It is exactly what the name shows – a folder full of files that are only needed temporary on your computer. And as these files are not always erased as soon as they have fulfilled their task, the Temp folder needs to be cleaned, so you don’t waste drive space.
In order to open the Temp folder, you need to type %temp% in the search field on the Start menu in Windows 8. As the folder is opened you have the option to delete the files and subfolders manually. But you may face difficulties with some of them as they may be currently in use. And that’s perfectly all right. These are apparently needed, so you don’t have to delete them.
Truth be told, it is best not to delete any files that were created since your last boot. For example, if a user shuts down his computer every night (not using the sleep or hibernate option, but actually shuts it down), and boot clean in the next morning, he can delete the Temp files that are not dated today without any concern.
You also have the option to go old-school and use a DOS-style batch file that will perform a clean-up of the Temp folder every time you boot your computer automatically. Here is what to do:
- Open Notepad and type :
rd %temp% /s /q
md %temp%
- Save the file:
%appdata%>microsoft>windows>start menu>programs>startup>cleantemp.bat
- A batch file will be created in the Startup submenu – cleantemp.bat
- As you boot, everything in that menu will be loaded automatically
Windows 8 may not have a Start menu, but the folder is still there, and this old trick still functions.
