Removing temporary files is a quick and easy task that can help save disk space and keep your PC clean of file clutter. There are multiple ways of doing this and we will be showing you two of them. Simply follow the directions below to manually clean out the Temp folder:
Version 1
- Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then select Disk Cleanup.
- Check the box labeled Temporary Files and press OK.
- Click Yes in the dialog box the opens up, confirming you want to perform this action.
- The Disk Cleaner will run, and then disappear when completed.
Version 2
- Click on Start and then Run.
- In the text box in the Run window, type %Temp% and click OK. A folder full of files and other folders will appear.
- All of the folders and files you see in this Temp folder are no longer being used by Windows XP and can safely be deleted.
To remove individual folders or files, hold down your Ctrl key while left-clicking on each item you want delete. Release the Ctrl key when you’re finished.
To delete these items, hit your Delete key or choose File and then Delete from the menu.
Confirm that you want to delete the files by clicking Yes on the Confirm Multiple File Delete window that opens.
If you’d instead like to remove everything inside the Temp folder, choose Edit and then Select All from the menu.
Note: If you’re prompted that there are hidden files in this folder, just click on OK to bypass the message. A few hidden files hanging out in the Temp folder probably aren’t important enough to worry about.
Now that all of the files and folders are selected, hit your Delete key or choose File and then Delete from the menu.
Confirm that you want to delete the files by clicking Yes on the Confirm Multiple File Delete window that opens.
- After all of the files have been deleted you can close the window and empty your Recycle Bin, permanently removing the files from your PC.
