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Space Hound 4 - [ About Commonly Used Wasted Space ]

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About Commonly Used Wasted Space

Typically, these files can always be safely deleted.  However, please read the comments on each option available.

Delete Temporary Files:  These are files with the extension .TMP or .TEMP.

Many applications create temporary files while processing.  Usually, the application will clean up these files upon completion of the program.  However, this is not always the case and it is also possible that a program that did not successfully complete will leave unused files behind. 

Delete Files and Sub-Folders in the TEMP folder:  Usually, you will have a Temporary location specified for temporary files to be placed.  As mentioned earlier, programs should clear this when finished. 

Also, many files in TEMP folder structure probably will have different files extensions then .TMP or .TEMP.  Space Hound will remove all of them except those that were created today.  This exception is to keep program which might be currently running as background tasks from crashing. 

Delete Backup files:  Files with the .BAK extension. 

Many programs (such as word processors) may create a backup copy of a file before allowing modifications.  If you select this option, you should verify that the files placed on the Pending Deletes List with this extension should be deleted.  You need to know your own file naming habits here was well. 

Delete Recovery Files:  Files with the .CHK extension. 

When the operating system performs a check and repair on your hard drive, it may find files that exists that it can’t resolve.  Often, these are worthless fragments.  However, some utility programs (such as the Norton Utilities) have some ability to allow you to restore or rebuild these files.  Note from the developer:  I have never been able to take advantage of a .CHK file. 

Delete Help File Indexes: Files with .GID and .FTS extensions.   

These files are rebuilt anytime you use a help file and create a word index.  You can rebuild them when and if you ever need them again from within the Help File Viewing program. 

Delete Zero Length Files:  These are files that exists that contain no data.  However, these are often the most dangerous files to delete.  Often, they provide placeholders for applications.  If missing, then a program might not know to re-create it. 

Empty Recycle Bin:  Most applications put a copy of the file it deletes into the recycle bin so that it can be recovered. 

This is like taking out the trash.  It simply needs to be done now and then.   

Delete Temporary Internet Files:   These are files that are created every time you serf the Internet.  Leaving them there may improve the performance of your Internet Browser to some extent.  However, some of these files could end up being from sites you will never visit again.  It’s good to clean it out occasionally.  Note: Space Hound will not delete cookie files.