Dell desktop WinXP SP2. For about a week now I have not been able to completely remove temporary files when using Disk Cleanup. About 15,000KB always remain. Of course I use the OK button, but they still remain. I use CCleaner everyday as usual(temp files checked). I've tried temp files in Search(but they don't have much KB's and won't remove because something is in use(Run feature same problem).
I run Webroot Window Washer daily. I run Norton 360 also. Also run SpySweeper, AVG AS too. AdAware Personal SE also. Any ideas? TYIA. Tom.
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General discussion
can't delete temporary files in Disk Cleanup.
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14 Posts
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Hi Tom
Are the files you cannot remove in the Temporary Internet Files?
Is there a Lock displayed beside Temporary Internet files?
JP
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My problem is with Temporary Files not temporary internet files. I do not see a lock. Tom.
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You could delete them in internet options and Local Disk (C
Check this but the Disk Cleanup utility will not remove all of the files
Check these links,HERE and HERE
Tom
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In the first link I provided was not so much for you to mess with the registry,but rather for you to read this,"but the Disk Cleanup utility will not remove all of the files",this is normal.
I also mentioned they can b deleted in IE options and your c drive,via explore
The other links i provided also shows how to delete without dealing with the registry.
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IE options>browsing history>delete all(I do this daily)won't remove the temporary files. I don't understand(c drive, via explore). Could you clarify this for me? Tom.(I don't mean to be a pest).
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If you open NOTEPAD then copy the following bolded text an paste it into NOTEPAD then click the Enter/Return key (so there is a carrige return at the end of the text) then save it as DC_ForceTmpDel.reg all you have to do is double click your newly created reg file and the proper edit is made for you.
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary files]
"LastAccess"=dword:00000000
NOTE - the whole [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ ... \Temporary files] line should be a single line in notepad.
You can also easily make use of the command prompt (Start | Run | type in CMD then click OK or press the Enter key. In the resulting command prompt window type the following commands (all are not actually necessary but in case you are unfamiliar with the command line ensure you start from the proper location):
C: -- then press the enter/return key
cd \ -- then press the enter key
del *.tmp /s -- then press the enter key
The first line gets you to the C drive/partition (if you have other partitions and want to delete tmp files on them re-issue the commands changing only the first to the actual drive letter desired)
the second command ensures you are in the root directory
the third command deletes all TMP files (with the tmp extension) in the partition AND in all the subdirectories of the partition. Any tmp files actually in use will not be deleted (because any file in use cannot be deleted) and will continue on to the next tmp file found until all are deleted.
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Thanks to all who replied to my problem. I removed temporary files in Safe Mode and now it's working again. Does this mean there was(is)a virus or spyware that was preventing me from cleaning Disk Cleanup?
I've always assumed that running in Safe Mode was to bypass malware.
Could there be a non-malware reason I had the problem? Tom.
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