deleting all tmp and log files

[piXelatedEmpire]

using my cleanup.cmd file, I wish to delete all .tmp and log files created within the WINDOWS directory and it's subfolders. I also wish to delete all empty folders. What commands would I use to achieve this?

Thanks for any assistance

[eyeball]

its easy!

DEL %windir%\*.log and

DEL %windir%\*.tmp

[Yzöwl]

They wanted 'all subfolders' too!

FOR %%? IN (log tmp) DO (DEL/A/S/F/Q "%SYSTEMROOT%\*.%%?")

[T D]

Or

cd %systemroot%
DEL *.LOG /S
DEL *.TMP /S

EDIT I forgot you only wanted %systemroot%

There is a command you can use with RD to del empty folders but I'm not sure.

DEL *LOG*.TXT /S

I'd recommend this for a clean install only. Some files don't end with .log, but have log in the name. See Yzöwl's post below.

Edited June 11, 2006 by T D

[Yzöwl]

@ T D, why would someone want to remove all files with the string 'log' contained anywhere within its name?

There is no logic, in telling people to delete all of their:

• logon scripts
  logo design criteria
  dialog resources
  competition slogans
  music catalogs
  *'ology study documents.
  

I really think you should apologize.

There are methods available for removing empty directories using batch files but they are not considered efficient or stable, (vbscript would perform the task much better). There is also the question of what constitutes an 'empty folder'.

There are many empty directories within %windir% which are required by the system, therefore I am not willing to provide code here to do that.

Edited June 11, 2006 by Yzöwl

[T D]

Oh, sorry, I realise my mistake. But if it was on a fresh install, this wouldn't matter. I'll change my first post. And some logfiles aren't *.log, but say for a program, maybe something like outlookerrlog.txt or setuplog.txt

It was only a suggestion.

And OK, there are better ways, but I'm not exactly going to list all of them if one of them already works as it should, am I? And I'm not an expert on vbscripting.

And there wouldn't be a file called "apologize" on your computer even if it does have the words "log" in it.

Edited June 11, 2006 by T D

[Yzöwl]

Oh, sorry, I realise my mistake. But if it was on a fresh install, this wouldn't matter. I'll change my first post. And some logfiles aren't *.log, but say for a program, maybe something like outlookerrlog.txt or setuplog.txt

It was only a suggestion.

Yes it would

basic list:

• winlogon.exe, netlogon.dll, eventlog.dll, seclogon.dll, logon.scr, logonui.exe, camlog30.bmp, chglogon.exe, convlog.exe, iislog51.dll, iologmsg.dll, iscomlog.dll, loghours.dll, login.cmd, logman.exe, logoff.exe, logscrpt.dll, logtemp.sql, logui.ocx, mqlogmgr.dll, msdtclog.dll, relog.exe, smlogcfg.dll, smlogsvc.exe, txflog.dll, usrlogon.cmd, zlogic.cyz, mslogo.jpg, oemlogo.gif, loginkey.dll, eqnlogr.exe, log.dll, reslog32.dll, xlog.exe, obelog.dll, mplogo.gif, mplogoh.gif, logagent.exe, wmdmlog.dll
  

And OK, there are better ways, but I'm not exactly going to list all of them if one of them already works as it should, am I? And I'm not an expert on vbscripting.

You haven't listed any ways!

I have already stated, and believe me when I say it, there is no efficient way of using standard batch commands to delete 'all empty folders'

And there wouldn't be a file called "apologize" on your computer even if it does have the words "log" in it.

I really do hope that you are not suggesting anything untoward about my character. Take a look at what you've said, look at my fully explained point about *log* then you can really apologize, because you are very definitely wrong! Edited June 11, 2006 by Yzöwl

[T D]

And there wouldn't be a file called "apologize" on your computer even if it does have the words "log" in it.

I really do hope that you are not suggesting anything untoward about my character. Take a look at what you've said, look at my fully explained point about *log* then you can really apologize, because you are very definitely wrong!

