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What do you need a temporary file for?


A temporary file is a file for the temporary storage of information and data under MS Windows 11, 10, ... and Server OS, as well as under MAC OS, Linux, ... etc! 



Content:

1.) ... The temporary files and folders!
2.) ... Can you delete temporary files?
3.) ... Delete temporary files, what can go wrong?


1.) The temporary files and folders!

Usually, the temporary file is deleted when the program is closed. Most of the time, data is stored in the temporary files that is not so important for the program in question or the operating system itself. Because the temporary data can also be cleaned up or deleted . 

The storage location of a temporary file also depends on the program and the operating system, with Microsoft Windows this can be called up  directly via the Windows Explorer address bar  by entering the environment variable % temp% and your personal temporary directory opens automatically!
 
In addition to the temporary directory of the operating system, many programs also use other folders instead of temporary files folders, but in their own program folder. These are often referred to with the file extension * .tmp ! For programs under Linux, temporary files are often created with the file extension .foo.

2.) Can you delete temporary files?

Since there are no important program transformations, you can delete temporary files; the programs use them as temporarily stored and are not dependent on the information stored in the data and in it. Programs lock the files they are currently using to prevent them from being deleted.

Tips: 
►►  Clear and reset the thumbnail cache in Windows!
►►  How to delete a locked folder or file in Windows 10!



(Image-1) The temporary files and folders in the temporary directory!
The more temporary files and folders in the temporary directory!

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3.) Deleting temporary files, what can go wrong?



Yes, temporary files can be safely deleted. They are created by programs to store data that is not needed while working with the program. Once the program exits, the temporary files are usually automatically deleted. Temporary files are files created by various programs and the operating system to temporarily store data. Once they are no longer needed, they can be safely deleted. However, if you delete them manually, it may not have any negative impact on your computer.


However, a few things can go wrong when deleting temporary files :

Incorrect deletion : If you delete important files that are not recognized as temporary files, important data can be lost. Make sure you only delete files that you are sure are not needed.

System stability : Some temporary files are necessary for certain programs and the operating system to function properly. Deleting important system files can affect the stability of your system.

Running Processes : Some temporary files are used by running processes. Deleting these files may cause these processes to crash or malfunction.

Here are some tips to safely delete temporary files :

- Use the tools built into your operating system or special applications to delete temporary files. These tools typically only delete files that can be safely removed.

- Check whether you delete files that you no longer need, e.g. temporary Internet files, cache files and unused installation files.

- Back up important files before deleting temporary files to prevent data loss.

- Be careful when deleting system files and it is best to leave this task to professional system administrators.

To avoid such problems, before deleting temporary files, you should make sure that you do not need them. If you are unsure whether a temporary file is needed, you should not delete it.


Deleting temporary files can free up space on your computer and improve your computer's performance. To summarize, you can delete temporary files to free up disk space. However, you should be careful when doing this so as not to lose important files or endanger the stability of your system. Use the built-in tools and be selective when deleting files.



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