Windows 7: Hidden folders - can I delete them

Dear Forum,

I recently learnt that you can see the folders that stay on your computer and impair the speed that it uses to process - for say start up.

I recently cut and pasted these folders - some were folders - some were just .bmp or .gif's from My Pictures to my Hard drive which is external.

Is it alright to delete the following folders - I am not too sure on folders like thumbs - when you don't know - I have opted not to touch.

I think that is what is wrong with my Hard Drive as I think I changed the sharing properties and then all of sudden it did not work. Keeps asking me to format it. Never done it before.

I am not too sure as I have some great work that I have created on the hard drive - I am a bit upset at myself if I created the problem by downloading programs for my mobile that are required on another computer and created a mess.

Thank you

Can't say that I understand you here. Which of these folders do you want to delete? If you're worried about deleting any of them , then don't. Nothing on the page shown will slow down your start-up. If you still want to delete things, then make a restore point/backup, and go to town!

I have already moved them - does that matter - will be a lot to undo.

How do you do a restore point?

Those folders are not something from Windows itself. If they are empty I see no reason why you cannot delete them.

I will keep them deleted. I am not too sure what to delete and what not to delete.

Perhaps a good idea to back up - I have a general idea of how to. It is that the reference to a database when I was deleting alerted me and I got very worried.

My hard drive is currently playing up and very unstable.

How do you back up and create a restore point?

System Restore Point - Create

This will set you up a restore point.

Backup User and System Files

This is how to backup.

Welcome to the forums btw....... where are my manners today?

Instead of copy/paste, have you did this? Much faster/easier imho.

Context Menu - Add Copy To Folder and Move To Folder

And just how is your hdd acting up?

If I were you, I would not touch those folder. But if you want to play with them, make an image first so that you can backtrack. Imaging with free Macrium

PS: Note that restore points are not very reliable and can disappear for all kinds of reasons. Images are safe.