Cleaning out Factory Data

What out of this screenshot

http://plaza.ufl.edu/riceboy5/ss.JPG

would be safe to delete? (particularly the ones I've hidden)

Also, if I use partition magic and split my drive in half, will I still be able to use the Rescue and Recovery console in DOS?

Thanks for the help guys

 

Nope, best not to mess with hidden files. Could be something useful...

 

Actually I hid them myself, they were just regular folders but I thought that might make it more clear for the question.

I was going to burn them to a DVD just in case I need it and delete it from the HD. I just don't want to get into the situation in which the computer won't boot after I delete those files.

Those files take 2+GB!!

 

better not mess with something that doesn't need to be deleted just to be on the safe side

 

I agree. 2GB I know, but they could be important system files that make the notebook run . Or could be bloatware. The IBM I have has all these programs which I dont use but just keep, because I have no clue what the heck they are.

Though on my other notebooks I do a quick clean install and get rid of every single bloatware. Delete them but first turn on system restore and make a recovery point. After deleting them leave them in the Recycle Bin, then restart. If it restarts you are all set to empty the recycle bin, of if you get tons of errors in XP, just restore them. That way you will know if they are important or not.

 

Wow I never thought of that. Great idea!! I will try that!!

I know I shouldn't touch it, but im really picky about keeping only useful files on my computer. I guess its a pet-peeve

 

Go for it. I have done so before and always worked with me.

Let me know how it goes.

 

I got everything off safely except I386. I didn't try it because after looking into the folder, it *seemed* important. Is only 400mb. I guess I'll just live with it on there.

Thanks for the help aero

 

no problem

you know rep is always a nice way to thank people

btw I just did some quick reading and came to the conclusion that do NOT delete the I386 folder, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I386. They are files that IBM installs for your processor.

 

Those are all the IBM thinkpad utilities and some third party software which personally i find very useful and alone worth the price. You can delete them if you must but you can get a 6CD pack from IBM for about $50 (inc tax and ship) that contains all these utilities, but you'll have to give them a good reason to get these CDs since they dont ship them with the laptops anymore and keep them in a separate place in the HDD just incase you want to restore your thinkpad due to virus etc.

I upgraded my HDD and they sent me the 6 pack CD with all the factory software so for me it was worth it as i can re install all the factory software anytime. If you have a CD burner then you can make all the factory software on 6 CDs without paying thinkpad for it.

 

I totally forgot about the rep system. + rep for you

Good thing I didn't delete that folder. Thanks for providing that info though.

I just burned those drivers and utitlities to a dvd. Its nice and safe now

 

heh thanks for the rep.

Yup good. Keep that DVD safe .

If you need anything just PM me,

 

I cleaned up everything - including the hidden partition.

If you make the backup CD's (I seem to remember it's in the original Access IBM folder when you first do a factory install of Windows) - 6 or 7 of them - then you are safe. If anything should go wrong, what the backup CD's do is restore the HDD in its factory shipping state i.e hidden system partition and XP pre-install. So if anything goes wrong after you have partitioned your HDD, when you restore the IBM backup, you will lose all the partitions and the HDD will return in its original factory configuration (like new though ). Cleaning up the HDD can easily give you back 6-7 GB that way.

As a sidenote, once you have done a fresh reinstall and everything is working and you have repartitioned the HDD and removed the hidden IBM partition, I strongly suggest you use an HDD recovery software like Acronis or even Ghost to make an image of your partitions - that way in the event of a disaster, you need only restore the partition in question and it will take you only a few minutes. In fact you may even want to Acronis your HDD in different stages e.g. first clean XP install, then progressive software add-ons, that way you can go back to a particular state - and all these images can be burnt to a DVD to save HD room! This has the added advantage that shoudl you wish to upgrade your HDD say 100GB instead of 40GB, you do not need to install anything but just recover the partition from the image - clean fast windows boot up and all in 15 minutes! Voilà!

As for i386, I moved it to a different folder in a different partition. In fact on my previous T42 I just burnt it to a CD which I never even used. These are Windows install files (in this case probably specific for your IBM e.g. to include T or R original basic drivers) and you may occasionally need them if for example you need to install a new language set but otherwise expect very little use once you are done with your XP/SP2 install. Also you may want to move the DRIVERS folder too - these are one-time use drivers and are not accessed again after the drivers are updates.

Hope that helps. BTW I am awfully nitpicky too and I hate having rubbish on my HDD. Although I must admit that I deleted the wrong things in the past - so what can I say... I'm glad if somebody can learn from my experience

 

linkypoo
Well written guide to creating a slipstream CD and having a safe and clutter free XP experience.

 

How did you move the i386 folder? I thought it was critical for use. You mean that it won't prevent windows from functioning?

 

No you can safely move it too. I copy it to another drive and then delete it from the C:\Windows directory. And if you are installing anything and Windows asks you where whatever file is, you redirect it towards that folder. Trust me, it works.

JP