Remove hard disk clutter: Clean out old temporary files
Get a free PC scan!
Find and fix safety and health issues on your PC now.
What are temporary files?
Temporary files are created when you download and install software, open files in e-mail and instant messaging programs, or transfer files. In most cases, your computer only uses these files at the time they are created. Generally, they live in a folder on your hard drive called C:\Documents and Settings\[user account]\Local Settings\{Temporary Internet Files, Temp}.
Usually the program that created the temporary files deletes them when it’s finished, but sometimes the files are left behind. This can happen for a number of reasons—the program might have been interrupted before it finished installing, or it crashed during a restart.
Temporary files also get created when you’re surfing the Web. Web-browsing programs like Internet Explorer will keep a cache of Web pages on your hard disk so that when you visit them again, they’ll appear faster.
Why should I remove these files?
Over time, these obsolete temporary files (which can be quite large) can take up a lot of hard disk space, accelerating hard disk fragmentation and slowing system performance. It’s safe to delete these files. Windows won’t let you delete anything that’s being used by an open program. When you delete these files, you free up valuable hard disk space for other uses.
How do I get rid of these files?
The Windows Live OneCare safety scanner's clean up scan will find obsolete temporary files and tell you if it’s time for you to clean up your hard disk. It’s easy—just click Clean Up Scan in the Clean Up Center.
The clean up scan will then check your hard disk for unnecessary temporary files and make recommendations for which ones you should delete or compress. You can then choose to follow the recommendations or customize the clean up.
How often should I do this?
We recommend a complete Windows Live OneCare safety scan once a month. For always-on security service, check out Windows Live OneCare (U.S. only), which provides a two-way firewall, virus protection, and monthly tune-ups for routine maintenance and optimal PC performance.
