jassalmithu Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 1. c:\windows\system32\dllcache\NOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES INSIDE! This folderuses a LOT of hard drive space, it holds a backup of every system filethat windows uses. Deleting this will cause a SFC error when youreplace a system file instead of windows putting back the originalfile. For people who want to mod there system, this is a good thing.2. c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\NOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES INSIDE! This folderonly exists if you installed a service pack on XP, if you did aslipstream it won’t be here either. This folder is the same as thedllcache, but has the new files that were updated by a service pack.If you delete the dllcache, deleting this is just like finishing thejob.3. c:\windows\$Uninstall----$ These $uninstall----$ folders are used whenever you want touninstall a windows update. If you delete them, you can notuninstall the update(s), but if the updates are working finefor you, there should be now reason to remove them.4. c:\windows\cursors\This folder contains some custom cursers for windows, ifyou are happy with the default cursers, or use your ownset like Blue Curve, then deleting this wont effect youat all.5. c:\windows\driver cache\i386\NOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES INSIDE!This is one you may not want to delete, this takes up a bitof space (about 80mb) but windows uses if you ever add orremove windows components and things like printer drivers.If you’re your hardware is already working fine, you don’tneed this folder on your hard drive. For example, if youdelete this folder, and try to install IIS, windows willask for the CD or Network share with the files on it, ifyou don’t need to add or remove windows components often,deleting this will free up some space for you.6. c:\windows\help\NOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES IN SIDE!This folder contains all of the windows help files. If youare like me, and think they having 50mb of help files is awaste, then you probably want to delete it. If you deletethis folder and try to view a help file, the Help and Supportcenter will come up with a 404 error. No harm is done, youjust can’t view the help files (because you deleted them…).There is also a tours folder inside of the help folder, youcan delete everything in this folder also, but windows won’tlet you remove the actual folder.7. c:\windows\inf\NOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES INSIDE! This folder contains a lot of windows drivers, if you ever add new hardware, windows looks in this folder, then on your CD drive for the latest drivers. Any hardware you might get will probably come with the drivers on a disk, so this folder is just a wasting space on your hard drive with outdated drivers. If all of your hardware is working fine, and you don’t plan on adding any new hardware for a while, deleting this wont effect your system at all. If you don’t want to delete everything in it, you can go into the folder, press CRTL+F and search for mdm*.* and delete everything that comes up. These are all modem drivers, and it is very unlikely you will ever need them because you either have a modem installed already, or if you do add one, it will come with newer drivers.8. c:\windows\srchasstThis folder is the XP Search assistant, if you delete it, windows will just use the classic 2k style search instead, which is more functional and easier to use.WARNING: Some people have reported problems with this, and have not been able to search, try this at your own risk!!!9. c:\windows\downloaded installations\This folder holds the installers for some programs you download and install, for example, Tweak UI puts its installer in this folder, and so you can repair it or update its components later. Deleting this folder won’t harm any programs I have ever seen, but you should look inside this and see what you are deleting first.10. c:\windows\media\These are the default windows sounds, if you don’t want them, deleting them wont hurt anything.11. c:\windows\system32\restore\This is the system restore apps, if you delete this, system restore will no longer work. Before you delete this, you should go into System Restore, and delete all your restore points, and then you should go to the system properties and disable system restore. After that, you can delete this folder, and not worry about system restore slowing down your system or sucking up space.12. c:\windows\system32\usmt\This folder is the File and Settings Transfer wizard. If you have no need for it, then deleting this wont have any other effects besides the File and Settings Transfer wizard not working anymore.13 A. c:\program files\msn13 B. c:\program files\netmeeting\These are the MSN Explorer and Net Meeting applications. If you don’t need or use them, then you can delete these folders (For net meeting, you can only delete the files inside) and the only thing it will effect is that these programs will know longer work.14. C:\windows\system32\oobeNOTE: DON’T DELETE THIS FOLDER, JUST ALL THE FILES INSIDE! In this folder is the Out of Box Experience (The screens you see right after you have installed XP for the first time), and the XP Product Activation stuff. If you have a Retail or OEM version of XP, and you think you might ever need to activate again, DON’T DELETE THIS. So unless you are using XP or 2k3 CORP, you may still need this folder someday.15. c:\windows\msagentThis folder holds the MS Agent program. The MS Agent is a gay little wizard thing that looks like the Office Assistant, I personally hate this thing, and removing it will get rid of it for good! If windows wont let you remove the folder, just delete everything inside of it, and everything inside of the intl folder.16. c:\windows\javaThis is the crappy MS Java components that don’t work well, and MS got sued over. If you have Windows XP slipstreamed with SP1a you wont have this because MS no longer distributes it. If you use websites that use Java Applets, you should keep this, or remove it and install Suns Java VM.17. c:\windows\muiThis is a little app that allows you to switch between multiple languages, if you only use one language, then deleting this wont effect you at all. NOTE: I think this folder only exists on XP Pro because Home Edition doesn’t support multiple languages.Post Deletion:After you have deleted everything you want to, I recommend you run the Regisrty Cleaner from jvPowerTools ( http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16 ). This will remove all the references to things you deleted so a window doesn’t look for the files any more. If you delete the Java Folder, RegCleaner will find at least 50 reg entries related to it, and can remove them for you if you want.DO POST YOYR RESULTS?It will gr8ly help me to enhance this guide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxxxkies Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 cool.. I'll try this one tonight.. thanks.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prathapml Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 DO POST YOUR RESULTS?It will gr8ly help me to enhance this guideDo you have any automated method to do all this?Because, you can guess what happens when you need to do the above for 75 machines as fast as possible!:hint: :hint: nLite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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