Simpler Hd Maintenance....

Allo all ,

A well 'andy tip I picked up many moons ago (early Win95 days)

Create a new folder c:\temp

If running WinXp (and possibly 2000, I'm not too familiar with using it...) - From system Properties, select 'Advanced' - 'Environment Variables - 'User Variables' - Set both temp AND Tmp to point to the new c:\temp folder

If running Win95, 98, ME and might be others, In the Autoexec.bat file, add these 2 lines somewhere

Set Temp=C:\temp
Set Tmp=C:\Temp

If possible, set your program's options to use the new folder for working in... (Netscape is VERY obliging for this ...)

Reboot PC.....

At least 99% of ALL the temp files created will now be placed in the c:\temp folder. This makes it a lot easier to delete the junk as neccessary, rather than go hunting under buried folders....

If neccessary or if the ethics of 'Pure Laziness' demand it, a simple batch file can be made to empty the folder at startup.

Quote:

If neccessary or if the ethics of 'Pure Laziness' demand it, a simple batch file can be made to empty the folder at startup.

That did work very well for pre-XP OS's. I used that technique on every setup, back then. :harhar:
However, XP is a bird of a different feather. Or, horse of a different color. :harhar: :beatdeadhorse5:

XP doesn't use the Autoexec.bat file....it doesn't even use DOS.
So we have to use a slightly different tack when programming XP.

A little digging will ferrit out the folders where XP keeps its junk. (Well, maybe a lot of digging) :laugh:
Then incorporate those folders into a clenup.bat file that will empty them every time the batch file runs.
Put a shortcut to that batch file in the Startup folder under Program Files, and you have "daily maid service".
Your computer will be cleaned on every boot-up.

I use the old "Deltree.exe" program from '98 to facilitate the thorough deletion of everything from the selected folder, even sub folders. Put "Deltree.exe" in your 'C:\Windows\Syetem32' and it will run like any other DOS command. For those who don't have a 98 or ME system available where they can snag a copy of 'Deltree', it can be quickly downloaded Here.
You'll find the XPCleanup.bat file there as well and some other helps for XP.

I employ this technique for all my customers now. It just keeps their computers SO much cleaner.
A weekly "Disk Cleanup" and "Defrag" completes the weekly maintenance package.
Even the laziest user who just won't do any maintenance, will 'at least' stay junk free.
Just for grins....here's my own XPCleanup.bat file.
Feel free to copy and paste this text (between the lines of stars) into a Wordpad document and save it as your own "Cleanup.bat" program.
Where I have "Randy" as my personal folder (that's really NOT my name)...change it to whatever name you use for your own personal folder. Good Luck,
*******************************************************
Rem: The Deltree.exe command must be in your C:\windows\system32 before this program will run.
Rem: This command can be found in any system running Windows 98 or ME.
Rem: the /y after deltree tells deltree to execute the command without stopping to ask if it's OK.
Rem: The lines that do not adhear to the DOS 8+3 filename structure must be in quotes.
@Echo off
cls
deltree /y C:\temp\*.*
deltree /y "c:\%windir%\temp\*.*"
deltree /y "c:\%windir%\WUTemp\*.*"
deltree /y "c:\%windir%\system32\config\systemprofile\cookies\*.*"

deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\*.*"

Rem: No need to duplicate the following section for each registered User
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Cookies\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\recent\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\cookies\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\userdata\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\History\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\History\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*"

deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Cookies\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*"

deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Cookies\*.*"

deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\History\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Cookies\*.*"

deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\Temp\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Local Settings\History\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Cookies\*.*"
deltree /y "C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\temp\*.*"

Rem: the following line deletes the Virus Vault for AVG 7 anti-virus program.
deltree /y "C:\$VAULT$.AVG\*.*"
Rem: the following line deletes the Undo files from MS's RegClean.
deltree /y "C:\Regclean\*.reg"
Rem: the following line deletes the contents of the prefetch folder.
Rem: remove this line if you do NOT want your Prefetch folder cleaned out.
deltree /y "C:\windows\prefetch\*.*"
*************************************************

For those PC's that don't (shudder) get rebooted daily, put a shortcut to the batch file on the desktop where it can be run....whenever you like. Like, right before you run Disk Cleanup and Defrag as part of a weekly maintenance routine.

Keeping your computer clean and running at peak performance, "Ain't Rocket Science" nor is it difficult.
But, it does require a bit of dilligence on your own part.

Happy Computing,
:cheers:
Morbius


I just had to add this little,,,,whatever.

*****************************************
Why Computers Crash
_You gotta read this out_ _LOUD!!!!!_
Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss.
(Read this to yourself _aloud_ - it's great!)

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, and the bus is
interrupted at a very last resort, and the access of the memory
makes your floppy disk abort, then the socket packet pocket has
an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, and the
double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, and your data
is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash, then your situation's
hopeless and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house, says the
network is connected to the button on your mouse, but your
packets want to tunnel to another protocol, that's repeatedly
rejected by the printer down the hall.

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, so
your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse; then you may as
well reboot and go out with a bang, 'cuz sure as I'm a poet, the
sucker's gonna hang.

When the copy on your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk, and
the macro code instructions is causing unnecessary risk, then
you'll have to flash the memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM,
and then quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom!

Well, that certainly clears things up for me.
Thank you, Bill Gates, for bringing all this into our lives.