Temporary Files: What Is Safe To Delete

[BML]

I started with a clean slate when I installed XP. My c:\....local settings\temp folder was empty. But as I've been adding software, I have noticed all kinds of files being deposited in there. Some have .tmp extensions, which I delete. But there are others, some I suspect leftover from the Installshield or whatever the programs' installation program.

There are some .dll files in there too. including one located in a subdirectory called "istmp0.dir" and another called "twunk001.mtx". I cannot find anywhere what "mtx" is an extension for.

Is it safe to delete everything that is placed in the "temp" folder? What is fair game for deletion?

 

[SavvyLady]

here you go... use this to cleanup
http://www.piersontech.com/07-CleanHardDrive.htm

 

[BML]

How about "minidump" files in winXP? ends in *.dmp?

Your link says no defrag needed, but my Norton Speed Disk shows some pretty good fragmentation. I'm going to run it.

My c:\windows\temp folder is always empty. what's not empty is the "temp" folder located under "documents & settings\local settings\..."