Why does windowsxp have so many empty folders? Can i delete?

[imaheadcase]

This is more of a pet peeve, but why does Windows have so many empty folders?

I noticed while removeing some folders than did not get removed from add/remove programs (whats up with that? Seems they never get removed cept stuff inside) that seems like Program Files and Windows folders contain dozens of just empty folders. even the User folders for admin contain folders like 1/2/3/5 a/b/c/d/ with lots of sub dir with nothing in them. lol

Is it safe to delete these folders? Im guessing they are all from inital windows install folders/windows update?

Is there some website that you can type in directory of a folder and it tells you what its commonly used for? That would be so usefull! Someone please steal my idea!

 

[Phoenix86]

Is show hidden/OS files enabled?

 

[P0ldy]

If there's a loaded .dll in a folder, the folder will remain. Kill the service and you can delete it.

 

[imaheadcase]

Whats hidden/OS files have to do with it? Anyways its off and folders are shown

No .dll in the directory, like i said nothing in folder cept lots of subfolders that are also empty.

 

[kleinwl]

try out crap cleaner (CC). It's really nice at getting rid of all the windowsupdates old dll files, etc.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: imaheadcase
Whats hidden/OS files have to do with it? Anyways its off and folders are shown

No .dll in the directory, like i said nothing in folder cept lots of subfolders that are also empty.

If show hidden files is not enabled, and the files hidden, you would see an empty folder... Sorry, though that would be obvious.

What are the folder names?

 

[imaheadcase]

Thanks I try out that Crap Cleaner program.

 

[mikecel79]

This is a side effect of uninstalling applications. When you run an uninstall from Add/Remove programs it runs through a script telling the uninstaller what to delete. Many times there is a file that is loaded and can't be deleted so the uninstaller marks the files for deletion the next boot, but it usually doesn't set the folder for deletion too. So you end up with empty folders now under Program Files. This is normal and it isn't hurting anything. You should be able to safely remove the folders.

The other thing it could be is there is a "bug" with the Wise installer that will only remove the folder if it's empty. If it's not it leave the folder behind. Sometimes programs save config files or temp files to their installed directory and these aren't know by the uninstaller so it doesn't delete them. Therefore the Wise installer can't remove the folder.

I put bug in quotes because it's actually a feature of the Wise installer. This prevents someone from accidently losing files they have created with a program and saved to the programs installed folder.