Is CCleaner Deleting Everything in my c:\temp Directory?

[nharrold]

I'm using Win XP Pro w/SP2 and version 1.31.325 of CCleaner. I've used CCleaner for years and really enjoy having it. However, I just don't know if my problem is related to the program or to something entirely different.

 

Problem: Suppose I move some .avi files from my digital camera to "c:\temp\digital camera dump" on my HD. If I later in the sessions do a hot reboot, when the system comes back up those .avi files are gone from the subdirectory. A name search for the files brings up nothing. The subdirectory itself has also vanished, leaving only the c:\temp directory. (I can't recall if I ran CCleaner in the interim, or not.)

 

However, if I shut the machine off and then do a cold boot, the subdirectory and .avi files are still there on the HD.

 

So....do you think that CCleaner might be in any way involved in this problem, or might it be an XP problem?

[Andavari]

Welcome to the CCleaner Forums nharrold!

 

1. 
   First: Verify some CCleaner settings:
   
2. Run CCleaner.
   
3. Click Options > Custom.
   
4. If C:\Temp is listed highlight it then click Remove Selected.
   

 

1. 
   Second: Check your %temp% Windows Environment Variable:
   
2. Start a Command Prompt.
   
3. Type in: CD %temp%
   
4. If C:\Temp is listed then that's why CCleaner would clean that folder of all contents.
   

 

• Recommended:
  
• Don't put any important files into any Temp folder.
  
• Instead create a new folder for your documents, or files you're working on to prevent deletion from cleaning programs that clean out temp folders.
  

 

[nharrold]

Thank you for your response, Andavari; my reply has been delayed due to unavoidable circumstances.

 

I followed your suggestions; here is what I found:

 

C:\TEMP is NOT listed in Options/Custom. There are no specific folders listed there.

 

However, some time ago I changed the environment variable from the default, c:\documents and settings\, to c:\temp, as it was much easier for me to keep track of things in consideration of the way I have been working with Windows for so many years.

 

Based on your suggestions, it appears that I need to change that environment variable to something similar to c:\temp but not as vulnerable to cleaners such as CC; or change the way I work; or stop using CC. Would c:\tempx do the trick?

 

Again, thank you very much for your help. I will keep working on this until I get it resolved.

[Andavari]

Well since you mapped your temp folder to C:\Temp you shouldn't be putting anything you're working on in that folder whatsoever - it's a junk files folder that just about any cleaning app will clean the contents of.

 

You can still keep your C:\Temp folder however for working on files "temporarily" you should create a new dedicated folder just for that, e.g.; something like C:\Working which you would have to manually delete the contents of by yourself, and which won't be cleaned by cleaning apps.