Odd TMP files - OK to delete? What are they?

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  1. TV2
    Posts : 2,221
    W10 Pro 22H2
       #1

    Odd TMP files - OK to delete? What are they?


    I was helping someone correct an ESENT error and guiding them to:
    System32\config\SystemProfile\AppData\Local\
    and looking in my Local folder there I found a slew of .tmp folders, all zero bytes.

    The folders are dated from 3/13/20 to today (3/29/20)
    There are 19 folders created for each date, all have the same time.

    Is it OK to delete these?
    I ran Disk Cleanup (as Administrator) and it did not remove them.
    What do you think these are?

    Odd TMP files - OK to delete? What are they?-annotation-2020-03-29-231134.jpg
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  2. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, please see e.g. this which appears to offer a good explanation and options:
    "tw-7f0-87c-*****.tmp" folders

    Other reports on the internet e.g.
    [SOLVED] - Weird folders in C:/Windows/Temp | Tom's Hardware Forum
    which you can find with a (Google) search for
    tw-1 tmp
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  3. Posts : 5,299
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    I would delete them it should not cause any problems when you delete them.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    The thread I quoted details how to do that and their source.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #5

    dalchina said:
    Hi, please see e.g. this which appears to offer a good explanation and options:
    "tw-7f0-87c-*****.tmp" folders

    Other reports on the internet e.g.
    [SOLVED] - Weird folders in C:/Windows/Temp | Tom's Hardware Forum
    which you can find with a (Google) search for
    tw-1 tmp
    I have those files too in C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local. I tried Wise Disk Cleaner and that doesn't find them either. The links you gave refer to c:\windows\temp. What are these files and should they be deleted?
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  6. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Hmm, me too.. (empty folders, that is, all starting tw- )

    This shows similar ones occurring in a different location again in post #10
    Where Do These Temp Files Come From?

    Also again C:\Windows\Temp
    Unknown folders in Windows/Temp
    Last edited by dalchina; 30 Mar 2020 at 02:51.
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  7. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #7

    They're not files, they're folders, got 176 on my computer .... and not a single file in any folder!!

    Ooh, look, they've all gone now

    Just wait, see my new thread .... "How to fix (insert program name). It won't start"

    Oh well, my current OS is overdue for a clean (re)install, anyway. Maybe this'll force the issue
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 56,806
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #8

    idgat said:
    They're not files, they're folders, got 176 on my computer .... and not a single file in any folder!!

    Ooh, look, they've all gone now

    Just wait, see my new thread .... "How to fix (insert program name). It won't start"

    Oh well, my current OS is overdue for a clean (re)install, anyway. Maybe this'll force the issue
    Try an in-place repair before more drastic ax measures. Sometimes it can work wonders. 20-30 minutes, with very little to do afterward except your personal tweaks.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #9

    f14tomcat said:
    Try an in-place repair before more drastic ax measures. Sometimes it can work wonders. 20-30 minutes, with very little to do afterward except your personal tweaks.
    Oh dear, did I really have to add "<humour mode \ON>" ...... "<humour mode /OFF>"


    Besides, very anti-repair/restore/recover/image/et al methods, me. Too many forums net-wide are full of .... "Tried (insert method), computer won't boot, can't do this/that/the other."

    I'm retired, plenty of time on my hands, can do a clean install, all software, all tweaks, updates, etc in less than 2 hours.

    Besides, got to have something to do for the next month or so in COVID-19 lockdown voluntary isolation. Ideal opportunity for some computer housekeeping (avoids SWMBO wanting help with that other type of housekeeping .... )
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  10. TV2
    Posts : 2,221
    W10 Pro 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Hi folks. Thanks for the info.

    The concern, of course, is that these folders are abnormal and indicative of an intrusion or malware, or a pending OS meltdown.
    The person I was helping did not have any of these folders in that directory.
    Just knowing that other people have these files, in that directory path, in those weird groupings, is a great relief. I can now consider them "normal". They don't take up much space and are not making a nuisance of themselves so they will live.

    Since (on my machine) there aren't any folders older then a certain date hints to me that the system automatically deletes them after a certain number of days.

    But why it creates 19 folders in one second, once - sometimes twice a day, is baffling.
    I remain curious as to why they get created.

    I also suggest everyone leave these alone until someone can determine just what they are and why they are created.
      My Computers


 

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