Comments for Can I move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?

Comment from sunking on 2009-06-23

2009-06-23T12:52:33Z

unfortunately i deleted i386 folder, please tell me how can i get it back?

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A comment on: Can I move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?

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Comment from vaishnav on 2009-02-23

2009-02-23T14:21:02Z

i dont have the I386 folder in the root of c:\(c:\i386) and i want to reinstall my computer

my laptop is 3 years old and i somtimes feel like to throw my computer out of my window!!
reply to MY E-MAIL please
regards
-vaishnav

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Comment from Jin on 2009-01-25

2009-01-25T15:56:35Z

Can I copy the i386 folder by just copy pasting it? instead of the cmd method Leo used in this answer?

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Comment from Sharen Malone on 2008-12-23

2008-12-24T07:28:35Z

When I try to copy I386, as you describe, I get the message: Cannot copy or create I386. Access denied. How do I get around this?

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Comment from frankie on 2008-10-26

2008-10-26T19:34:05Z

it says that the folders in my pc --C:\WINDOWS\Service Pack Files\i…, C:\WINDOWS\System32,& C:\i386---were all have virus. is it safe to delete these folders?????pls help!!thanks in advance

No. In particular C:\Windows\System32 contains Windows itself. Deleting that folder will render your machine unbootable. You'll need to let your anti-virus program clean things up, or perhaps re-install Windows.

- Leo
27-Oct-2008

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Comment from Michael Bates on 2008-10-05

2008-10-05T21:31:30Z

The last comment, by Joe, May 24, 2008, raises an interesting question: why do we need two I386 folders, one in windows and one in "ServicePackFiles" under windows?

And in addition, there are other redundant files, such as dllcache, $Uninstall..., etc. Is there a guide to "Windows" directories that are safe to delete?

Many thanks for any answer.

Michael Bates

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Comment from Joe on 2008-05-24

2008-05-25T06:15:35Z

Can you give me the path where the i386 folder is located ? Mine is located in the following path :-
rootdrive:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

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Comment from John on 2008-03-25

2008-03-25T20:45:23Z

What if the i386 folder in my C drive is, I believe, to be created from my old XP cd installation that was still there after upgrading to Vista (I know this because it has a "Tour Windows XP" shortcut in there that doesn't even work anymore, P.S. though, I am confused at why the modified date is 20/02/2008), then can I deleted?

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Comment from Anthony on 2008-02-12

2008-02-12T16:24:34Z

I was in my c drive when i mistakenly moved the I386 into another folder which I didn't create. I decided to copy it back and the prompt was it can not be copied. I entered into this folder where the new I386 was, and couldn't open the I386. Now the new I386 is with a less size, meaning some of the files in there are gone, I don't know how and the I386 in c:/ is empty. Sounds bad, what should I do?

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Comment from Joshua Huber on 2008-01-23

2008-01-24T03:45:57Z

I have AVG free for anti virus software? When I scanned today it has taken over an hour to scan through the mediactr cabinet file inside by I386 file? Is this normal? The only thing I have recently changed is to add ITunes and about 20 G of music. (My own CDs, not downloaded items)

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Comment from saso on 2008-01-17

2008-01-17T15:31:52Z

I can tell you why I don't like this directory, because windows saves old, buggy, vulnerable copies of files in there. And then you run a tool like the Secunia PSI and get reports of this buggy files although you computer is generally perfectly patched and updated.

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Comment from den on 2007-12-21

2007-12-22T04:30:29Z

My Vaio PCG-V505BX is a circa 2003 XP Notebook. The i386 is useless, were I to do the factory reinstall back to Aug 03 factory settings I wouldn't have any patches, no SP2 it would be a mess or at least a 4 year old OS...if it worked at all. Where I messed up was making the partitioned D: larger than C: when I bought the Vaio.

I have never been able to use i386 when prompted to "Insert Windows CD" to access a needed file.

dennis

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-11-06

2007-11-06T23:59:55Z

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Either will work. Command shell operations are easier to display here in
pictures.

Leo

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Comment from Chuck Castleberry on 2007-11-06

2007-11-06T22:14:39Z

To copy I386 directory, why us Dos instead of 'drag-n-drop'? chuck

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Comment from mark on 2007-09-11

2007-09-11T10:01:09Z

I have lost part of my i386 file... is the file the same for windows xp pro vs windows xp home

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Comment from vampireneko on 2007-08-30

2007-08-30T16:19:45Z

i have a problem,my computer don have I386 folder on c:/,plz help me

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A comment on: Can I move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-08-06

2007-08-06T15:33:06Z

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Yes you can. Then just use this article:
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_tell_windows_where_my_i386_folder_has_moved.html to
tell windows that the "SourcePath" has changed to your DVD drive (like "D:\").
Then when Windows needs it, it'll ask you to insert the DVD.

