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Solved: What are these weird files on my drive?

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Sief9, Oct 2, 2008.

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  1. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    On my C Drive there's all these weird folders with just random names. Is it OK to delete them?

    Picture:
    [​IMG]

    ----------------------------------------

    Also I just noticed now, there's a file on my C Drive titled "pagefile.sys" I saw it on WinRAR (It doesn't show on explorer) It's taking up about 2GB.

    What is it? Can I delete it? And if I can, how can I delete it?

    Picture:
    [​IMG]
    ----------------------------------------

    Computer Specs:
    * System:

    • Microsoft Windows XP
    • Professional
    • Version 2002
    • Service Pack 3
    * Computer:

    • Intel(R)
    • Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
    • 2.79 GHz, 2.00 GB of RAM

    ​
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #1
  3. DoubleHelix

    DoubleHelix Banned

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    They're left-overs from various Windows Updates. It's usually safe to delete them.
     
    DoubleHelix, Oct 2, 2008
    #2
  4. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    Oh alright, but what happens if anything goes wrong? But what's the worst that can happen if I delete them?

    And also I just edited my topic, can you take a look at my problem there?
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #3
  5. valis

    valis Moderator

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    pagefile.sys is your swap drive. You can mange the size of that if you wish, but I woudn't recommend deleting it.
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
    #4
  6. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    Swap drive? Umm, okay whatever that is. :confused: And alright I'll just leave it there.
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
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  7. valis

    valis Moderator

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    it's your pagefile, swap file, whatever you wish to call it. When ram is full, the OS allocates x amount of space on the hd to write to; that's what it's there for.

    page file.

    You can change the settings manually, but it's generally easier to just let the system manage it. Technically, it's supposed to be ~ 1.5 times your ram size, or in that vicinity.
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
    #6
  8. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    Oh I think I understand, so basically it's 2GB cause I have 2GB of RAM, correct?

    So I just read the wiki article, I'm kind of understanding it. :p But for now I guess I'll just let windows handle it. Thanks for the help!
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #7
  9. valis

    valis Moderator

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    de nada. sorta what we're here for....:)
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
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  10. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    :) well I think that sums up my problem, those files are leftover from Windows Update, and the weird 2GB file I shouldn't touch. :D Thanks everyone!
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #9
  11. valis

    valis Moderator

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    glad to help. What was the end you were hoping to achieve? Cleaning up disk space? There's a good little app called ATF (All Temp Files) that you can d/l at majorgeeks.com that will get rid of all the kludge windows leaves laying around. If you do a lot of work in word or adobe this program is essential; if you don't, it's still nice to clean up a a gig or so monthly.
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
    #10
  12. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    Yeah that's exactly what I was trying to achieve. :p I lost like 15GB after formatting my windows, so I was wondering where it all went. (I formatted last week).

    And I haven't gotten around to it, but I need to install 4 different adobe programs that I use (Photoshop, flash, aftereffects and dreamweaver) so I'll look up that app, if I can find it on the site. :confused: There's like 100 different programs on that site.
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #11
  13. valis

    valis Moderator

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    here ya go....:)

    Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
    This program is for XP and Windows 2000 only

    • Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
      Under Main choose: Select All
      Click the Empty Selected button.
    If you use Firefox browser
    • Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
      Click the Empty Selected button.
      NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
    If you use Opera browser
    • Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
      Click the Empty Selected button.
      NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
    Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.
    For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the bottom of each menu.
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
    #12
  14. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    Alright I got it, thanks! It's a small program that doesn't require like, installing it and stuff (I hate it when I have to install something fully with the wizard and such, and it's only a 1MB file).

    It cleared up 100MB! Yay! (I already do the temp cleaning manually. :p)

    Thanks a lot!
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #13
  15. valis

    valis Moderator

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    de nada....there's a zillion files out there for stuff like that...:)

    just beware; NEVER use a registry cleaner. Never. It's not worth the hassle, and the registry doesn't take up that much space anyhow.

    How did you lose 15 gigs after reinstalling?
     
    valis, Oct 2, 2008
    #14
  16. Sief9

    Sief9 Thread Starter

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    I've always been using registry cleaner, there's a registry cleaner on BitDefender that I've been using for the past week.

    And how did I loose 15GB? That's what I should be asking! :p Me and my brother always save our music/videos on the D Drive we have. And 5GB went to Windows, 2 to Program Files, and 5 to Document and Settings.

    The other 3GB are just scattered around in the other folders. I formatted the computer, basically to clean it up from a couple viruses and mess ups on it. So I brought all the files I needed back on. It's not like I started from scratch again. ;)
     
    Sief9, Oct 2, 2008
    #15

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