Windows 10: Accumulating +/- 15,000 .tmp files per day in App Data > Local > Temp

The .tmp files in the Temp directory are not behaving like a .tmp file should. Specifically, they are acting like permanent files. I have to manually delete them.I discovered this a few weeks ago when I was troubleshooting why my boot time was 20+ minutes.At that time,, the Temp file had 1,128,925 Files / 39,905 Directories / occupying 186 GB, yes Gig.The earliest dates of these files were from 2023, yet still in the Temp Dir.It took over 30 minutes just to calculate the Properties of the Temp DirDeleting them all was a challenge, because it was clear that the deletion process was overwhelme

:)

 

Temp and TMP and Temporary Internet Files locations

Technical Level : Intermediate

Summary

Environment variables are a way to store configuration data, two environment variables emerged as the front-runners for specifying where temporary files should go: TEMP and TMP.

Details

The Summary is from:

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20150417-00/?p=44213

It goes back to the days of CP/M

Temporary Folders are used by almost every program on a computer, either during the installation of a program, or for the operation of the app/program.

These are the default values of some of the more important Temporary Folders.

Temporary Internet Files:

Please see:

Redirecting

Start Internet Explorer.

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

On the General tab, click Settings.

Click Move Folder. [move only if not set to default, or you need to move to another drive]

Click the folder you created in Step 1.

Click OK, click OK, and then click OK again.

Restart your computer

and

Redirecting

• 
  Open Internet Explorer.
  

• Click on the Gear icon, and select Internet Options.
• On the General tab, under Browsing History, go to Settings.
• On the Temporary Internet Files tab, click on Move folder. [move only if not set to default, or you need to move to another drive]

Default location is -

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\

i.e.->C:\Users\JoeCool\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\

See:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/windows/deploy/usmt-recognized-environment-variables

TEMP-The temporary folder on the computer. A typical path is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp.

TMP-The temporary folder on the computer. A typical path is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp.

To check your values -> in Cortana type 'Advanced System Settings' (click on the best matched results)- Advanced Tab - Click 'Environmental Variables' button - make sure your TEMP and TMP show the variables above.

After changing the 'Environmental Variables' (Rarely necessary)->Reboot.

Run a Disk Cleanup with all the boxes checked in the final dialog box. (a good process to run occasionally, even if you are not making changes in 'Environmental Variables').

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-996f-99e02c7301c2/disk-cleanup-in-windows-10

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17421/windows-free-up-drive-space

Before messing with any 'Environmental Variables'; verify your backup on FileHistory, OneDrive, or some other method you use->

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...onto-the/a0977ed7-e796-405b-be25-fa41441fc4b0

 

User.000 issue after updating to 1909

I'm one of the many people suffering from issues with user profiles after applying Update 1909 to Windows 10. I've read all the threads I can find on the topic here and have followed the suggestions, all to no avail. Any other thoughts are appreciated.

After applying Update 1909, the ProfileImagePath was changed to c:\users\User.000
One file that was always in use and couldn't be removed was left in c:\users\User (can't recall or find the exact file now), so I could never rename or remove the c:\user\User directory.

I followed the multiple suggestions from Brink and others:

• Rebooted at least 6 times
• Enabled hidden Administrator
• Booted into Safe Mode
• Changed ProfileImagePath
• Tried to rename c:\users\User but couldn't because a file was still in use
• Copied all data from c:\users\User.000 into c:\users\User
• Rebooted and had temporary profile
• Followed steps in Brink tutorial to change ImageProfilePath; rebooted with no change
• Restored using Restore Point from before Update 1909 - returned to single profile state (User.000)
• Removed each update that was installed individually and rebooted after each update removal - profile state never changed
• After all updates were removed, repeated the steps above with hidden Administrator, changing profile, etc. - same issue with file in use in c:\users\User
• Followed all steps above with hidden Administrator but without copying files from User.000 to User - same results

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

.tmp files in my Local Disk (C

What is the location for 'your' Temporary Internet Files:

Please see:

Redirecting

Start Internet Explorer.

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

On the General tab, click Settings.

Click Move Folder. [move only if not set to default, or you need to move to another drive]

Click the folder you created in Step 1.

Click OK, click OK, and then click OK again.

Restart your computer

and

Redirecting

• 
  Open Internet Explorer.
  

• Click on the Gearicon, and select Internet Options.
• On the General tab, under Browsing History, go to Settings.
• On the Temporary Internet Filestab, click on Move folder. [move only if not set to default, or you need to move to another drive]

Default location is -

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\

i.e.->C:\Users\JoeCool\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\

See also:

Recognized environment variables

TEMP-The temporary folder on the computer. A typical path is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp.

TMP-The temporary folder on the computer. A typical path is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp.

To check your values -> in cortana type 'Advanced System Settings' (click on the best matched results)- Advanced Tab - Click 'Environmental Variables' button - make sure your TEMP and Tmp show the variables above.

After changing the 'Environmental Variables'->Reboot.

Run a Disk Cleanup with all the boxes checked in the final dialog box.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-996f-99e02c7301c2/disk-cleanup-in-windows-10

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17421/windows-free-up-drive-space

Remove the temp folders/files in the root C:\.

Is your data backed up with FileHistory, OneDrive, or something->

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...onto-the/a0977ed7-e796-405b-be25-fa41441fc4b0

If your 'Environmental Variables' had the correct defaults, Please post back.