Temporary Files - Temp Folder

How to Clear Vista Temporary Files in the Temp Folder

information   Information
The Temp folder is where Vista and programs sometimes store temporary files. Sometimes these files are not deleted after Vista or the program is finished with them. This can cause the temp folder to fill up with junk temp files which may cause Vista to take longer to access the Temp folder and create a slight delay.

This will show you how to clear the Vista temporary files through Disk Cleanup or manually in the Temp folder.
Note   Note
The Vista Temp folder is located at:

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Local\Temp

warning   Warning
While it is safe to delete these files, it is best not to do this while installing or uninstalling anything.
Tip   Tip
CCleaner is a free program that is great at keeping the temporary files cleaned up and more.

EXAMPLE: Vista User Account Temp Folder
Temp_Folder.jpg




METHOD ONE
Through Disk Cleanup
Note   Note
Disk Cleanup will only delete Temporary files that have not been modified in 7 days. To clear everything, see METHOD TWO below, or How to Set Disk Cleanup to Delete Vista Temporary Files Less than a Week Old .

1. Open Disk Cleanup.​
2. Check Temporary files. (See screenshot below)​
3. Click on OK.​
4. Click on Delete Files to confirm the action.​
Disk_Cleanup.jpg






METHOD TWO
To Manually Clear the Temp Folder

Note   Note
The Temp folder is located at the hidden system folder:

C:\Users\(Your Username)\AppData\Local\Temp


1. Open the Start Menu.​
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type %temp% and press Enter.​
NOTE: This opens the Temp folder.
3. Delete anything you want in this folder. (See screenshots below step 4)​
warning   Warning
If you delete the Low folder, it can prevent you from printing from Internet Explorer. To fix this, close all Internet Explorer windows and reopen Internet Explorer to recreate the Low folder. You can also manually fix this by recreating the Low folder in the Temp folder below, open a elevated command prompt, then Copy and Paste the command below in the command prompt and press enter.
warning   Warning

Code:
icacls %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Temp\Low /setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)low
Note   Note
If you receive a File In Use error message while the files are being deleted, then this just means that one of the temp files is in use by a program right now. Click Skip to continue deleting the other files, then close all open programs, and repeat the steps above. If you still receive the message, then restart the computer or logoff and logon, and repeat the process again. (See screenshot below)
Note   Note

File_In_Use.jpg

4. Close the Temp folder when done.​
Temp_Folder.jpg
Temp_Empty.jpg

That's it,
Shawn




 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello Nerone, and welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

You're welcome. Glad you like it.

Shawn
 

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Excellent tutorial Shawn. Keep up the great work :)
 

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Thank you .Joe.
 

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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    HP Envy Y0F94AV
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    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
You're welcome Rajah. I'm happy to hear so.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech MX Master 3
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    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi VistaKing,

Logging off and on, or restarting the computer, will have Vista automatically replace the folder. I will add a note to the tutorial to warn others of this.

Thank you,
Shawn

UPDATE:
Just close and reopen IE7 to recreate the Low folder.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi VistaKing,

Logging off and on, or restarting the computer, will have Vista automatically replace the folder. I will add a note to the tutorial to warn others of this.

Thank you,
Shawn

Shawn,
I tried restarting the computer and it didn't bring back the " low " folder. I had to recreate it and then open up CMD with Administrator rights and typing this in " icacls C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Temp\Low /setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)low " .
 

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Thank you for the feedback VistaKing. I have added this to the tutorial to help others.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
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    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech MX Master 3
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    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Great Tutorials and Tips - I love 'em all!

Can you expand on the LOW folder in TEMP? I didn't have one and no doubt deleted it at some stage, as I regularly manually empty this folder. But have had an intermittent fault while printing within MYOB. Sometimes does, sometimes doesn't (only since changing to 64 Bit Vista). I have re-installed the LOW folder as per your tutorial and just tried printing from within MYOB and it worked. Usually I have to disable UAC, reboot and then do the printing, then re-enable UAC and then it will print until next shut down/restart of the machine. I wonder (and it is early days) if this was effecting print, as your comment that it may cause IE problems, prompted me to look.

Many thanks
Kotuku
 

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Hi Kotuku,

I bet it was effecting the print problem you were having. The Low folder is used to store these print jobs temporarly until done. The command sets the correct permission level for the Low folder after recreating it.

I'm happy to hear that it is working for you now,
Shawn
 

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    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi VistaKing,

Logging off and on, or restarting the computer, will have Vista automatically replace the folder. I will add a note to the tutorial to warn others of this.

Thank you,
Shawn

Actually, I've noticed that simply restarting Internet Explorer (in Vista) will recreate the Low folder, no log-off or re-start needed.

Mic
 

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If you move your temp folder to a new drive, you need to give your user full control to the low folder in order to print in IE.
 

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Thanks Mic for the feedback on that. The tutorial has been updated.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi VistaKing,

Logging off and on, or restarting the computer, will have Vista automatically replace the folder. I will add a note to the tutorial to warn others of this.

Thank you,
Shawn

Actually, I've noticed that simply restarting Internet Explorer (in Vista) will recreate the Low folder, no log-off or re-start needed.

Mic

Mic,
I've tried restarting Internet Explorer and the LOW folder didn't recreate itself.
 

My Computer

Hi VistaKing,

Logging off and on, or restarting the computer, will have Vista automatically replace the folder. I will add a note to the tutorial to warn others of this.

Thank you,
Shawn

Actually, I've noticed that simply restarting Internet Explorer (in Vista) will recreate the Low folder, no log-off or re-start needed.

Mic

Mic,
I've tried restarting Internet Explorer and the LOW folder didn't recreate itself.

Interesting . . . I've tried this on several computers and in several VMs and it worked almost every time.

The only time I noticed it didn't work was if iexplore.exe wasn't terminated completely.

Check in Task Manager to make sure the exe terminated.

Sometimes closing all IE windows will still leave the derned thing running in the background until Windows figures out that it should have been terminated.

Mic
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2 Quad [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
    Memory
    4 Gig Kingston SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
    Graphics card(s)
    SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 2600XT
    Hard Drives
    WD 1 TB
Hello!
I deleted all junk files in local\temp except two. first error says this file no longer locate in local\temp. So it won't allow me to delete it. I know for the fact that I saved it in my E: drive CD(which is now destroyed).
The second error:

BROKEN LINK REMOVED

It does not give me the SKIP option.
Is there any way to get rid of it?
Thanks.
 
Last edited:

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