{"id":615883,"date":"2023-03-13T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windowsreport.com\/?p=615883"},"modified":"2024-03-28T14:53:36","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T12:53:36","slug":"cab-files-windows-temp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/windowsreport.com\/cab-files-windows-temp\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows Temp CAB Files: What are They and How to Delete Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Windows has a lot of different temporary files, and most of these are only used for a specific process, and once it’s completed, they don’t play any vital role. One such is the Windows temp CAB files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many users have reported their hard drive filling up with CAB files, sometimes up to 10-30 GB of storage. So, if you plan to clear some storage<\/a>, deleting them could be an option. Before you proceed, here’s everything you should know about CAB files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are CAB files in Windows temp folder?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CAB files are stored in the Windows Temp folder because these are temporary files and are not used for the everyday effective functioning of the OS, like the system files or critical Windows files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will also find several other files in the Temp folder, say error logs and debug log files. All these combined can take up significant storage and slow down an old PC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, many CAB files can accumulate and regenerate within the Temp folder. That\u2019s especially the case for server PCs within network environments, which generate a lot of log and security data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The accumulation of CAB files can hog considerable hard drive space. There\u2019s also a CAB compressor bug on Windows in which the makecab<\/em> cleanup process fails to compress CBS logs. But it can be fixed using a few command lines, as illustrated in the later section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a CAB file in Windows?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

CAB or Windows Cabinet Files contain data used for Windows installations, usually software and drivers, when the process is undertaken directly by the OS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To view the CAB<\/em> files in Windows, head use the following path:C:\\Windows\\Temp<\/strong><\/code><\/p>\n\n\n

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Though it shouldn’t ideally be the case, you may often find out that the Windows temp folder has huge CAB files. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to explore more about .cab files and how to install them<\/a>, read this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it safe to delete CAB files from Windows Temp folder?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you can safely delete CAB files from the Windows Temporary folder<\/a>. Before you do, make sure that there are no active installations going on. Otherwise, it would affect the process and trigger an error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, we do not recommend deleting any CAB files other than the ones stored in the Temp folder since these are critical to apps, for instance, iTunes and Microsoft Office, both of which generate these. And deleting them will affect the functioning of the related app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I remove Windows Temp CAB files?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Erase CAB files with a dedicated tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For erasing masses of CAB files, look for comprehensive disk cleanup utilities<\/a> for Windows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With such tools, users can quickly clear the Temp folder and other build-ups and unnecessary files. These include numerous handy system maintenance tools, like repairing PCs\u2019 registries with registry cleaners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Manually delete CAB files<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Press Windows<\/kbd> + E<\/kbd> to open File Explorer<\/em>, paste the following path in the address bar, and then hit Enter<\/kbd>:C:\\Windows\\Temp<\/strong><\/code>\"path\"<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Locate the CAB<\/em> file(s), right-click on it, and select Delete<\/strong>.\"delete<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Click Yes<\/strong> in the confirmation prompt.\"delete\"<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you have just a handful of these, you can always manually delete the Windows temp CAB files from File Explorer<\/em> in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Set up a batch file to delete CAB and LOG files<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Press Windows<\/kbd> + S<\/kbd> to open the Search<\/em> menu, type Notepad<\/strong> in the text field, and click on the relevant search result.\"notepad\"<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Now, press Ctrl<\/kbd> + C<\/kbd> to copy the following code, and then use Ctrl<\/kbd> + V<\/kbd> to paste it into Notepad<\/em>.@echo off<\/strong><\/code> runas>nul<\/strong><\/code> echo Removing archives Temp...<\/strong><\/code> del \/f C:WindowsTemp*.*<\/strong><\/code> echo Fixing Windows!!!<\/strong><\/code> del \/f C:WindowsLogsCBS*.log<\/strong><\/code> echo Done!<\/strong><\/code> pause<\/strong><\/code>\"batch<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Once done, click on the File<\/em> menu, and choose Save<\/strong>.\"save<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Navigate to the desired location, enter Delete CAB files.bat<\/strong> as the File name<\/em>, select All files<\/strong> from the Save as type<\/em> dropdown menu, and click Save<\/strong>.\"delete<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Finally, right-click on the newly created BAT<\/em> file, select Run as administrator<\/strong>, and click Yes<\/em> in the prompt.\"run<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. It will now delete all the CAB<\/em> file(s).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      4. Delete via Command Prompt and fix the compressor bug<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Press Windows<\/kbd> + R<\/kbd> to open Run<\/em>, type cmd<\/strong>, and hit Ctrl<\/kbd> + Shift<\/kbd> + Enter<\/kbd>.\"command<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Click Yes<\/strong> in the UAC<\/em> prompt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Now, paste the following commands individually and hit Enter<\/kbd> after each:
        net stop wuauserv<\/strong><\/code> cd %systemroot%<\/strong><\/code> <\/strong>rename<\/strong><\/code> SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old<\/strong><\/code> rmdir \/q \/s c:windowstemp<\/strong><\/code> net stop trustedinstaller<\/strong><\/code> c:<\/strong><\/code> cd c:windowslogsCBS<\/strong><\/code> del *.cab<\/strong><\/code> del *.log<\/strong><\/code> rem regenerate cab files<\/strong><\/code> c:windowssystem32wuauclt.exe \/detectnow<\/strong><\/code> net start wuauserv<\/strong><\/code> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        While this is one way to delete the Windows temp CAB files, you can also manually perform the same operation to fix the compressor bug by disabling the related services, renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder, and then deleting the files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        5. Turn on Storage Sense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Press Windows<\/kbd> + I<\/kbd> to open Settings<\/em>, and click on Storage<\/strong> on the right in the System<\/em> tab.\"storage\"<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Click on Storage Sense<\/strong>.\"storage<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Enable the toggle to turn on Storage Sense<\/em>.\"enable<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Now, configure the feature settings and cleaning frequency. Also, you could click on the Run Storage Sense now<\/strong> button at the bottom to launch a scan right away.\"run<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Storage Sense is a built-in Windows utility that allows users to automatically run periodic scans and clear the temporary files on the PC, including the Windows temp CAB files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          6. Check out PRTG Network Monitor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          PRTG Network Monitor is ideal for users who need to monitor CAB files accumulating on server PCs within network environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You can use this powerful software to create an alert that notifies you if a server that hosts an Additional Polling Engine slows down and sets the node warning level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          This will ensure you will always know in time if the CAB files will accumulate in the Temp Folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          PRTG is a freely available network-monitoring software. That software incorporates VMware, printer, database, and website monitoring components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Paessler PRTG also includes WMI Free Disk Space and Folder sensor monitors. Those components enable users to set up sensors that monitor whole disk drives or folders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Folder sensor monitoring can come in handy for monitoring CAB file accumulation in the Temp folder and that folder\u2019s overall size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Other useful PRTG Network Monitor features<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n