Having dumped about 3 dozen TEMP Files into my Trash Bin, I'm hesitant about whether I should permanently dump them? They are designated like so: ~DFA244.TMP c://WINDOWS TEMP (the date) TEM FILE There are a couple designated like so: -ISTMPO.DIR C://WINDOWS TEMP (the date) File Folder I was trying to free up space on my hard drive. Thanks for any help.

usually no problems that a reboot won't take care of. I use del c:\windows\temp from a dos prompt and this way I don't have to empty the recycle bin.

You can also hold SHIFT when you delete and it will skip the recycle bin. Just be sure you don't want it. Dave T2

Thanks for the replys and maybe I should ask one more question concerning these TMP FILES. If I delete them from my TRASH FOLDER, rebooting won't bring them back...right? My system is running just fine (except for limited hard drive space) and I don't wish to "mess up" anything.

Windows ME (Monitor Everything) maintains several files for the purpose of tracking everything and I mean EVERYTHING that is done on your computer. If you surf a lot, they can become quite massive and would free up a lot of room if you delete them or edit all the traking out of them. Application logs, .dat files (index), cache files, internet logs, etc. There are quite a few, and the .dat files can't be erased unless you boot up in safe mode, or create a batch file to do it upon booting up. Just the fact that there are so many redundant tracking systems built in to ME leaves me wondering if this isn't Big Brother??

My grandfather is afraid to use the phone. His grandfather wouldnt set foot on a train. Always going to be conspiracies and theories to go along with it. All this tracking is the answer to outcries made by people with small minds who would rather burn books then actually open them up and read them. The software companies love this. "we give the people what they want" is what they say when they raise your monthly service charge another dollar but what they mean is they have learned to use our fear against us. Not only does windows me and everyone else lets face it track us for "our own good" but now they can sell this info to everyone else for personalized spamming. The ones who will really learn the lesson are the guys installing pirated software. For now the software vendors create lists based on the IP address of the guy whos illeagaly updating his norton software thanks to morpheus. Eventually they will use the lists to prosecute these people. Why dont they do it now? They are afraid of the bad press. The media will scream privacy invasion. With XP's activation being allowed pandoras box is opened and we cant find the lid. Some think they are getting away with it. Your accessing a server every day for updates and you dont think they can track you? Give me a break. Norton wrote the book on security (buggy book). When you use the internet, when you use the phone, when you walk outside you expose yourself to the world. The world sometimes contains terrible things. Buy a book, learn how to surf safely and put your mind at ease. When you get the book make sure its something recent as last years threats are eliminated with an update or definition in your AV folder. Discovering these files and doing something about it is one thing. Attempting to take down the mighty MS with a registry hack is another. Lifes too short. When they spam you find the server it originated from and verify they have the servers security patches installed. If they dont leave them a note. Preferably on the home page.

Could someone tell me what these mean: ~DFA244.TMP and _ISTMPO.DIR I wish to permanently dump them from my Trash Folder