Reappearing Program Files Folder

[Wilford]

I recently installed a fresh copy of windows XP home today, and I am
trying to clean out all the crap I don't want on the pc. Some stuff
that I tried to get off will not go away,and I have tried many things
to get rid of them. I have tried going into safe mode and deleteing
them, but they keep reappearing, I have tried to rename them, but the
original folder just reappears. I cannot delete them through regular
mode, since it says it's being used by something, yet nothing I know of
is using them. Even though I removed them through add/remove prgms>
add/remove windows components, they keep appearing. I've tried going
through msconfig, and nothing seems to allow me to delete them.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of these folders for good?



They are the following:
C:\Program Files\microsoft frontpage
C:\Program Files\movie maker
C:\Program Files\msn gaming zone
C:\Program Files\netmeeting
C:\Program Files\outlook express
C:\Program Files\xerox

I have none of these programs running, and the folders are all empty,
except for maybe one empty folder within.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Those are Windows XP system folders. They are part
of the operating system and cannot be removed.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I recently installed a fresh copy of windows XP home today, and I am
| trying to clean out all the crap I don't want on the pc. Some stuff
| that I tried to get off will not go away,and I have tried many things
| to get rid of them. I have tried going into safe mode and deleteing
| them, but they keep reappearing, I have tried to rename them, but the
| original folder just reappears. I cannot delete them through regular
| mode, since it says it's being used by something, yet nothing I know of
| is using them. Even though I removed them through add/remove prgms>
| add/remove windows components, they keep appearing. I've tried going
| through msconfig, and nothing seems to allow me to delete them.
|
| Can anyone tell me how to get rid of these folders for good?
|
|
|
| They are the following:
| C:\Program Files\microsoft frontpage
| C:\Program Files\movie maker
| C:\Program Files\msn gaming zone
| C:\Program Files\netmeeting
| C:\Program Files\outlook express
| C:\Program Files\xerox
|
| I have none of these programs running, and the folders are all empty,
| except for maybe one empty folder within.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

What is "them"?

I suspect this is not a fresh install, but rather a dirty one - either a
dirty one or a repair. In either case, doing this does not resolve problems
caused by other programs, but I suspect you know that now.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Richard Urban]

You are trying to delete system protected files. If you could do it, so
could some hijacker who takes over your computer. Leave them alone!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Oh, I see the folders you listed now - for some reason the original post did
not display fully. Those are all default folders that are part of the WinXP
installation and are considered protected system folders. You cannot remove
them, nor does having them cause any issues regardless of whether or not you
use them.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[NoStop]

Those are Windows XP system folders. They are part
of the operating system and cannot be removed.

But as the OP said, they can be empty? Makes alot of sense. Then again,
ehem, it is Windoze after all.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I recently installed a fresh copy of windows XP home today, and I am
trying to clean out all the crap I don't want on the pc. Some stuff
that I tried to get off will not go away,and I have tried many
things to get rid of them. I have tried going into safe mode and
deleteing them, but they keep reappearing, I have tried to rename
them, but the original folder just reappears. I cannot delete them
through regular mode, since it says it's being used by something,
yet nothing I know of is using them. Even though I removed them
through add/remove prgms> add/remove windows components, they keep
appearing. I've tried going through msconfig, and nothing seems to
allow me to delete them.

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of these folders for good?



They are the following:
C:\Program Files\microsoft frontpage
C:\Program Files\movie maker
C:\Program Files\msn gaming zone
C:\Program Files\netmeeting
C:\Program Files\outlook express
C:\Program Files\xerox

I have none of these programs running, and the folders are all
empty, except for maybe one empty folder within.

http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2004/11/16/258220.aspx

However - I guess you *could* delete them - *if* you turned off Windows File
Protection.. Which I am *NOT* recommending.

 

[Guest]

Your contribution = zero

 

[Talahasee]

But as the OP said, they can be empty? Makes alot of sense.

It DOES make sense. Are you more concerned with HOW Windows
XP works? Or are you more concerned with THAT it works?

I don't particularly care HOW it works; I care that when I
need to do something, Windows XP gets the job done.

And-- as a non-technical person-- I am guessing that the
"empty folders" are used for TEMPORARY storage, when the
system has to put 500 mb of something "here" BRIEFLY, and
then move it someplace ELSE.

I have gone looking for a file and found probably
half-a-dozen empty folders. I have thought to myself, "Oh!
That's where Windows puts the stuff!"

No problem! I even tested the theory by attempting to
delete the folder. Couldn't.


Then again,

ehem, it is Windoze after all.

Set up your Mac or your Linux so that
1 it does ALL the same stuff my PC with XP PRO does,
and
2 make it easy enough to put together that I can build it
myself, from the generic parts
(which I've done the last half-dozen times I've "bought new
computers")

and then come and tell me.

Good luck!


Tallahassee

 

[PopS]

You are trying to delete system protected files. If you could
do it, so could some hijacker who takes over your computer.
Leave them alone!

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you
knew!

Hmm, and I was just saying to myself, "Self, why -shouldn't- I be
able to delete them if I want to?" But, I'll buy that; good
point!

I ass-u-me it's OK for those folders to contain no files though?
I think the OP claimed they were empty folders! No, not gonna
test it to find out<g>!

Pop

 

[Richard Urban]

Those folders are on hundreds of millions of computers without causing any
problems. Only those who are clean freaks have a problem with them.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[NoStop]

Your contribution = zero

Then we're tied.