How big is your windows folder?


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so far, i do believe that i'm winning :D

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~as243599/Images/windoze.png

if that pic turns into a red x, my windows folder is 610MB (588MB = size on disk), and i'm using xp pro w/sp1

Nice :p

What else did you delete?

everything that you did (though i kept IE for windowsupdate.com), except i also got rid of the ServicePackFiles folder (it's all backups), all the old C:\Windows\Installer info (i don't install much that i don't intend to keep) and i routinely go through and flush out about 75% of the *.log files on C:

gotta be careful with the .log files though - some are pretty important. most just get re-created as needed, though.

if you want something that'll help in your trimming-down pursuits, google for SequoiaView - it gives a graphical view of what's on your HD. it definitely helps you see what is taking up the most space, like this:

so far, i do believe that i'm winning :D

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~as243599/Images/windoze.png

if that pic turns into a red x, my windows folder is 610MB (588MB = size on disk), and i'm using xp pro w/sp1

Nice :p

What else did you delete?

everything that you did (though i kept IE for windowsupdate.com), except i also got rid of the ServicePackFiles folder (it's all backups), all the old C:\Windows\Installer info (i don't install much that i don't intend to keep) and i routinely go through and flush out about 75% of the *.log files on C:

gotta be careful with the .log files though - some are pretty important. most just get re-created as needed, though.

if you want something that'll help in your trimming-down pursuits, google for SequoiaView - it gives a graphical view of what's on your HD. it definitely helps you see what is taking up the most space, like this:

I have gone thruogh all the log files and dont have a servicepackfiles folder because this is a slipstreamed install :p

that sequia view is one cool program. down to 719 also...any ideas with the inf files? or files from programs i dont have anymore, what should i look for?

btw, ive noticed my computers running quite a bit faster :D

Yeah, that program is nice, I am going to keep it :p

I have also noticed my computer being faster, with less files to keep track of, windows works better :p

that sequia view is one cool program. down to 719 also...any ideas with the inf files? or files from programs i dont have anymore, what should i look for?

btw, ive noticed my computers running quite a bit faster :D

you can get rid of the entire c:\windows\inf folder, if you don't add hardware very often.

personally, i don't upgrade very often, so i just deleted the entire folder. if you do that, though, have your xp cd ready whenever you add some new components.

After deleting dllcache.

I restarted the PC.

Then Windows needed a re-activation.

After that I discovered that the dllcache folder is rebuilt. :blink: :blink:

don't delete the dllcache folder

just the content of it, and files will be returning to it

Can someone post a list of the "safe-to-kill" folders identified so far?

if you're able to disable WFP (windows file protection), you can delete all this stuff:

*cut and pasted from another forum i moderate*

here's what i wipe out (but keep backed up on cd):

c:\windows\cursors\

c:\windows\downloaded installations\

c:\windows\driver cache\i386\

c:\windows\help\

c:\windows\inf\

c:\windows\installer\

c:\windows\media\

c:\windows\registeredpackages\

c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\

c:\windows\system32\dllcache\

c:\windows\system32\reinstallbackups\

c:\windows\system32\restore\

c:\windows\system32\usmt\

c:\program files\msn

c:\program files\netmeeting\

c:\windows\$Uninstall----$

the $uninstall----$ folders are used whenever you want to uninstall a windows update. i don't see any point in keeping them.

also, go through the start menu and find things you don't want (stuff in the Accessories folder) - find the programs those shortcuts link to and delete as necessary.

notes:

1) keep the directories - just delete/move the files inside

2) do this after you've installed *all* hardware, including webcams and virtual cd-rom drives, and updated all service packs/ updates.

i find little things here and there, but that's normally the stuff i go through and wipe out right after a fresh install.

Can someone post a list of the "safe-to-kill" folders identified so far?

if you're able to disable WFP (windows file protection), you can delete all this stuff:

*cut and pasted from another forum i moderate*

here's what i wipe out (but keep backed up on cd):

c:\windows\cursors\

c:\windows\downloaded installations\

c:\windows\driver cache\i386\

c:\windows\help\

c:\windows\inf\

c:\windows\installer\

c:\windows\media\

c:\windows\registeredpackages\

c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\

c:\windows\system32\dllcache\

c:\windows\system32\reinstallbackups\

c:\windows\system32\restore\

c:\windows\system32\usmt\

c:\program files\msn

c:\program files\netmeeting\

c:\windows\$Uninstall----$

the $uninstall----$ folders are used whenever you want to uninstall a windows update. i don't see any point in keeping them.

also, go through the start menu and find things you don't want (stuff in the Accessories folder) - find the programs those shortcuts link to and delete as necessary.

notes:

1) keep the directories - just delete/move the files inside

2) do this after you've installed *all* hardware, including webcams and virtual cd-rom drives, and updated all service packs/ updates.

i find little things here and there, but that's normally the stuff i go through and wipe out right after a fresh install.

Cool, that is about all that I deleted, but I left most of the INF stuff and the drive cache :p

just look inside them - if it looks like something critical to your computer (ie, lists of hardware, etc), leave it

inside the catroot2 folder, you'll see some called edb000001.log, edb000002.log, and they'll probably be exactly 5MB each - you can zap those, because they're just taking up space and will get recreated when they're needed

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