Is File Important?

How can I tell if a file is important? I'm currently deleteing all the junk from my computer and I have files in C:/ which I don't recognise. They should be hidden i think as they are slightly transparent. Should I delete them or is there and easy way to find out if they are important?

Without actually just deleting them and hoping for the best preferably :P

Thanks for any help,
Matt

Deleting them and hoping for the best isn't a good policy. :)

Personally, I don't worry too much about such files - unless they look a bit dodgy - as they're unlikely to be using up a large amount of disk space. However, if you really want to clean things up, your best bet is to Google the file names and see what you can find out, I reckon.

Ok thanks, I think I'll just leave them for the time being.

Google is your friend.

Use a clean-up tool, don't just randomly delete stuff.

You should kinda just know this already, if you're a coder.

as a general rule for manual deleting, don't delete any files found in the "C:" and "windows" folders.

then in "program files" you will want to avoid deleting microsoft folders like "accessories", "internet explorer" etc. as well as your graphics card and modem names folders.

also, check if the program is in "add remove programs" or has an uninstall file first.

There are a bunch of important operating system files hidden in your C:\, and deleting them will make windows unbootable... so be very careful.

(e.g. 'ntldr' and boot.ini are crucial, never delete these)

When in doubt, google.

If I found myself in a state where I was actually deleting stuff on my HD for the sake of clearing disk-space, I'd just go ahead, back up all my saved stuff, and just format the dang drive.

Nice having an OS that boots up in 10sec, before it turns back into a 1min+ affair after you reinstall all your stuff.

Well in my case I think I have some kind of computer version of OCD.



I found out a few years ago how important ntldr was.

Backup. Format. Reinstal

Big Magnets are your friend.

Or just backup the files you want to delete before deleting, so you can put them back in case something goes wrong. In winxp, you can make a system restore point.

Except deleting certain files can prevent windows from booting altogether -- having a restore point won't do you a whole lot of good if you can't get to it.

You still need to be careful.

A long time ago i told my friend (with win98) that under c:\ path there some important files that may not be deleted and the next day he complained about booting problems. He told me that he had created a new folder named "do not delete" and moved those files to that path :P

*falls over*

www.powermagnetstore.com - These are great fun! :)

Dabz

P.S. semi-pitch for a mates webstore, but they are fun! lol