WinXP, What is Safe to Delete?

[gbread49]

I recently helped my daughter upgrade to WinXP. (I'm a die-hard Win98SE user, but on the verge of upgrading myself). After a couple days of tinkering, I think I have most of it figured out, the layout, etc......

The one thing I do find a bit confusing is the layout of Windows Explorer, the duplication of numerous folders in the directory structure. I've always been one that trys to keep an orderly and clean system, deleting what isn't needed, temp files, "junk" folders, etc......

So, if anyone could provide some insight on what is safe to delete or what folders are safe to clean up in WinXP Windows Explorer, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

Thanks.......

i havn't worked with win98se since win2kb3, but the difference isn't that big! all user profiles are located in "c:\"Documents and Settings, in here you have the usual>> temp, cookies, start menu, desktop, all mailboxes, internet settings etc.

winXP is my favorite until this date, bouth in stabillaty and possibilities!

if you havn't got a legal version, dont download sp1!!!!

[yousuf]

I havent got the legal version and i have service crack 1 its fin (although i do regret upgrading cause ive got a few problems now)

[Blurry]

geez, wish Windows would do away with Docs and Settings or just move it or just allow users to hide it... waste of time to look at it...oh well, not that big of a deal

[Blurry]

(hidden) c:\pagefile.sys (1,024,000 kilobytes) - that's a gig almost!

any info on this?

[netsurf]

i have been using win xp for a long while now, and mine is not a legal version, and i was able to change keys to get the sp1 installed. it has been working just fine. i use my xp system to do video editing, no complain here.

to blury: for the pagefile, there is a way to delete it, but windows will re-generate it. paging file is a place in your HD that acts like RAM, it uses your HD space. i am not at my xp system at the moment to tell you more details, but if you would like to know more about it and how to delete it, please visit the KB of microsft.com. i usually go there to find some answers if i am confused on something.

to gbread49: it's kind of hard to tell you what safe to delete. you said you upgraded to win xp, hmm, this is kind of tough, if it were my case, i would just go through each folder and see, i would know what i'd need to keep, but if you have duplicated files/folders, as you said, maybe just delete those duplications? (upgrading is tough to me because unless being asked, i don't like doing upgrade, especially from win98/ME to winXP)
:computer:

[gbread49]

Thanks for the input netsurf...... Its been awhile and I've pretty much got XP figured out, I think......*L*

As far as the "pagefile.sys" file in the root directory. This is the same as the old "swap file" in previous Windows versions. Though you can disable this in the Control Panel, it is not recommended. However, you can adjust the settings of the pagefile to maximize the performance of your system.

[x-doomer]

I will pick up any questions you have on installing, removing, deleting Windows XP(unless the computer you are installing it on cannot handle XP, I insist you keep XP. Ask, I will answer why).

The best way to get around files that will not delete, would be to boot with your Windows XP cd,(make sure your cdrom is bootable and it is set to in your bios) and go to the first prompt for repair. That will drop you to the windows nt\2000\xp console. You will be asked to chose the the installation, by default press 1 then enter. You will be prompted for a password, that the original password you set as the administrator or when you installed windows the first time (unless you bought Home edition, then no password, i think.. it's been a while. )

Then you can browse and or copy the folder you want. If you just need to reinstall and do not need any of that info, then boot with the cd and remove the partition. There will be prompts to do that, follow them carefully. It should ask you for , to chose the partition, then you can delete it, then create a new one and you are on your way. If you really need to backup all the files, and you want to reinstall a clean copy of Windows( what i really suggest to do in the first place) to another source of media or another hard drive.

If the folders are asking for rights to those folders when trying to move them, you will need more help to do this. I am willing to help you out! I did support for Microsoft, i should be able to answer pretty much any questions on that subject.

If you want to update to sp1 (make sure you need it) i can also help!!!

I don't claim i know it all, but i am sure i can help!!!!

X-Doomer

Originally posted by gbread49
I recently helped my daughter upgrade to WinXP. (I'm a die-hard Win98SE user, but on the verge of upgrading myself). After a couple days of tinkering, I think I have most of it figured out, the layout, etc......

The one thing I do find a bit confusing is the layout of Windows Explorer, the duplication of numerous folders in the directory structure. I've always been one that trys to keep an orderly and clean system, deleting what isn't needed, temp files, "junk" folders, etc......

So, if anyone could provide some insight on what is safe to delete or what folders are safe to clean up in WinXP Windows Explorer, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

Thanks.......

[x-doomer]

This is the memory file Windows uses to compliment your ram. You don't absolutely need it, but some applications will want to use it. Try it and see, if you see games or apps crashing you can change it what you want. I recommend at least the same size as the ram installed in your machine.

Your ram will determine if you need one, you should have at least 256MB ram, to set it to zero

If you want to delete it or not use one:
Start
Settings or not
Control Panel
System
Click on Advanced
Settings button in Performance, Advanced tab
Hit Change on the bottom
Put a dot in Custom and set bot fields to 0

Ok all and restart, the file should be gone!

If it's not, just delete it manually.

Originally posted by blury
(hidden) c:\pagefile.sys (1,024,000 kilobytes) - that's a gig almost!

any info on this?

[x-doomer]

This is part of the Windows NT security. Unless big structural changes occur in the next Windows OS, don't expect that to change quite yet.

X-Doomer

I don't claim to know it all, but i am sure i can help.

Originally posted by blury
geez, wish Windows would do away with Docs and Settings or just move it or just allow users to hide it... waste of time to look at it...oh well, not that big of a deal

[x-doomer]

If your system is unstable, one thing comes to my mind : Drivers.

Look in Device Manager and look at the hardware you have, then look on the manufacturers websites for updated drivers. One good piece of advice, don't use the drives listed on Windows Update, they are usually outdated by the time they are posted on the MS site. Just go the the manufacturers, they should know better than anybody else about their own hardware.

X-Doomer

I don't claim to know it all, but i am sure i can help!

Originally posted by yousuf
I havent got the legal version and i have service crack 1 its fin (although i do regret upgrading cause ive got a few problems now)

[Blurry]

Thank you x-doomer

Well, I can't delete (nor will I continue trying) pagefile.sys because it is used as part of a running process. I have over 256 MB's of RAM, and I never did use any of those Performance settings...but it really doesn't bother me.

Glad to have you here @ TheCows...

[gbread49]

Hi x-doomer......

Any help or assistance you can offer to the herd is greatly appreciated.......

...and Welcome to UTC.......