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23rd May 2018, 06:50 PM #1
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Program Files and Program Files (x86) with duplicate pgms
Specs:
Win 10, Office 16, Toshiba Laptop fairly high spec, 2 years old.
On this machine I have always had a Program Files and a Program Files (x86) folder. I do not understand the need for both, and furthermore there are a number of programs that are in both folders, which seems somewhat unnecessary and space wasting.
Here is a screen capture of the contents of both:
Pgm files.jpg
Programs that are duplicated (but with differing dates of modification) are:
Common Files
CyberLink
Intel
Intel Corporation
Internet Explorer
Logitech
MSBuild
PDF Architect 4
PDF Architect 5
Realtek
Reference Assemblies
TOSHIBA
Windows Defender
Windows Mail
Windows Media Player
Windows Multimedia Platform
windows nt
Windows Photo Viewer
Windows Portable Devices
Windows PowerShell
So, firstly, why are there two Program Files folders,
and second can I delete the older of the two duplicates safely? I imagine that uninstalling would be tricky because that software won't know which one I mean.
Thirdly, there is also a fair bit of pre-installed software like Spotify which I don't use - I imagine if I uninstall that then I can reinstall from their website if I ever decide to use it?
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23rd May 2018, 07:08 PM #2
Dances with splinters
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Typically, 64bit versions of SW go into Program Files and 32-bit (which is a misnomer, but let's not go there) go into the (x86) dir.
So a new install can add subdirs to both folders if the download installed both verions.
It's not really that cut'n'dried, but this is the simple 'lies for children' version of it.
- Andy Mc
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23rd May 2018, 07:14 PM #3
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Thanks Andy.
So if there are both installed do I need them both? Surely the 64bit version would suffice? But then how do I uninstall the 32bit version or can I just simplt delete it from the x86 folder?
I don't really need to save the space, but I prefer the least clutter possible on the C drive (a bit like my shed
)
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23rd May 2018, 07:24 PM #4
Dances with splinters
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I wouldn't go deleting directories willy-nilly... Common Files, for example, is a system directory. Part of the OS.
But for ones which you know are for programs that you installed yourself, eg. let's say Cyberlink was created in both folders after you installed a DVD player then I'd do a comparison of both directories and make sure they're essentially the same. Then delete the x86 version.
Sometimes only some files are present in both folder structures and the x64 bit uses the libraries/dlls from the x86 version. Or vice versa. Then deleting the wrong folder will result in the need for a fresh install.
It's a messy system... but what do you expect from MS?
- Andy Mc
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