C:\Windows\Temp Folder?

Hi there,
Looking over my machine's contents in Explorer view I find a folder "C:\Windows\Temp" with a whole load of folders and files in it. Many [but NOT all] of the files and folders start with the symbols _ or ~. When I had Windows'98 as my O.S. my immediate reaction would have been to delete all these, and everything else in the \Temp folder too. Can I do that in 'XP Home and be comfortable that I've not removed something that is important?

One thing I noticed is a whole mess of files called "Perflib_Perfdata_***.dat" in this \Temp folder. What are these all about please?

I've had 'XP Home for about 14 months or so and have left the environment varaibles alone as default.
Thanks,

 

Thanks Pete,
Now I know for sure that I can delete all found in C:\Windows\Temp and NOT be confronted with a nasty surprise later on.

I tried following the advice on the first link you sent in your reply but came to a halt as I couldn't find the path :-
Computer Management
System Tools
Local Users and Groups
Users
I could get down to "System Tools" then no more as my version does not seem to have "Local Users and Groups" therein?

I'll try out the Cleansing Utilities in your second link and report back. Is RegClean OK to use on XP Pete? I have used it previously in earlier versions of Windows [95 & 98] and no worries, but have heard that it can [and does] ***** up registries from time to time.

Thanks again,
Regards,

 

Once again thanks for the quick return Pete.

I manually deleted all but one of those Perflib_Perfdata_***.dat files and all the other bumph [files and folders] from my C\Windows\Temp folder; no problems. I like a tidy house.

I'll also download a copy of RegClean tonight and give my registry a much needed cleansing.

Thanks again..... "I'll be back" as the big man says!

Kind regards,