do not delete temporary files that are in your TEMP folder manually. Use disk cleanup to clean it out: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html
Disk cleanup cleans more than just your temporary files.

You may have a virus. Try running a full scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free: Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
Note: At the end of the installation, there will be a checkbox titled "Enable Free Trial of Malwarebytes PRO." Uncheck that unless you want the free trial.

If Malwarebytes finds anything, remove the things it finds and reboot your computer. Then, download and install Microsoft Security Essentials from here: Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
After the installation finishes, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials. Remove anything it finds and reboot your computer. Then, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials again. Repeat the steps above until both Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials don't show anything.

Also, people here also like to use this tool to remove viruses: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline

I would also suggest you run Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (Beta): Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit

Then, open up an administrative command prompt by going to start, type in cmd, right click on it in the results and select Run as administrator. Type in your administrator password (if you have one) and then click on Yes. Then, type in sfc /scannow. If it finds corrupted files, reboot your computer and run the scan again. Repeat the steps until it doesn't have any more corrupted files. If it still has corrupted files after several runs, please say so.

WOW!!!! I was waiting for a reply but didn't expect one that would be so informative and in depth! Thank you WinDude99 - really appreciate it - It is coming up 23:00 hrs here and I am off to relax for an hour or I won't sleep - Will hit the deck running, in the morning and process thru all of your instructions. Back to you either way tomorrow.
Many thanks

 

[Layback Bear]

Take a look at this Tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

 

[Cheeki]

Take a look at this Tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.htmlhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

Many thanks for your help Layback Bear - working my way thru all the scans etc. Appreciate your attention. ~~~~~~~~~~ Cheeki

 

[Cheeki]

Hi Windude99 - You sure set me a pile of home work but I appreciate your taking the time to do that. I have worked my way thru all of your instructions and hope I am improving this computer of mine. I am now waiting for the Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (Beta): to complete. Then I will tackle the final paragraph of your instructions. When I carried out the first Scan with Disc Cleanup, it came up with 650 errors of which it will fix 15 for Free. I scrutinized the errors and found the following - 100s of Silverlight c/ProgramFiles(86)MicrosoftSilverlight/4.1.10111/sro/ or they had same number but different letters after (sr/latin-CSI/ etc. There were also lots of 'Missing File' 'BingBar/Rewards, then there were lots of 'MissingFiles' with long numbers - or 'Installers' with long numbers. I fixed the Free 15 but haven't done anything with the other 635! The next step - Malewarebytes - found about 19 problems and I deleted them - MSE worked out without any problems too. Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (Beta): finished and only found one problem - HKLM /Software /Google/CHROME/EXTENSIONS/lots of letters! (PUP.FunMoods)
(all of the forward slashes should be back ones by the way) -
Last step brought forth ... Went straight to this when I clicked on Run

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>scf/scannow (I tried ever key but don't have a 'back slash???)
'scf' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Windows\system32>scannow
'scannow' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Windows\system32>


So - what next?
Cheeki

Hello Guys and Gals - hope someone out there can help?
I have noticed that my laptop is not operating up to par over the past few months - HP Pavilion g7 4 GB Memory x64 Windows 7 - bought in Jan 2012.

Periodically things don't work right - Sep'12 on I experienced Blue screen and now when turning on I quickly hit esc and it starts up fine. Sometimes programs won't download - I have also noticed at times that my AV was 'Off' and now has expired. Decided to go back to Avast and chose the 'pay' option. I managed to download it to the desktop but it won't 'Run'. Phoned Support and spoke to 3 'helpers over this afternoon. None could help. The last gal investigated further than the 2 before her.... she went to Temp Files and told me that I had 100s more than I should and that a lot were corrupt and I need to take the PC to an 'expert' to clean - not to do myself as, If I delete these Temp files I could be deleting files that are required for running programs. She also showed me 'Start/reliability history where there are a lot of red Xs and problems. She told me I will not be able to d'load Avast or probably any other program until I get the computer cleaned. Either she was trying to steer me to Avast Tech which we discussed, and is $169 per year!!! Or she was genuine. How can I resolve this dilemma ? At the moment I have no Anti Virus - !!!!

Do not delete temporary files that are in your TEMP folder manually. Use disk cleanup to clean it out: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/818-disk-cleanup-open-use.html
Disk cleanup cleans more than just your temporary files.

You may have a virus. Try running a full scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free: Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware download
Note: At the end of the installation, there will be a checkbox titled "Enable Free Trial of Malwarebytes PRO." Uncheck that unless you want the free trial.

If Malwarebytes finds anything, remove the things it finds and reboot your computer. Then, download and install Microsoft Security Essentials from here: Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
After the installation finishes, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials. Remove anything it finds and reboot your computer. Then, run a full scan with Microsoft Security Essentials again. Repeat the steps above until both Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials don't show anything.

Also, people here also like to use this tool to remove viruses: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-windows-defender-offline

I would also suggest you run Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (Beta): Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit

Then, open up an administrative command prompt by going to start, type in cmd, right click on it in the results and select Run as administrator. Type in your administrator password (if you have one) and then click on Yes. Then, type in sfc /scannow. If it finds corrupted files, reboot your computer and run the scan again. Repeat the steps until it doesn't have any more corrupted files. If it still has corrupted files after several runs, please say so.

 

[windude99]

It is sfc /scannow there is a space between sfc and /. It is not a back slash, it is a forward slash: /. Also, disk cleanup comes with Windows. There isn't any of this "fix some amount for free" stuff. That is some registry cleaner or system "optimizer" which I DO NOT recommend at all. If you have one, remove it immediately. Now, go to start and type in disk cleanup (disk with the letter k) If the system optimizer did any damage, run system restore: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[Layback Bear]

The Tutorial I posted is built into Windows 7. Ready for everybody's use if they care to.
To the best of my knowledge Windows built in tools won't hurt Windows if use as directed.

Disk Cleanup : Extended