Program Files

[A.Rodriguez]

I was wondering what the folder common files is for? It
is located at C:\Program Files\Common Files. It appears
to be storing files for programs I no longer used. Can
any of this be deleted? If so, how?

 

[Robert Mitchell [MSFT]]

Hello,

A number of applications use Program Files\Common Files. You can not safely
remove this directory.
--
Robert Mitchell
Windows NT4&2000 MCSE
Microsoft Enterprise Support

Search our Knowledge Base at http://support.microsoft.com/directory
Visit the Windows 2000 Homepage at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
See the Windows NT Homepage at http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/

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[A. Rodriguez]

Thanks for the reply. Can you let me know where I might
get specific info. about this file?

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks for the reply. Can you let me know where I might
get specific info. about this file?

It's a folder. The numerous subfolders are placed by various software
packages. In general, they contain files that are used by more than one
program from that same company. Instead of writing the file multiple times
in each program's folder, it is written once in a Common Files subfolder.

While you may find a folder here for some program that was uninstalled long
ago, it's possible that another program is still referencing files from the
location. Also, folder names that are seemingly unrelated may in fact have
their contents used regularly. That's why you're seeing the cautions to
leave this area alone.