# \*.tmp clean up

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688 "2000-05-05T18:28:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/1 "2000-05-05T18:28:02Z")

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How does Windows98 clean out the \*.tmp files and how often?

How about Netscape? It has a cashe file or folder - how do they get cleaned out and how often.

This PC has been having stack problems and I’m wondering if there should be dustpan and broom files for clean up.

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/2 "2000-05-05T22:43:25Z")

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Try searching for this:

**C:\WINDOWS\CLEANMGR.EXE**

Run it and it should clear out your temporary files. Alternatively, try downloading TweakUI or TweakAll from reputable software download sites.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/3 "2000-05-05T22:52:53Z")

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I removed 20 Megs of tmp files from a users PC this morning and it ran about four times as fast.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2000, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/4 "2000-05-05T23:52:38Z")

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Jois, usually some when you ShutDown. That’s why its important to use the ShutDown feature. You can also search for \*.tmp. But there are several other names temp files are stored as, so get a disk cleaner like Norton Clean Sweep or something free from [download.com](http://download.com) to find them all.

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**Author:** ![VeraGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9bcb4/32.png) [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/5 "2000-05-06T01:36:52Z")

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Netscape cleans out the cache automatically when it reaches a certain size. (Default is 7.5 megs) You can also clear the cache manually from within Netscape, however that doesn’t always work well, because it also creates a FAT file in the cache that doesn’t get deleted. This file can get corrupt, and is the cause of many Netscape woes. It’s a good idea to clear out the cache folder through Windows Explorer periodically. To do that go to C:\Progam Files\Netscape\Users and open the folder that corresponds with your user name. Open the Cache folder, select one file, then hit Ctrl + A to select them all, hold down the Shift key, and hit the Delete key. (Holding down the Shift key bypasses your Recycle Bin) DON’T delete the Cache folder itself, that will make Netscape very unhappy with you.

Vera

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**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/6 "2000-05-06T02:25:24Z")

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VeraGemini, some how my Netscape didn’t automatically do anything to cache, even after removing and downloading a new copy, the blue screen would come up, say fatal error and Dr Watson would then say “Netscape did it.” I know that between Netscape and my upgrade to windows 98 some kind of corruption crept in - now between what you, Handy, and MattK have said I may not have to keep kicking and swearing at this PC. Thanks! Jois

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmp-clean-up/18688/7 "2000-05-06T16:34:25Z")

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‘…upgrade to windows 98’ oh. Run the system file checker, its a beauty, right there on the computer for ya,  
RUN:SFC