empty the %temp% folder on startup (XP)

[muchlux]

Hi,

I want to clean the user %temp% folder and some others automatically after logon.

I have tried to use the del command, but it seems that XP always stores some temp files which cannot be deleted. So the del stops execution when reaching a file which cannot be accessed.

Is there an alternative method to delete files, skipping not accessable files?

(Like the robocopy for copying?)

I do not want to use any third party tools.

[Delprat]

maybe the /Q switch :

DEL /F/S/Q %TEMP%\*.*

If i were you, i would use the clean manager. run CLEANMGR /SAGESET:99 ; check what you want to delete, then run CLEANMGR /SAGERUN:99 each time you want to cleanup things. (you can have multiple schemes, just change the number)

++

[muchlux]

I found a weird solution:

 
md %temp%\xvdghhfz
start /wait robocopy.exe %temp% %temp%\xvdghhfz /S /E /MOVE
rd /S /Q %temp%\xvdghhfz

but it works.

Of course it cannot delete the temp files inuse but all others

[Esquire]

You can also use a tool: Empty Temp Folders

It's written for Windows 2000, but I have been using it on Windows XP since the beginning without problems.

[idesksoft]

Good program!

[Andromeda43]

Back in the early days of Windows 98, I wrote a cleanup batch file which I called Hoover.bat.

I named it after the Vacc. Cleaner. I sent it via file transfer in Paltalk and via EMails to hundreds of users worldwide. It's still available for quick download on My Webpage (It's for 98, 98/SE and ME only)

It uses 'Deltree.exe' a fabulous windows routine that was left out of Windows XP.

Once added to XP, it runs just fine, as it did in 98.

I've put the new XP-Cleanup program, XPCleanup.bat on my website also, and I've included the 'Deltree.exe' program file as well.

Both XPCleanup and Deltree.exe are included now in my "Care Package" that I've placed for download on a rented Server at My Download Site.

There's even a little batch file there to install it for you.

If you want to really do a 'tune-up' on XP, download the Care Package, but read the instructions file before running any of the programs in the zipped file.

XPCleanup.bat, will clean out all the junk that windows likes to keep on your HD.

Putting a shortcut to it in your "Startup" folder will give you a daily cleanup, sort of like FREE Maid Service everytime you boot up your PC.

I run this myself and install it for all my customers. They love it, getting rid of junk everytime they boot up.

It only takes a second or two to run and then it's done. It doesn't stay in memory.

Well, that's MY answer to the Junk problem.

Cheers!

Andromeda43 B)

[T D]

CMDOW @ /HID
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "Empty Temp Folders" /d ".\deltemp.cmd" /f
attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%TEMP%"
cd %temp%
del /F /S /Q *.*
rd /s /q "%temp%\"
attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%SYSTEMROOT%\Temp"
cd %systemroot%\temp
del /f /s /q *.*
rd /s /q "%SystemRoot%\Temp\"
attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%TEMP%\Temporary Internet Files"
cd %temp%\Temporary Internet Files
del /f /s /q *.*
rd /s /f /q "%temp%\Temporary Internet Files\"
cd\
del *.tmp /s /f /q
del index.dat /s /f /q

Put all of this in a batch file into any directory, yes any and it will work. Will also work unattendedly. It will add a startup entry to the current batch file, but it has to be called deltemp.cmd. Or you can change the deltemp.cmd to something else in the REG ADD entry and rename the file accordingly.

@andromeda You can use something similar to deltree.exe with "rd.exe" and the switch /Q /S But deltree is easier for typing purposes

Edited July 27, 2006 by T D

[Rudi1]

CMDOW @ /HID
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "Empty Temp Folders" /d ".\deltemp.cmd" /f
cd %temp%
del /F /S /Q *.*
cd %systemroot%\temp
del /f /s /q *.*
cd\
del *.tmp /s

Put all of this in a batch file into any directory, yes any and it will work. Will also work unattendedly. It will add a startup entry to the current batch file, but it has to be called deltemp.cmd. Or you can change the deltemp.cmd to something else in the REG ADD entry and rename the file accordingly.

@andromeda You can use something similar to deltree.exe with "rd.exe" and the switch /Q /S But deltree is easier for typing purposes

This cmd file work like a sharm!

Really thank you for it!

[mazin]

CMDOW @ /HID
REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "Empty Temp Folders" /d ".\deltemp.cmd" /f
cd %temp%
del /F /S /Q *.*
cd %systemroot%\temp
del /f /s /q *.*
cd\
del *.tmp /s

It's not a good idea to use HKLM if the computer is a multi-user environment. B)

You'd better use HKCU, instead; so that every user can be able to control their %TEMP%.

