Two Program files X86 on same drive

[petrox]

Hi all, I need some guidance please. Because of a restoration of my Computer the shop did the restore on my machine. I now have two program X86 folders on my D: drive. First it is on D: Program files X86 the Second one is within that same folder also called Program files X86. The first ( and the usual ) has 124 GB and the second one has 83 GB of data. Can I copy the second one onto the first and then delete the second redundant one? Prior to the restoration I only ever had one program X86 folder on any of my Hard drives as it should be. There would be some duplication's as both list many of the same programs. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Regards Peter

 

[samuria]

Is there any folders duplicated if so some could be an old version so copying could stop something working

 

[petrox]

Thank you samuria, yes many are duplicated. I just don't understand the necessity of having a X86 folder listing programs within the main X86 folder of the D: drive. Regards Peter

 

[torchwood]

Hi Peter,
Thats actually not good
There gonna be competing against each other

On the main drive (C usually), you should have program files (32bit install), and if its 64bit an additional program file (x64)
And yes programs would be duplicated on both

D is usually set up as a data drive.

Can i ask why you sent it to the repair shop ??

If it was mine, i would copy my personal data to a USB and CLEAN install.

Roy

 

[RolandJS]

If one has recent, current, known-good full images of the OS and the data partitions on external media, one might be able to remove d-drive version of program files (x86) - and not have any problems. In the past, I even "surgically" used an Auslogics and a Wise utility to finish the job. I don't know if System Restore Points and/or registry backup copies will be enough - if problems occur after d-drive pf86 removal.

 

[petrox]

Hi torchwood and RolandJS, thank you for the help. The reason for the shop was a failed motherboard. So I thought to have a new box built with new M/b and cpu as well as ram and new case but retaining the old internal Hard drives,C: D: and E:. D: and E: contain programs and games. I had everything backed up to external drive via E-Sata drive G:. Had retail version of Win7 HP 64 bit.The Computer came back to me with only the recycle bin on the desktop. No other Icons with all my programs. I was told the backed up versions, via Acronis, would not work on the new install as the hardware was different. What a disappointment. So the shops technician created a folder called C:data shortcut and another folder named Peter. The C: data shortcut has many if not all my programs in it. In my many years of Computing I have never seen these two folder Icons before. So now I have two Program file X 86 within the same folder which has never happened before either. I need a way out of this mess. Regards Peter

 

[torchwood]

Hi Peter,

Thank goodness for your G back-up -- update it please.

I believe things are only gonna get worse, (been looking back at your other recent posts)

posted below is a link for
W7 Home premium SP1 X64 English.
Suggest you perform a clean install-- UNPLUG all of your other drives until its completed

https://software-download.microsoft.com/pr/Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso?t=892fb484-e899-4241-aa9e-35e36947893d&e=1491048562&h=265d0d22b4f6c938d00d3471e019f019

Roy

 

[iko22]

Hello Petrox, before you do a complete clean install, you may wish to check the file permissions of each program file <x86> folder, which you have now discovered.

Check, have the two folders been issued with identical file permissions? Are the two folders identical in every other respect (your comments noted)?

To find the folders permissions:

Select folder by right-mouse clicking on the folder icon, select properties from drop down list, click on the security tab, and then check the security permissions for each user group.​

You may find one of the program directories subfolders is copied across from the other directory. Otherwise, maybe the system "lost" the original directory, and re-created default entries on next re-boot.

 

[petrox]

Thank you Roy and iko22, please note that the duplication of the Program files X86 only happens on the D: drive. I checked for file permissions on several of the programs and they are the same. For now everything is working OK. I tried to delete one game program from one of the X86 folder and it deleted them both. Not good. I just restored it from the recycle bin. So for now I will keep watching to see how the Computer behaves. Thank you all very much for the help and the heave duty thinking. Regards Peter

 

[petrox]

Hi torchwood and ico22, further to my earlier post would a repair install of win 7 64 bit restore the mess on D:\ drive? The two Program files (X86) folders? Please note the the OS is on the C:drive which has no problems. Using the Back up Of D: would not resolve the issue as the back up has the two Program files on it . I tried moving the Program File to another drive thinking of deleting the smaller of the two and then only re-installing the bigger one back onto D: but lost my nerve and cancelled the operation which said it would take nine hours to complete the transfer. Regards Peter

 

[iko22]

Hello Peter.

If you have checked the file permissions and, as you say, they display the same in each duplicate folder, then I would happily confess that I know not the answer to your question.
If your files were found in the recycle bin, then they have been deleted and not moved or copied from one folder to the next.
So, how would you go about removing one program in such a way that it removed two program?

 

[petrox]

Hi iko22, I don't know either. Thank you for your help. As the Computer is working good I will just leave it alone and keep watching. The ghost in the machine I will let it rest. Regards Peter