TJ McCaustland Posted December 8, 2015 Posted December 8, 2015 So I know that the x86 files are basically a where all your files on your computer are kept. Now lets say we have a folder with an application in it that runs off of PhysX for example, Would deletion of that folder from x86 also count as complete deletion from your computer of the application and the PhysX script or would the PhysX script be kept?
Strange Posted December 8, 2015 Posted December 8, 2015 What are "x86 files"? What is "PhysX"? But apart from that, in most operating systems when a file is deleted all that happens is that the link to it is removed from the directory and the blocks on disk made available for reuse. Until they are reused, the data is still there to be recovered. (Which is why file recovery programs work.) You can get secure delete programs which will unlink the file and then overwrite the data on disk. But are you asking about uninstalling a program? In that case there is data stored all over the place, including the Windows registry. So there will still be traces of it left around even if you delete the installation directory. This is why most programs come with an uninstall mechanism.
TJ McCaustland Posted December 8, 2015 Author Posted December 8, 2015 What are "x86 files"? What is "PhysX"? But apart from that, in most operating systems when a file is deleted all that happens is that the link to it is removed from the directory and the blocks on disk made available for reuse. Until they are reused, the data is still there to be recovered. (Which is why file recovery programs work.) You can get secure delete programs which will unlink the file and then overwrite the data on disk. But are you asking about uninstalling a program? In that case there is data stored all over the place, including the Windows registry. So there will still be traces of it left around even if you delete the installation directory. This is why most programs come with an uninstall mechanism. X86 files is the file grouping of "My PC" where all of your applications/general data is stored. At least on windows.
fiveworlds Posted December 8, 2015 Posted December 8, 2015 x86 file grouping only applies to windows 64-bit it specifies that files within that folder should run in 32-bit compatibility mode.
Strange Posted December 8, 2015 Posted December 8, 2015 X86 files is the file grouping of "My PC" where all of your applications/general data is stored. At least on windows. Oh, you mean the directory "C:\Program Files (x86)". Data should not be stored there, only (32 bit) applications.
DevilSolution Posted December 8, 2015 Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) Depends if you sent it to the recycle bin Also as others have mentioned, its related to 64bit compatibility so if you've deleted some graphics files for a program that runs in 32 bit compatibility mode, chances are yes. Otherwise non. Quite alot does get installed there, Most my programs are. Edited December 8, 2015 by DevilSolution
TJ McCaustland Posted December 10, 2015 Author Posted December 10, 2015 Depends if you sent it to the recycle bin Also as others have mentioned, its related to 64bit compatibility so if you've deleted some graphics files for a program that runs in 32 bit compatibility mode, chances are yes. Otherwise non. Quite alot does get installed there, Most my programs are. Well that's what I was getting at, you see I'd like to set up a file grouping bypass that uses a different directory than x86 to possibly speed up an old computer of mine.
Strange Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 Well that's what I was getting at, you see I'd like to set up a file grouping bypass that uses a different directory than x86 to possibly speed up an old computer of mine. Why would using a different directory speed it up? A few things you could try to speed it up: Reinstall windows (and all your applications) from scratch. With older versions of Windows, this can speed things up. Buy more memory. Replace the hard disk with an SSD Switch to Linux. 1
TJ McCaustland Posted December 10, 2015 Author Posted December 10, 2015 Why would using a different directory speed it up? A few things you could try to speed it up: Reinstall windows (and all your applications) from scratch. With older versions of Windows, this can speed things up. Buy more memory. Replace the hard disk with an SSD Switch to Linux. Guess that could work, I just thought of using a different directory to avoid a highly cluttered x86 directory which I have no desire to clean up, and I don't really want to scrap ALL my data, but I guess I can put my data I want to save on an EHD and then do that.
Strange Posted December 10, 2015 Posted December 10, 2015 Guess that could work, I just thought of using a different directory to avoid a highly cluttered x86 directory which I have no desire to clean up, and I don't really want to scrap ALL my data, but I guess I can put my data I want to save on an EHD and then do that. The number of files and directories in a directory won't (directly) make any difference to performance. Unless you want to search the directory, which is why Windows indexes commonly searched directories (like "My Documents"). I can't really think of much need to search the program files directory.
MigL Posted December 11, 2015 Posted December 11, 2015 The files in your x86 directory are for your installed 32 bit programs. The files in your x64 directory are for your installed 64 bit programs. If you RUN 'msconfig' and click the start-up tab, it will tell you which of those programs are set to autorun at start-up. An excessive amount of unused programs autorunning at start-up will cause long boot-up times. All others have to be opened when already in Windows to run, and so will not slow down your start-up. ( you can also see autorunning programs in the start-up tab of task manager, but they can only be stopped from there, not disabled )
Sensei Posted December 16, 2015 Posted December 16, 2015 (edited) I wrote app that was downloading stuff from net, and was writing these files to single folder, few hundred thousand files. Going to that folder is equal to making a tea (and waiting for water for boiling etc.) and drinking it.. Explorer.exe was exhausted.. Have to wait 15+ minutes on Core i7 to update. I doubt that author of this thread has problem with hundred thousand files. So the most likely his problems with speed of computer are not co related with quantity of files in the folder. Why would using a different directory speed it up? A few things you could try to speed it up: Reinstall windows (and all your applications) from scratch. With older versions of Windows, this can speed things up. Buy more memory. Replace the hard disk with an SSD Switch to Linux. I would add to this list, buying regular HDD for $50-$70 and installing system there. It does not have to be SSD (these are more expensive). It always helps. At least for few months. Get 1 TB HDD at least, must be 7200 RPM http://www.ebay.com/sch/Internal-Hard-Disk-Drives-/56083/i.html You need at least 4 GB ram for comfortable work though. Edited December 16, 2015 by Sensei
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