Hidden Files- Computer Question

[Amy Sweet]

When I use photo gallery to edit my photos it creates 'hidden files' 2 for each one. It also creates them when I delete a file or when I scan. Does anyone know the reason/purpose for this, are these hidden files harmful and is deleting them ok. If I uses a file for a screensaver and don't delete the hidden files, they show up as distorted versions of my good pics. Plus they seem to take up unneccessary space.

Who has answers? (he, he, I know...)

 

[tolyk]

When I use photo gallery to edit my photos it creates 'hidden files' 2 for each one. It also creates them when I delete a file or when I scan. Does anyone know the reason/purpose for this, are these hidden files harmful and is deleting them ok. If I uses a file for a screensaver and don't delete the hidden files, they show up as distorted versions of my good pics. Plus they seem to take up unneccessary space.

Who has answers? (he, he, I know...)

I've never used the program in question but it sounds to me like it is saving temp files, and then they aren't getting removed. So, in my opinion you can delete them.

I have a program that would do the same thing, i nfact it's my scanner program. The hidden files are a distorted version of the original, no clue what it's used for, but they don't seem to require them at all.

 

[Amy Sweet]

I've never used the program in question but it sounds to me like it is saving temp files, and then they aren't getting removed. So, in my opinion you can delete them.

I have a program that would do the same thing, i nfact it's my scanner program. The hidden files are a distorted version of the original, no clue what it's used for, but they don't seem to require them at all.

Yes, I get it when I scan too.

Thanks, tolyk. I feel a bit better. Mabe it's a government conspiracy so that when we think we've deleated out secrets, they can still be dug up.

 

[Weird Harold]

Yes, I get it when I scan too.

What kind of filenames do they have?

Any file that starts with "~" or ends with ".tmp" is a temporary file left behind when a program doesn't close properly and can be deleted safely -- once the progrm that created them is closed. If the progrm is still open, it might still be using them and may have them locked so you can't delete them.

From the description, It sounds like you need more memory so the program doesn't need to use it's own virtual memory files.