However, DEL command does not delete directories, but files only. So, what about directories inside %TEMP%?

[T D]

I just put HKLM because well, it's temp files!

And dirs inside temp, because of the /s switch, the files inside them get deleted but the folders themselves don't. It's not too much of a problem that even though after about a year, %temp% will slow ur pc down a bit because of a lot of folders. But once a yr, surely u can find time to delete files in %temp%

I tried deleting dirs with rd but it doesn't work with wildcards

Here's an idea for emptying IE cache and cookies. Edited post above.

[mazin]

I tried deleting dirs with rd but it doesn't work with wildcards

Yes, that's what MS says. This is what I say:

RD command is ABLE to delete a bunch of directories even without wildcards .

rd /S /Q "%TEMP%\"

Also, the back slash ensures that the TEMP folder itself is not removed.

It's not documented, but just a brain HARSH!

Then, the whole %TEMP% clean-up is solved, this way:

attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%TEMP%"
del /F /S /Q "%TEMP%\*.*"
rd /S /Q "%TEMP%\"

Hope you like it. B)

[Rudi1]

Hi mazin!

Can you post complete cmd file?

thx!

[T D]

Thnx mazin, why M$ didn't document this... updated cmd file above.

[mazin]

Hi mazin!

Can you post complete cmd file?

thx!

T D has got a nice one there.

However, there are different scenarios. I don't know yours, specifically!

I'm going to list what in mind for cleaning up a user's TEMP directory, leaving %SystemRoot%\Temp as it is.

I'll assume that your PC has a single user or multiple users with the same preference of cleaning up their TEMP directory.

Scenario 1: CleanUp on demand.

Inside any batch file you use during Windows Setup, add the following lines:

echo @ECHO OFF>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo Cleaning Up My %TEMP%>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%%TEMP%%">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo del /F /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\*.*">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo rd /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD

That script can be put in a batch file running at T-39, T-13, T-12, T-9, and actually at any stage.

The script creates CL.CMD in Windows folder. And, when run, CL.CMD cleans the user's TEMP directory.

Being in Windows folder, CL.CMD can be called anytime by any user to do its job.

A user can just go to Start-->Run and type CL, then press ENTER. And VOILA!

Scenario 2: CleanUp on demand and at System StartUp.

We use the same script above with extra one line (REG ADD HK..):

REG ADD HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v "TEMP CleanUp" /d %SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo @ECHO OFF>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo Cleaning Up My %TEMP%>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%%TEMP%%">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo del /F /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\*.*">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo rd /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD

Same as above, the script creates CL.CMD in Windows folder. Additionally, it puts a call for it in HKLM\Run making it be run at every system startup, whatever the user account being logged in.

Same as above, CL.CMD cleans the user's TEMP directory.

Being in Windows folder, CL.CMD can be called anytime by any user to do its job, and not only at system startup.

A user can just go to Start-->Run and type CL; then press ENTER to run CL.CMD!

One thing I'm not sure of is wether REG ADD works at T-39! Surely, REG ADD works at the other stages.

Note:

In the second scenario, if the PC is a multi-user machine where each user wants to control his own TEMP, then we just replace HKLM with HKCU.

This requires a user to log in using his own account, then apply the script.

In such a case, we add that script to a batch file running at T-13. I haven't tested it at T-12, however.

The script, in that case, will be slightly different as follows:

echo @ECHO OFF>"%UserProfile%\Desktop\DELifNO.CMD"
echo REG ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v "TEMP CleanUp" /d %%SystemRoot%%\CL.CMD>>"%UserProfile%\Desktop\DELifNO.CMD"
echo del %%0>>"%UserProfile%\Desktop\DELifNO.CMD"
echo @ECHO OFF>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo.>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo echo Cleaning Up My %TEMP%>>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo attrib -r -a -s -h  /S /D "%%TEMP%%">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo del /F /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\*.*">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD
echo rd /S /Q "%%TEMP%%\">>%SystemRoot%\CL.CMD

So, when a user logs in using their account, they will find "DELifNO.CMD" on their desktop.

If a user wants a cleanup on demand, they just delete the file "DELifNO.CMD"! Otherwise, ie both cleanups, they run "DELifNO.CMD".

Ah, and "DELifNO.CMD" is self-deleted.

I hope I was clear and well understood.

[Rudi1]

Your explanation is more then good

I will try it when I install windows again,but i'am shure that work just fine.

I'am always like to have util like this,becouse some of files is really hard to delete from temp folders!

Thanx TD who is post this script and you for finnished it!!

take care guys!