I have reviewed the Similar questions suggested after creating my post Title and none are direct or helpful just for my needs.
In Windows 10 Pro, v1909, build 18363.1316 clean installed in Nov. 2019 I am cleaning up files preparing to do deep file maintenance before doing a system image, all in preparation for Windows Update Feature to version 20H2.
I always manually empty Temp folders, but never found this one before today. I believe this could be impactful for overall system performance and stability. It doesn't appear to be indexed. Space used is minimal at 11.2MB and only 37 file BUT 19,709 folders! This cannot be good.
It's a temp folder and should be safe to delete, but popular opinions in other similar posts on the WinSxS directory warn of instability tampering with it. I posit that should not include the Temp folder, but am looking for advice and previous experience to affirm my opinion.
I have viewed considerable search results including a lot of dated TechNet, MS Community and others and read reports that file reporting may be inaccurate in WinSxS. Only one of the three Temp subfolders is not empty, Temp\Inflight, which has sub-folders. There are 141 most of which are empty as well with a handful only holding the balance of the thousands of other folders.
I can find no descriptive reasoning for leaving the Temp folder itself alone. I found many suggestions on using DISM and MS Safety Scanner broadly in relation to the WinSxS folder. I will run those with the suggested options to see what if any difference in the Temp contents but do not expect it to significantly alter the results.
Ultimately I may proceed without deleting the Temp contents but not without doing everything possible to determine the why and what of it. I am doing the work while in production so to speak, hoping in the next few days I can receive some feedback to help me decide the best course of action. "Leave it alone just to be safe" without evidence is not a good enough answer.
Added thought, since the three main sub-folders seem purposed, what if I left them alone in Temp and just delete the contents of Inflight which is the only one with any contents?
TIA for any time and effort contributing.
