What Folders Should You Never Delete?
When it comes to maintaining your computer, it’s essential to ensure that you’re deleting folders and files that are not necessary or redundant. Doing so can help free up space on your hard drive, improve your computer’s performance, and reduce errors. However, there are certain folders that you should never delete, as doing so can cause significant harm to your computer’s integrity and functionality.
Never Delete These Folders on Windows
Here are the folders that you should always avoid deleting on Windows operating systems:
- Windows folder: This folder is the core of your operating system, and deleting it can cause your computer to become unstable or even crash. The Windows folder contains files and settings that are used by the operating system itself, including system files, registry settings, and others.
- Program files folder: This folder is where your installed programs, including system files, plugins, and other components. Deleting this folder can affect the functionality of your system and the programs installed, leading to errors and crash.
- WinSxS folder: This folder is used for Windows Component Store, contains files for Windows features (like.NET Framework 3.5, XP Mode, etc.) and updating. It doesn’t matter if you already have these features installed. Deleting this folder can be disastrous for your system, as it will lose knowledge of which features are actually installed, and Windows has no way to restore data from backup.
- System32 folder: This folder contains system files and commands that are used by your operating system. Deleting this folder can cause your system to become unstable or crash.
Other Folders That Should Be Avoided:
In addition to these critical system folders, there are other folders that you may want to avoid deleting entirely:
- System Configuration folder: This folder is used to store system preferences and settings. Deleting these files can cause your operating system to become unstable, and it may require additional steps to restore your previous settings.
- Network folder: This folder stores network-related files and information. Deleting this folder may cause your network connections and settings to become unstable and may require additional steps to restore your network configuration.
What Can Happen If You Delete These Folders?
If you delete these critical folders accidentally or intentionally, you can expect a range of severe consequences, including:
• System instability: Many system functions may stop working, leading to errors and crashes.
• Missing files and settings: Deletes files and settings that Windows needs to function properly can cause missing files and unable to open programs.
• Inability to load programs: Deleting the system files and registry settings folder can cause programs to start failing or unable to download.
• Data Loss: Losing system files from the System32 folder you may lose data stored temporarily in RAM.
• System Failure: Deleting windows folder and other critical, your computer may not operate properly or at all leading to complete system failure (BSOD).
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Deleting Folders:
When deleting folders, take care to avoid these mistakes:
- Deleting critical folders: Never delete folders unless you are absolutely sure about the contents and the harm it can cause.
- Deleting files without scanning: Before deleting files and folders, always scan their contents to ensure you haven’t deleted anything important accidentally.
- Deleting necessary files: Be careful with files you delete, there may be files you unintentionally deleted that you depend on, like the registry information.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it is essential to be cautious about deleting folders on your Windows computer. While it may sometimes be necessary to delete data to free up space and improve performance, there are certain folders that you must never delete. These crucial folders are essential for Windows to function properly, so it is crucial to proceed with caution and ensure any deletions are intentional rather than accidental.