Are these Folders Necessary or can I delete.

Hello fellow members,
In my workings with Windows 7, I have come across a few folders that have been created by the system or and installation, they are all locked and are a number/letter combination type name. The first contains a copy of iesetup.exe dated 2/8/2009. The second contains an MPsigStub.exe dated 5/21/10, the third has an amd64 folder that shows up as empty, I didn't have show hidden files on. The fourth has another iesetup.exe same date, ie8.msu same date, a .dll same date and a eula.rtf dated 2/12/09. I do not believe that they are required but I have been wrong enough times to ask more learned and experienced people about it. May I safely delete them?
Thanks for any assistance.
glennc

Best approach would be to back them up to a separate folder on an external drive, then delete them from the hdd. If all runs well say for a week or so, you can delete the backup, if things start messing up, just restore those files/folders.

How much hard drive space are these folders taking up? Are you really short on drive space? Just ask yourself, why do you want to delete these folders - do you need to squeeze out every last GB, or you're simply annoyed by their presence?

I usually choose to keep these things alone, even though I am almost sure they are not needed at all. I think they might be needed if you wanted to repair the installation, but even if you delete them, you'll still be OK, just use some other source for them.

unifex said:

How much hard drive space are these folders taking up? Are you really short on drive space? Just ask yourself, why do you want to delete these folders - do you need to squeeze out every last GB, or you're simply annoyed by their presence?

I usually choose to keep these things alone, even though I am almost sure they are not needed at all. I think they might be needed if you wanted to repair the installation, but even if you delete them, you'll still be OK, just use some other source for them.

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Hello unifex,
Mainly they just annoy me. I do not care for stuff being put on my computer and left there. I have IE8 but mostly don't use it, preferring the FFs. They are not in my backups. So maybe I'll just sit on them or try Bill2's suggestion. Thank you Sir.
glennc

Bill2 said:

Best approach would be to back them up to a separate folder on an external drive, then delete them from the hdd. If all runs well say for a week or so, you can delete the backup, if things start messing up, just restore those files/folders.

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Howdy Bill2,
That sounds like a good safe approach. Don't know that I care that much about them. Like I said, it is just annoying. Thanks for your reply.
glennc

Howdy again,
This may be helpful. I failed to mention that these files are on my backup drive, not my system drive. I also checked about MPsigStub.exe and it is probably depending on where you read it a necessary file for Windows defender or MSE. It is supposed to reside in the C:\Window\System32 folder. I checked and it is hidden there. I have put all the folders mentioned on the backup drive and copied them into another folder, not leaving them in place. We'll wait and see.
glennc

I usually just rename them as a test. I add old to the end of the folder or file name and just leave them where they are. If windows doesn't self destruct after a week or so then I delete them.

Personally I take the approach "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Better than "If it ain't broke, keep fixing it till it is" IMHO, of course!

mitchell65 said:

Personally I take the approach "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Better than "If it ain't broke, keep fixing it till it is" IMHO, of course!

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But where's the fun in that?





But seriously, thats probably pretty good advice.

alphanumeric said:

I usually just rename them as a test. I add old to the end of the folder or file name and just leave them where they are. If windows doesn't self destruct after a week or so then I delete them.

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Howdy alphanumeric,
That is a good idea also. I'd have tried it but did a previous version of a storage was used first. Thanks for the reply.
glennc

mitchell65 said:

Personally I take the approach "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
Better than "If it ain't broke, keep fixing it till it is" IMHO, of course!

Click to expand...

Hello mitchell65,
What a safe and healthy approach. Though I am unable to comply usually. Call it rage against the machine or whatever. I loose often. That is one reason I rely on the intelligent membership, a number of times. Usually it is it that strikes first and I must defend myself. My computer and I have a Non-Violence pact, in case of all out conflict!!
Thank you Sir as usual, for your good advice.
glennc