EAV 4.0.474 - TEMP & OLD Files - Why kept?

I have noticed that suddenly my system disk's free space is reduced by about 40mb and after a day or so it (may) come back to what it was - until it happens again - and so on.

I managed to pinpoint the reason to two NOD32 files, almost equal in size ~20mb each that keep 'coming and going'...

These files are:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles\temp\em002_32.dat

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles\oldfiles\en002_32.dat

I wonder:
1. What is the purpose of these files?
2. Why are they not cleared after each signature update?
3. Is it safe to delete them manually?

Please inform/advise.
Thanks

 

i think they are part of normal operation and i wouldn't remove them unless facing issues like
http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2134

 

Do not delete these files unless you are instructed to do so for troubleshooting purposes.

 

Thank you both for your replies.
I won't delete the files but I am still wondering why NOD32 does not clear them, given the 'temp' and 'old' nature of the two files. They are cleared eventually in a day or two, only to reappear soon afterwards. They take a sizeable chunk of C: (40mb) and would be handy if they were cleared by the system. Unless they serve some specific purpose in which case I wonder what that is?...

 

I think those are old versions of program modules that were updated and it keeps the old copy around for a while in case it needs to roll back or the install fails.

 

Could we please have an ESET Moderator look at this thread since I or others do not want to advise the OP to do a manual uninstall, as it is likely not needed.