That last part was a joke, the one about apologize, OK? And besides, that command only deletes txt files anyway.

You haven't listed any ways!

I have already stated, and believe me when I say it, there is no efficient way of using standard batch commands to delete 'all empty folders'

Like I said, you can use batch files (even if it is inefficient). I don't know any other way; I'm only stating a possible method. If you have a better method, then say that (eg vbscripting) is better! Don't turn it into an argument. If it won't work, then say and I'll change my first post.

Edited June 11, 2006 by T D

[Yzöwl]

Your new line may say txt but before I corrected you it said DEL *LOG*.* /S.

<Edit>

Run this vbscript, see how many output folders it identifies:

Function NumberOfFilesInFolder(FolderName)
  Dim fso, f, f1, fc, CountFiles
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set f = fso.GetFolder(FolderName)
  Set fc = f.Files
  CountFiles = 0
  For Each f1 in fc
    CountFiles = CountFiles + 1
  Next
  NumberOfFilesInFolder = CountFiles
End Function

Function NumberOfFoldersInFolder(FolderName)
  Dim fso, f, f1, fc, CountFolders
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set f = fso.GetFolder(FolderName)
  Set fc = f.SubFolders
  CountFolders = 0
  For Each f1 in fc
    CountFolders = CountFolders + 1
  Next
  NumberOfFoldersInFolder = CountFolders
End Function

Function TraverseSubFolders(StartFolderName)
  Dim fso, f, f1, sf, nFil, nFol
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set f = fso.GetFolder(StartFolderName)
  Set sf = f.SubFolders
  For Each f1 in sf
    nFil = NumberOfFilesInFolder(f1)
    nFol = NumberOfFoldersInFolder(f1)
    if (CLng(nFil) = 0) And (CLng(nFol) = 0) Then
      Wscript.Echo f1
    End If
    TraverseSubFolders(f1)
  Next
End Function

Function TraverseFolders(StartFolderName)
  Dim fso, f, f1, sf, nFil, nFol
  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  If (fso.FolderExists(StartFolderName)) Then
    Set f = fso.GetFolder(StartFolderName)
    nFil = NumberOfFilesInFolder(f)
    nFol = NumberOfFoldersInFolder(f)
    if (CLng(nFil) = 0) And (CLng(nFol) = 0) Then
      Wscript.Echo f
    End If
    TraverseSubFolders(f)
  Else
    Wscript.Echo "Folder " & StartFolderName & " not found"
    Wscript.Quit
  End If
End Function

Dim WshShell, StartAtFolder
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.shell")
StartAtFolder = WshShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%SystemRoot%")
TraverseFolders StartAtFolder

</Edit>

<Edit2>

If you really didn't like my original for command, you could also have used the more simple

DEL/A/S/F/Q "%SYSTEMROOT%\*.LOG" "%SYSTEMROOT%\*.TMP"

since DEL actually takes multiple arguments!

</Edit2>

Edited June 11, 2006 by Yzöwl

[T D]

Your new line may say txt but before I corrected you it said DEL *LOG*.* /S.

Like I've been saying for the past few posts, I made a mistake. Don't point out every one. C'mon!

I should use vbscript instead of batch files now, it seems so much more useful.

[gunsmokingman]

A VBS Script to delete the log files in Systemroot and it sub folders.

