Super TWiT Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Okay, so let me start off by saying that windows is not my primary operating system. I have used linux for the past 5 years. However, before that I used windows, and I still use windows occasionally for applications that need it, so I know and understand the basics, although they may be a little rusty. Anyway, I was asked to help manage the computers at my school. They run XP. So, I am going along updating programs, and such, when the school director complains to me about all the junk files left on the root-level of the C drive. I agreed. They looked to be temporary files that some installer left there a long time ago, so I deleted most every file and folder on the root level of the C drive but the WINDOWS, Documents and Settings, and Programs folders. I figured that therese werent important, as these obviously weren't personal files, and I figured that programs and drivers should be in the Programs or WINDOWS folder. Well, I did this until I got an error saying that the file "filterpipelineprintproc.dll" was in use and couldn't be deleted. I immediately paniced, realizing that this was not just some temporary file, but perhaps an important system file! I ceased deleting any more files, but I wonder if I am too late. How do I know I didn't delete anything important? The computer seems to be just fine, but just for added pressure, this computer is to be imaged for cloning to other identical systems, so if I screw it up here, my mistake gets amplified everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Welcome to the forum.First thing you need to do is a full backup of that system, before you delete anything!Next I wonder: how did you think that dll files were temporary files? Perhpas you can give us a list (or screenshot) of these files in the root folder? (I agree that there shouldn't be too many (visible) files in the C: root.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super TWiT Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 OK I think I am good, at least in this case, since that file is left over from a .net update. And yeah, I didn't see hidden files and folders. I unfortuneatly don't have accesss to the computers now, so I can't post anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Try CCleaner http://www.piriform....wnload/standard if you leave all the settings as they are it will clean out the temp files and has never given me any problems.You get offered Google chrome so untic the boxes and I don't let it go in my start menu as this will probably slow down the start up process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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