There are some large files in my hard drive with names like "~PST3686.tmp" (close to 100MB), what are they and can they be deleted?\n\nCan all files with .tmp extensions be deleted without problems?
132419
The convention in most operating systems is that any file with a tmp or temp or jnk or ... extension is deletable at will. Nothing the program needs is kept in these files. however, an application that's running, just now, might be using the contents of one of those files. It's best to make sure nothing is running before you go on a tmp file extermination hunt. \n\nBut, this is only a convention. Only an application (or rather the programmer writing it) can know that this information will only be needed temporarily. If the programmer violates this convention, there may be important data in tmp files. And you have no real way to tell. Malicious programmers know that tmp files are very closely watched, and sometimes use tmp files to hide things. Which tmp file is being used by malware is also hard to tell. \n\nPrograms that violate this convention are maldesigned in a significant way, and you might not want them to be running on your computer. If so, a firm rule that tmp files should be cleaned out every so often (once a week or during an anti-virus or anti-spyware or defragmenting run or ...) would be quite reasonable. \n\nThere are many programs available (usually called something like cleanup or debris removal or some such) which will do this for you. Some are freeware, some shareware, and some are full commercial programs or parts of utility packages. \n\nAnd, it may be imporatnt to realize that some of these are over-enthusiastic. They may clean out files that shouldn't be cleaned, and it's a good practice to let them scan your disk, decide what needs to be deleted, and show you the list -- without deleting anything. Most have such an operating mode. You can then decide whether you think the program is making good choices. If it isn't, don't use it!
31861
It happens alot.\nTry to delete it manually...find the location and the file and delete it.\nBut I have no patience with that, so I simply format and reinstall Windows...then I'm sure there are no viruses!\nI didnt like Norton, so I'm using Kaspersky now, but it also cant delete some viruses sometimes.\n\nEDIT: cant find it, ha? Hmm...I'd stick with formatting hard disk then. Sorry I didnt help :(
431744
You really seem to have a need to get rid of the data on that hard drive. Hmmmmm.................
387935
if you were to delete them the normal way (sending them to the trash and then emptying the trash) they will not be permanently deleted\n\nif you were to delete the files like this it would be posible to get them back in under 10 min.\n\nyou would need to do a complete wipe.\na wipe cleans the drive by writing over the old data multiple times. Making it impossible to recover information, short for some government MIB type agency. \n\n\nlink has more info with free and paid for tools:\nhttp://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html\n\n many of the free tools  do this just as well as the paid.
69837
Huh.  I never thought about it, but it looks like you're right. \n\nWell, I suppose you can always do a cp filename filename1 then do a gzip if you want to keep the original.
99435
Unfortunatly Windows xp cant see any thing more then around 137 to 143 gigs per drive It has something to do with the way windows formats the drives. I know this for experiance I would love it if there was a way i could do that with my 250 gig drive but NTFS formating and Fat32 prevent it from happening.
163545
If you delete the file, it is gone.  It might leave traces on the hard drive but unless you anticipate the government searching your hard drive I wouldn't worry about it, it is gone.  Norton does make some software to get rid of it completely, it is bundled with SystemWorks.
509512
It is a hard drive erasure program. You can not delete certain file in the OS. It will completely wipe your hdd clean of any data. You will need to repartion the hdd and reformat the hdd then it will be ready to use again. You can use Win 98 boot disk or your windows XP disk and redo the hdd...Thanks
28209
You can open your temporary items folder.  A link to this can be found in your internet tools in internet explorer.  Althought if you suspected burner was slick enough to delete the history, he/she probably deleted these items as well.  If there are many items in your temp internet items folder, check for large ones....a DVD sized movie should be at least several million mb.
118523
Clear your cache on your pc...\ntools > options> delete files and temp files.
219843
Files that are deleted still have ghosts on the hard drive untill the free space is overwritten with new data and may be recovered untill they are overwritten 32 times the software to recover these "ghost files" is  among others at this link;  \n http://www.runtime.org/  software may also have a tool to erase the files permently if not you may use eraser to securly overwrite sensitive datahttp://www.download.com/Eraser/3000-2092_4-10231813.html?tag=lst-0-4
233109
I am not a computer expert. In my experience, when formatting a 60G drive, the format process takes about 4-6 hours, depending upon the use of your cpu. I suspect this drive has a real problem. I suggest stopping the format process, it obviously is not happening. Try to read the drive with My Computer. IF you can read, then get the properties of the drive...if it shows about 60G, then the drive is probably formatted and the program is hung up. In the future, if you are going to all the trouble of deleting files, just repack the disk with Defrag tool...fast, takes about 4 hours, and the disk will be cleaned up. IF this drive was ever an OS drive, you probably have a partition that is giving the format system problems. You will not loose the drive by stopping format, but I suspect it has been formatted and the program is hung up. IF the disk has problems, you haven't lost  much...these drives are not that useful in today's bite happy programs in file size requirements. Here, I can get a 250G drive for about 80.00. And by the way, if you have made this drive a slave, did you change the pins on the back end of the drive??? IF it was a primary drive, the pin settings must be changed for the machine to use it as a secondary drive. At least, that has been my experience. Without the pins being changed, I can see the drive during boot, but NOT when I try to search the drive. Good luck
235481
As a serious tip, if you need more disk space, delete things, or buy a new hard drive.  The 'compress old files' is a terribly implemented feature in Windows XP.  I recommend not using it.
477159
If you can't see extensions for your file names, try this. \nOpen up a window, and click on Tools/Folder Options/View/ and untick the "hide extensions for known file types" box
644671
You can try to delete it manually from "C:&#92;Documents and Settings". Just try to delete that user's folder. Not sure it'll work or not.
464858
click start>search>all files and folders> then search for "*.tmp" and then delete all.\nright click Internet explorer icon on desktop, and go to properties.\nand delete temporary Internet files, cookies etc....\nu can free up more by moving your known files and folders from c: drive to d: drive.\nto do this right click the files,to move, and select "cut" option and then go to d: drive and again right click on the blank portion of that window and select "paste" option......\nremember: my documents folder is also allocated in the c: drive..\n(by default)... so u can free up spaces by moving my documents files to d: drive....through the above said process..\ncaution: don't move ''windows" and "program files" folders.\notherwise ur system will be malfunctioning.
337726
"Is there a virus that can format your hard drive?"\nIt could do\n\n"If your hard drive is formatted is there a way to find out how it was formatted?"\nNope, Everything is wiped clean off your hard drive\n\nI suggest you get an anti virus program, its free:\nhttp://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10503939.html?tag=lst-0-2