Aug 01, 2016 Is it safe to delete the files in C:WindowsTemp? I used WizTree to take a look at the files that are taking up the most space on the hard drive, and in the C:WindowsTemp folder there are 135 files with the name 'cab' followed by a number. These files don't have an extension though. But they all have the same file size (117.1 MB) As you can.
-->If you are anything like me, you want to tear your hair out and smash your head on a concrete wall with embedded rusty nails everytime you need to use Explorer (and any file-open dialog box) on the c:windowsassembly directory.
While I am still working with my therapist on these issues, I decided to be a bit more proactive and see how many system files I need to delete for me to be able to see the assembly directory properly in explorer. I decided to go about it in a systematic way and only stop after deleting boot.ini. Luckily, I didn’t get that far.
There is only one file that needs a'mucking.
Do the following:
1. In console, type 'cd /d %windows%assembly
2. Type: 'attrib -r -h -s desktop.ini'
3. Type 'ren desktop.ini desktop.bak'
2. Type: 'attrib -r -h -s desktop.ini'
3. Type 'ren desktop.ini desktop.bak'
Voila, explorer will allow you to go through the REAL directory structure.
Note that sometimes it's useful to just have it in the original view, such as when you are a masochist or if you just want to drag&drop assemblies and let the GAC figure out where they belong. For that, simply do step 3 in reverse (ren desktop.bak desktop.ini).
Hope you find that as helpful and as soothing as I did.
P.S. This will work for other folders as well, such as the c:windowsfonts directory etc.
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How-To Geek Forums / Windows 7
(Solved) - Safe to delete files in C:WindowswinsxsBackup ?
(5 posts)Is it safe to delete files in: C:WindowswinsxsBackup (~542 MB)?
Nope. Those files are used for running programs with different levels of system compatibility. The winsxs directory stores copies of system files, including ones that are downlevel but are still use by some applications or parts of the operating system. These are system files, which are considered to be part of the OS so deleting those files is like deleting files in C:Windowssystem32 -- not safe, and eventually disastrous. Here is some further reading but it's pretty dry stuff! The last one shows what can happen if you do delete from there.
http://blogs.technet.com/askcore/archive/2008/09/17/what-is-the-winsxs-directory-in-windows-2008-and-windows-vista-and-why-is-it-so-large.aspx
http://blog.tiensivu.com/aaron/archives/1306-Demystifying-the-WinSxS-directory-in-Windows-XP,-Vista-and-Server-20032008.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2007/01/03/do-not-manually-delete-things-from-windir-winsxs.aspx
http://blog.tiensivu.com/aaron/archives/1306-Demystifying-the-WinSxS-directory-in-Windows-XP,-Vista-and-Server-20032008.html
http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2007/01/03/do-not-manually-delete-things-from-windir-winsxs.aspx
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/windows-7-how-do-i-cleanup-winsxs-folder-to-free/450e0396-6ba6-4078-8ca0-b16bf4e22ccf
'In Vista, 'Windows File Protection' has been replaced with 'Windows Resource Protection' which, essentially performs the same function. The 'dllcache' folder no longer exists in Vista, it has been replaced with the
%systemroot%WinsxsBackup folder. This folder is NOT 'a backup of a backup', it exists only to make sure that files required for Vista to boot and operate are protected.'
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