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Temporary files are left behind when a machine crashes, from installing and uninstalling programs, and perhaps under other circumstances you really don't need to care about. In our Howto Empty Temp Folders we explain how to clear these files.
The opening step asks you to restart the computer first. This normally insures that the files in the Temp folder are not "in use" and may be safely deleted.
However, even after a complete restart, you will likely have files in the Temp folder that are in use. When you attempt to delete them, you see messages like this:



Perflib and Perfdata are Performance Log files. Perflib stands for Performance Library and Perfdata means Performance Data . This data is accumulated using the Performance Logs and Alerts service that, by default, starts with the computer. Other applications may take advantage of this service to monitor their system performance as well. Since these log files are created when the machine starts, even if you have not opened any applications, you are unable to delete them.
ExchangePerflog are Performance Log files created for Outlook. They may appear right after startup if you have a handheld plugged into the computer.
All of the older log files can be safely deleted after a restart. These steps will help you get past the "Error Deleting File or Folder" message from today's log files to remove all the other files from the Temp folder.

1. Follow steps 1 - 10 from the Howto Empty Temp Folders.
   
   Note: After completing step 10, you receive the "Error Deleting File or Folder" message. Go forward with these steps to skip the files you are unable to delete.
   Note: The Temp folder should be open at this point.
   
2. From the View menu choose Details.
3. From the View menu choose Arrange Icons by and then slide right to Modified.
   
   Note: This will sort the files in the Temp folder by date. You can now easily see the files with time stamps of today.
   
4. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all the files listed.
5. Key Step: Hold down the Ctrl key and click on a file with today's time stamp. Continue to deselect these files (the ones that you may not be able to remove because of the "Error Deleting File or Folder" message).
6. Press Shift + Delete on your keyboard.
   
   Note: If you receive a "Error Deleting File or Folder" message again, click OK. The process has stopped at the offending file. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on this file to deselect it. Press Shift + Delete on the keyboard to delete the remaining files.
   
7. You can now attempt to remove any non-Log files with today's time stamp. Use steps 4 - 6.
8. When you have removed all the file you can from the Temp folder, go back to Howto Empty Temp Folders and begin with step 11.