Several GBs of language files should @$#! well be safe to delete

lastusername · 21 Jul 2013

I've poked around Win 7 and find several GBs of language files for 37+ languages I will never use. They were still there even long after I ran lpksetup to remove language packs. They *have* to be safe to delete; what use could Windows ever find for them since I will never be using anything other than English nor will anyone else using the system? Plenty of them in winsxs and other places. Several GBs! And, no, they are not links to files elsewhere.

I want my GBs back. I want every malware scan and defrag I ever do in the future not to have to go through several extra GBs and 1000s of unnecessary files. And guess what, I even deleted the many video, audio, cursor, screensaver, wallpaper, and non-install-related log files inthe Windows directory *gasp*. Because they were safe to delete in WinXP and should @$#! well be safe to delete in Win 7. My system has not imploded yet.

So finally, would it really be so wrong to delete those GBs of crappy other language files? Or will I be struck by lightning for my heresy?

gregrocker · 23 Jul 2013

These normally sit in Optional Windows Updates on Pro/Ultimate editions, until you either install one or hide them. How were they all installed in the first place?

bobafetthotmail · 24 Jul 2013

Could happen if you used a slipstreamed install media, I don't see how a normal install would dump all those language files in there as there is only one language in the original installation disks.

Point is, non-Ultimate versions cannot use those files anyway so it makes no sense to have them on the installation disk and in your hard drive. I would check with the maker what else was slipstreamed, as it does not look like a thing done by a pro. You might have other crap like a ton of useless drivers.

And seriously, you deleted themes and wallpapers to free some space? I mean it's less than half a GB on a drive that is likely more than 500 GB.

lastusername · 24 Jul 2013

My laptop came with all this preinstalled. Thanks a lot ASUS! Yes, I removed the themes, wallpapers,etc and want to remove the language files because I'm decrappifying my new PC. Since everything I can find online about slimming down Win7 involves making a new install image with crap removed, I can't use it as my stuff came preinstalled. So all I've had to work with is a slim down guide for Win XP. There's got to be something out there I can use for Win 7. I can't be the only one removing preinstalled bloatware.

bobafetthotmail · 24 Jul 2013

gregrocker's sig contains links to tutorials about decrapifying windows 7. Above the image.

I recommend the clean OEM reinstall. As long as you have the license sticker with the license key and don't care about other programs that came with your laptop (the only worthy ones are Office versions, harvest their license keys before reinstalling so you can install and activate them again afterwards), that's the best and fastest way to decrapify it.

gregrocker · 24 Jul 2013

You'll never get factory preinstalled Win7 cleaned up to enjoy native Win7 perfect performance unless you do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

This gives you a perfect install, if you stick with the tools and methods given. Factory preinstalled Win7 is the worst possible install.