Large files in wamp\bin\mysql\mysql5.5.24\data directory
1 - what is creating these files?


Those files are called binary logs. They contain a list of all completed SQL statements you have executed. Your mysqld process created them and autorotates at 1GB. Any restart of mysqld or issuing FLUSH LOGS; will close one binary log and open another 

They got created because there is a line in my.ini that looks like this:

log-bin=mysql-bin


Note the timestamps on each file


mysql-bin.000068 has 10/31/2012 2:13 PM
mysql-bin.000069 has 11/1/2012 11:13 AM
mysql-bin.000070 has 11/5/2012 11:51 AM
mysql-bin.000071 has 11/9/2012 11:50 AM
mysql-bin.000072 has 11/13/2012 11:13 AM
mysql-bin.000073 has 11/16/2012 12:05 AM


Here is what has been going


On 10/31/2012 at 2:13 PM

mysql-bin.000068 surpassed 1GB (1048576 KB)
mysql-bin.000068 closed
mysql-bin.000069 opened

On 11/1/2012 at 11:13 AM

mysql-bin.000069 closed due to mysql restart or FLUSH LOGS;
mysql-bin.000070 opened

On 11/5/2012 at 11:51 AM

mysql-bin.000070 closed due to mysql restart or FLUSH LOGS;
mysql-bin.000071 opened

On 11/9/2012 at 11:50 AM

mysql-bin.000071 surpassed 1GB (1048576 KB)
mysql-bin.000071 closed
mysql-bin.000072 opened

On 11/13/2012 at 11:13 AM

mysql-bin.000072 closed due to mysql restart or FLUSH LOGS;
mysql-bin.000073 opened

On 11/16/2012 at 12:05 AM

mysql-bin.000073 surpassed 1GB (1048576 KB)
mysql-bin.000073 closed
mysql-bin.000074 opened



By the way, the reason it autorotates at 1GB? The default setting max-binlog-size is 1GB.


  2 - can I delete them to reclaim drive space?


As long as you do not have mysql replication installed, then yes.

First login to mysql and run

mysql&gt; RESET MASTER;


This will erase all binary logs and leave you with mysql-bin.000001 with 107 bytes.

Next, if you comment it out like this

#log-bin=mysql-bin


and restart the mysqld process

C:\&gt; net stop mysql
C:\&gt; net start mysql


The logs will no longer be written.

As a final step, you can then delete mysql-bin.000001 from Windows Explorer.

Give it a Try !!!