CCleaner can't clear Windows temp files

Hi,

for a few days now when i try to clean windows temporary files with the CCleaner it will stop at about 24% with the file C:\Users\(myusername)\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI25603\shell32.dll

I have checked and there a roughtly a dozen other "shell32.dll" in folders named just the same but for noumber after "MEI#######" all the same size, but their creating adtes vary from "cearted today" to "4 days old"

It will appear to be running but it wont get any furhter. In the meantime running programms will continue fine, but I cant start new ones (not even the taskmanger)

When I hit "cancel" in CCleaner it freezes up but I am still not able to run any programs or shut down the computer. I was forced to reset in the end.

I have scanned the shell32.dll with two scanners and neither said its a virus or anything.

techincal info that might be usefull:

I am running Windows 7, its up to date ~ so is my CCleaner

I have checked "only delete temp files odler than 24h" but the problem is a few days old so thats unlikly to be the cause

the problem occured a few days ago, up till then it worked fine.

Does anyone know what could cause that? Also, does anyone know if its save to remove those files manually?

thanks in advance :)

BennBread

Usually in that area you can delete those manually. Any program which is using them at the time won't let their temp file be deleted so make sure all programs are closed before doing it.

thanks,

is there a way to exlude all "shell32.dll" files in the future so I can run the cleaner for the rest normaly? Is it enought o add "shell32.dll" to "exclude" in options?

You could also try running CCleaner while in safe mode... that usually helps delete more files...

thanks,

is there a way to exlude all "shell32.dll" files in the future so I can run the cleaner for the rest normaly? Is it enought o add "shell32.dll" to "exclude" in options?

That probably would have zero effect it isn't merely shell32.dll that can lock a file, there's rundll32 (OS related), explorer (OS related), your web browsers, etc.

Certain programs like Hazelnut mentioned if closed will allow locked files to be deleted, however if it's OS related a mere reboot will unlock the files - unless of course they're malware.