It will not delete these log files

\windows\sti_trace.log

\windows\wiadebug.log

\windows\wiaservc.log

\windows\windowsupdate.log

\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edb.log

Save As DeleteLogFile.vbs

On Error Resume Next
 strComputer = "."
 Dim Act, Fso, SysRoot 
  Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
  Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  SysRoot = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%SystemRoot%")
'/-> WMI QUERRY
  Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
  Set colFileList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
 ("ASSOCIATORS OF {Win32_Directory.Name='" & SysRoot & "'} Where ResultClass = CIM_DataFile")
'/-> VARIBLES 
  Dim colFiles ,Folder, objF,Subfolder
  Dim colFileList, objFile
'/-> LOOP THAT USES THE WMI QUERRY FOR THE WINDOW DIRECTORY
	For Each objFile In colFileList
	 If objFile.Extension = "log" Then
	  Fso.DeleteFile(objFile.Name)
	 End If
	Next
'/-> START THE SUB FOLDER COLLECTION IN THE WINDOW DIRECTORY
  ShowSubfolders Fso.GetFolder(SysRoot)
   Function ShowSubFolders(Folder)
	On Error Resume Next
	For Each Subfolder in Folder.SubFolders
	Set colFiles = Subfolder.Files
	 For Each objF in colFiles
	  If InStr(objF.Path,".log") Then 
	   Fso.DeleteFile(objF.Path)
	  End If 
	 Next 
	  ShowSubFolders Subfolder
	 Next
	Exit Function
   End Function
	Act.Popup "Completed Script", 5,"Finished", 0 + 32

[T D]

It will not delete these log files

QUOTE

\windows\sti_trace.log

\windows\wiadebug.log

\windows\wiaservc.log

\windows\windowsupdate.log

\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edb.log

Can you give me a brief overview of the importance of these files (other than windowsupdate.log and edb.log)?

Thanks.

[gunsmokingman]

It will not delete these log files

QUOTE

\windows\sti_trace.log

\windows\wiadebug.log

\windows\wiaservc.log

\windows\windowsupdate.log

\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edb.log

Can you give me a brief overview of the importance of these files (other than windowsupdate.log and edb.log)?

Thanks.

All I know about those files is the script can not delete them, as why I do not know.

Try this script it will make a text file of the files not deleted by the script.

On Error Resume Next
 strComputer = "."
 Dim Act, Dtop, Fso, SysRoot, Ts 
  Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
  Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  SysRoot = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%SystemRoot%")
  Dtop = Act.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
  Set Ts = Fso.CreateTextFile(Dtop & "\DeletedLog.txt")
  Ts.WriteLine Now()
'/-> WMI QUERRY
  Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
  Set colFileList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
 ("ASSOCIATORS OF {Win32_Directory.Name='" & SysRoot & "'} Where ResultClass = CIM_DataFile")
'/-> VARIBLES 
  Dim colFiles ,Folder, objF,Subfolder
  Dim colFileList, objFile
'/-> LOOP THAT USES THE WMI QUERRY FOR THE WINDOW DIRECTORY
	For Each objFile In colFileList
	 If objFile.Extension = "log" Then
	  Fso.DeleteFile(objFile.Name)
	  If Fso.FileExists(objFile.Name) = True Then 
	   Ts.writeline "Cannot Delete This File : " & Chr(187) & " " & objFile.Name
	  End If 
	 End If
	Next
'/-> START THE SUB FOLDER COLLECTION IN THE WINDOW DIRECTORY
  ShowSubfolders Fso.GetFolder(SysRoot)
   Function ShowSubFolders(Folder)
	On Error Resume Next
	For Each Subfolder in Folder.SubFolders
	Set colFiles = Subfolder.Files
	 For Each objF in colFiles
	  If InStr(objF.Path,".log") Then 
		Fso.DeleteFile(objF.Path)
	  If Fso.FileExists(objF.Path) = True Then 
		Ts.writeline "Cannot Delete This File : " & Chr(187) & " " & objF.Path
	  End If 
	  End If 
	 Next 
	  ShowSubFolders Subfolder
	 Next
	Exit Function
   End Function
	Ts.close 
	Act.Run("Notepad.exe " & Dtop & "\DeletedLog.txt"), 1,True 
	Fso.DeleteFile(Dtop & "\DeletedLog.txt"), True

[T D]

Ok, thanks.

[RogueSpear]

I always archive all of the log files to a 7-Zip file and then delete them. I've found that you just never know when you might want to take a peek at them for one reason or another.