| Windows 7: Can I delete folders from Program Files(x86) ? |
21 Jul 2010
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#1 | | |
Can I delete folders from Program Files(x86) ? I have Windows 7 Home basic 64 Bit OS.
I have lots of applications installed, out of which every applications folders
are stored on both Program files and Program files (X86) Folder.
I am not going to use 32 bit OS in future.
So can I delete folders from Program files (x86) Folder directly ?
(Its shows in Add/Remove Programs too..)
(Because It shows in All Programs menu @ start up and
it consuming space on Hard disk and All programs ) | My System Specs |
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21 Jul 2010
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#2 | | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CT |
They should be removed from the control panel. In addition, for the best removal you should use the revno uninstall tool. http://www.revouninstaller.com/
You want to be sure that no remnants remain, this could cause problems. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, clean install, upgrade disc CPU Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech Motherboard Dell Memory 6 gb Graphics Card ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650 Sound Card Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio Monitor(s) Displays Dell SP2009W 20" Keyboard Dell USB Keyboard Mouse Dell Premium Optical USB Cooling Fan Hard Drives 640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive Internet Speed DSL 2.85 |
21 Jul 2010
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#3 | | Windows 7 x64 Ultimate A Finnish immigrant in Leipzig, Germany |
Please don't do that! That's not how these two different Program Files folders work.
In an x64 system, Windows creates two program folders: in Program Files are stored native, real 64-bit applications, Program Files (x86) stores the programs that aren't native 64-bit.
For instance most users use standard 32-bit web browsers. IE8 and Firefox have 64-bit versions available, but mostly because Flash player don't yet support 64-bit, when you download and install a browser it's by default 32-bit. In my x64 system, I've installed Lunascape, Firefox and Opera browsers, all are located in Program Files (x86) folder, none of them have a folder in Program Files.
Please excuse me, but I doubt you have exactly the same subfolders in both Program Files folders. That's not how it works. Check again, and you'll notice some programs are to be found in Program Files, some others in Program Files (x86). Only a few programs create folders on both locations. An example is MsOffice which can have a subfolder in both folders, but if you check the content of these two Microsoft Office folders, you'll notice they are different.
To uninstall programs and applications, use the programs own uninstall application, or rather an uninstaller as Control Panel > Programs and Features and Revo Uninstaller. Do not uninstall by deleting a program folder.
Kari | My System Specs | | Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number HP ENVY 17-1150eg OS Windows 7 x64 Ultimate CPU 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor Memory 6 GB Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics Sound Card Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer Monitor(s) Displays 17" laptop display, 22" LCD and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI Screen Resolution 1600*900, 1680*1050 and 1920*1080 Keyboard Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth) Mouse Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth) Hard Drives Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media Internet Speed 50/10 Mbps VDSL Antivirus MSE, Windows Defender Browser Maxthon 3.5.2. Other Info Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Full in English, additional Guest-user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish (Working languages English & Swedish, Family language German, my own language, mother tongue, Finnish. I really need Ultimate to get to use Language Packs!) |
21 Jul 2010
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#4 | | Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86 |
The dual structure is by design. Having 32-bit programs installed to the "Program files (x86)" folder eliminates the risk of having both 32-bit and 64-bit installs of the same program present, and their installation files creating conflicts and/or performance problems.
Some programs install both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, so I suggest you leave the structure as it is.
If, on your machine, both folders are almost duplicates (Have you compared sizes?), it mean that most of the apps you have installed install both platform versions. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Too many to describe... OS Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86 |
21 Jul 2010
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#5 | | |
I am confused about the way it is designed ...
What the necessity to design two diffrent folders ? ( I know the 32-bit and 64-bit stuff)
I have anther question too ...
whether 64 bit programs are compatible on XP ?
If yes then Why Windows 7 have made two diffrent folders Why?.... dont they manage like XP ? | My System Specs | | |
21 Jul 2010
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#6 | | Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit SP 1 |
You can, but you may not | My System Specs | | Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Self Assembled OS Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit SP 1 CPU Intel Core i3 2120 @ 3.30GHz Motherboard Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. H61M-DS2 DVI Memory Corsair 2GB x2 (Single-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz) Graphics Card 2047MB GeForce GTS 450 (ZOTAC International) Sound Card Onboard (Realtek High Definition Audio) Monitor(s) Displays LG Flatron E2040T Screen Resolution 1600x900 Keyboard Logitech MK220 Mouse Logitech MK220 PSU uMAX 750 watt. Case iBall Cooling Air/ Fans Hard Drives Western Digital 1 TB
Seagate 500 GB Internet Speed BSNL Broadband Antivirus Microsoft Security Essentials Browser Waterfox Other Info Dell Studio 15" Laptop |
21 Jul 2010
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#7 | | |
That's just the way it was intended. You're better off leaving it be the way it is.
If you are running x64 XP, then x64 programs would be compatable.
As for it managing like XP did... Of course it's different, x86 was the norm in XP. It's now 10 years later, and technology advances. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Toshiba P300 OS Windows 8 Pro CPU Intel Centrino Dual Core P7450 2.13GHz Memory 4gb Graphics Card ATI Mobility Raedon HD3650 Hard Drives Toshiba MK3252GSX ATA Internet Speed Wish it were faster |
21 Jul 2010
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#8 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 Philadelphia, PA |

Quote: Originally Posted by nilesh1foru I am confused about the way it is designed ...
What the necessity to design two diffrent folders ? ( I know the 32-bit and 64-bit stuff)
I have anther question too ...
whether 64 bit programs are compatible on XP ?
If yes then Why Windows 7 have made two diffrent folders Why?.... dont they manage like XP ? The two folders are meant to separate out the native x64 apps versus the ones that are x86, but still compatible. You say you know the 32 bit and 64 bit stuff, so that means you are aware that just because an app is compatible with the x64 OS, doesn't mean it is a native x64 app. Those folders are meant to show you the difference, and I always let the app install to whichever of the two if picks by default.
As for your second question, yes x64 apps can be compatible with XP...as long as you are running Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
These two folders shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, considering they've been used for 6-7 years now, or longer. XP x64 used them, and so did all versions of Vista x64. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 CPU Intel Core i7-2600 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3 Memory 12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333 Graphics Card Nvidia GTX 470 Monitor(s) Displays Dell UltraSharp 2209WA PSU OCZ ModStream 700W Case CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced Cooling CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus Hard Drives OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS |
09 Mar 2013
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#9 | | |
Fix 100% Guys that files in program files(x86) is a part of system and it cant be deleted if you wanna to that dont see go to right click on program files (x86) and firs down HIDE then apply wait 2 minutes there s nothing
WARRNING:that you do is just hide folder if you delete direc os are killed!! | My System Specs | | Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Samsung OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Memory 2 gb Graphics Card AMD anthol Antivirus Norton Browser Google |
11 Mar 2013
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#10 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 Philadelphia, PA |
As a helpful hint, Hellper, don't post in a thread that's over 2 and a half years old, unless there's some new, groundbreaking advice that needs to be stated. It's called necroposting, and it's generally frowned upon on most boards. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 CPU Intel Core i7-2600 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3 Memory 12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333 Graphics Card Nvidia GTX 470 Monitor(s) Displays Dell UltraSharp 2209WA PSU OCZ ModStream 700W Case CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced Cooling CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus Hard Drives OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS Can I delete folders from Program Files(x86) ? problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:26 PM. | |