What are all of those strange files in my Root Directory? Can they be deleted?

If you look in the root dirctory (C:\) on a computer that runs Windows 95 or Windows 98, you will run across a lot of strange files. There are some files in your root directory that are just taking up room and make things look complicated. However, there are other files that are essential for the operation of Windows. Even the files that can be removed must be done so in the correct way, or trouble can result. Therefore, if you get the urge to remove some files from your root directory, read about each file first. Some of you may find files in your root directory that are not on this list. Especially if those files end with the extensions .jpg .gif .bmp .wav .doc . wpg .htm and other ending associated with office programs, the chances are that you put them there yourself without realizing it. You may wish to move them to your personal folder.

Thus read about each of the following files carefully before moving or deleting files from your root directory. When in doubt, these are all relatively small files, so leave them... or notify me.

Read Carefully before deleting any of these files:

Autoexec.bat - Windows configuration file

• This file contains commands that should be run by Windows before the 32-bit portion of the operating system is started. This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

Autoexec.dos - Previous MS-DOS Autoexec.bat file

• This file contains the original Autoexec.bat file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

Bootlog.prv - Previous Windows startup log file

• This file records the progress of the previous Windows startup process. When you request a logged boot (or if Windows performs one automatically), the previous Bootlog.txt file is renamed to Bootlog.prv before the new Bootlog.txt file is created. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Bootlog.txt - Windows startup log file

• This file records the progress of the Windows startup (boot) process. It is created if you request a logged boot, and is also created automatically by Windows if Windows detected that the previous boot was unsuccessful. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Command.com - Windows command line processor

• This program is the Windows command line processor. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.

Command.dos - Previous MS-DOS Command.com file

• This file contains the original Command.com file from the previous operating system. It is used if you request to boot the previous operating system.

Config.dos - Previous MS-DOS Config.sys file

• This file contains the original Config.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

Config.sys - Windows configuration file

• This file contains parameters that describe the real-mode (16-bit) drivers that should be loaded into memory as part of the Windows startup process. This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

Cvt.log - Drive Converter (FAT32) Log File

• This file is created by the Drive Converter (FAT32) when you convert a drive to FAT32 and may be useful for troubleshooting failed conversions. To remove this file, delete it from Windows Explorer.

Detlog.old - Previous Windows detection log file

• This file records the progress of the previous Windows hardware detection process. When you request that new hardware be detected, the previous Detlog.txt file is renamed to Detlog.old before the new Detlog.txt file is created. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Detlog.txt - Windows detection log file

• This file records the progress of the Windows hardware detection process. It is created during hardware detection and is consulted by the hardware detection recovery process if the previous attempt to detect hardware caused problems. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Io.dos - Previous MS-DOS Io.sys file

• This file contains the original Io.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

Io.sys - Windows MS-DOS

• This file contains Windows MS-DOS. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.

Logo.sys - Windows logo

• This file contains the Windows logo that is displayed as part of the startup process. Note that Windows 98 does not use the Logo.sys file. If you are running Windows 98, this file may not exist in the root folder.

Msdos.dos - Previous MS-DOS Msdos.sys file

• This file contains the original Msdos.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

Msdos.sys - Windows configuration file

• This file contains parameters necessary for the early phases of the Windows startup process. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.

Oemlog.txt - Windows Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) log file

• This file records the progress of the Windows OEM preinstallation process. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Scandisk.log - ScanDisk log file

• This file is created by the ScanDisk program to record the result of the most recent disk scan. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Setuplog.txt - Windows Setup log file

• This file is created by Windows Setup to record the progress of the installation procedure. It is consulted by Windows Setup as part of installation recovery. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.

Suhdlog.dat - Windows Setup hard disk log file

• This file contains a copy of all Master Boot Records and Partition Boot Records on the system both before and after the upgrade to Windows. This file is used by Windows Uninstall to restore the hard disk master boot sector as part of the uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

System.1st - Windows first registry

• This file contains a copy of the original registry created by Windows setup. Although this file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted, it is recommended that the file be retained because it can be used to restore the registry should it become damaged.

Videorom.bin - a copy of your onboard video card's ROM.

• This file is used by Windows 98 to support multiple monitors. It is created during startup, when the system has only one video adapter (if the file does not already exist). If you delete this file, you lose support for multiple monitors until you remove all but your primary video adapter and restart Windows (so that this file can be re-created).

W95undo.dat - Windows 95 uninstall data file

• This file contains a compressed backup of Windows 3.x files that were replaced as part of the Windows 95 installation process. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

W95undo.ini - Windows 95 uninstall script file

• This file contains a listing of files backed up in the W95undo.dat file. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.