Can files in C:\WINDOWS\Temp be deleted and does Disk Cleanup do so?

Question

It appears that files which currently aren't in use can be safely deleted from the C:\WINDOWS\Temp folder... Why doesn't Disk Cleanup offer to do this automatically?

Answer 1

I would use CCleaner it's really awesome, after you have installed it just grab the executable and put on you USB key, and it's portable! (it doesn't need to be installed)

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :)

Answer 2

Yes, in most cases you can delete the files not in use.

Sometimes (e.g. a installer runs in the background and unpacks itself before installing) it may be devastatingly bad idea.

So Disk Cleanup may be 'better safe then sorry'.

(But I thought it does this already, you learn something new everyday ...)

Answer 3

I usually delete all files that have been created before the last reboot of the computer. If it's too long, I keep files created the last 3 or 4 days and delete the others. If some are locked because they're in use, no problem as they won't be deleted.