Leo

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Comment from Shane on 2007-08-04

2007-08-04T20:48:42Z

Can I burn this to a DVD? Is that safe and still usable? Mines is taking up over 1 gig of memory... Burning it to DVD would be great, is this recomended? I don't have a back up drive or external drive...

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Comment from Dan on 2007-08-03

2007-08-04T01:15:06Z

Leo,

Highly informative and great infomation. Exactly what I was looking for and straight to the point. Thanks!

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Comment from Shanelle on 2007-07-31

2007-08-01T04:29:34Z

can i move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?

well i have a problem i was going through my file and what not, and i wasnt sure of that I386 was and i deleted it and i went to do the 7 cds i have for a system recovery, so i could clean EVERYTHING out because my computer was sooo messed up. and the cds wont work now..what can i do??...please respond
thanks shanelle

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Comment from phlox on 2007-01-22

2007-01-23T02:42:05Z

My i386 file wins them all. It is taking up over 22 GB of my hard drive. I have no idea why and my laptop company has no idea why either. Any ideas? I really don't want to do a system restore. Thanks

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Comment from Jag on 2006-12-31

2006-12-31T11:22:13Z

you can NOT use the I386 folder to do a full clean install of windows or CREATE A STAND ALONE XP SETUP DISC using it. The activation feature will NOT work and also windows will error and crash a high degree.

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Comment from TUAN TRAN on 2006-12-12

2006-12-12T19:22:38Z

I did read your articles about this topic "without XP CD". But still would like to know how to CREATE A STAND ALONE XP SETUP DISC from that C:/I386 (Mine is a Compaq laptop, I don't like Compaq's applications at all. I intend to reinstall CLEAN WINDOWS)

Thank you for your help!

Tuan Tran

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Comment from Bill Clarke on 2006-09-30

2006-09-30T21:04:41Z

There is no i386 folder containing winnt32 exe in my computer. There is a 386 folder in service packs but no winnt32 file. trying to make a recovery cd that won't delete apps or data.

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Comment from George Hayth on 2006-09-29

2006-09-29T13:43:41Z

Sir; Please tell me how to find the folder that contains I386 directory, what I am trying to do is copy all the current microsoft updates to the windows installation disk so when I have to do a reinstall of windows I won't have to download all of them again. Thank you

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Comment from dzung on 2006-06-30

2006-06-30T07:58:17Z

i have a problem, i had virus which kept pressing enter. While the virus was still infecting my computer, i installed SP2 and when i was realising it kept canceling to insatll (SP2) because of the virus i stopped it. I then re-formatted my computer nad it was all clean. Wehn i finished formatting, i when to my Secondary drive (D:\) and i saw an i386 folder there, and i realised that it supposed to be in my Local Disk (C:\), i then tried to delete it, but it didnt allowed me. Now im stucked with i386 folder in my d drive and i have no idea on how to remove. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

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Comment from dlb_down on 2006-06-02

2006-06-02T13:26:14Z

What is the purpose of multiple i386 sub-folders, and might some be unnecessary and therefore delete candidates? I'm helping my brother to troubleshoot infections on his HP Pavillion running XP SP2 Home Edition, and the various i386 folders are causing very long scan times. Some files appear to be duplicates. Don't have a complete list now, but folders include C:\I386, C:\windows\i386, C:\windows\Service Pack Files\i386, C:\windows\drivercache\i386 ...

Thanks for your help!

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Comment from Calvin on 2006-04-25

2006-04-25T10:01:48Z

Hi - I have the weirdest problem. Im trying to move I386 off my C drive but even after unhiding hidden files & folders I still can not see it at all. But I know its there as I can see it (2 Gb no less!) using "TreeSize Professional". Help ?!

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Comment from JJ on 2006-02-11

2006-02-11T23:35:30Z

I deleted the folder, and have a disk, but my sound card doesnt seem to work now, my windows sounds still work, but the sound for anything else doesn't, its a sound blaster card, and I assume it has to do with the folder being gone, the volume adjustment thats part of the sound card (when opened) won't open and says it cannot find its driver, yet the drivers are just fine, I was thinking it was linked directly to a driver in the I386 folder, I was wondering how I would go about getting just that folder back with the installation disk?

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Comment from Leo on 2006-01-10

2006-01-11T04:21:49Z

Just like any other folder. Fire up Windows Explorer, right click on the folder and hit Delete.

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Comment from David on 2006-01-10

2006-01-11T04:19:11Z

Someone asked you how to remove the i386 folder.
You said it can be removed, and proceeded NOT to explain how.
Without going off on another tangent, could you please try one more time....how to delete the stupid folder?

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Comment from Bill P. Godfrey on 2005-11-05

2005-11-05T15:14:42Z

If a computer gets malwared, I would consider that spare copy untrustworthy.

I would recommend making a CD copy of that directory while you can still trust it.

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A comment on: Can I move or delete my I386 directory to free up some space?

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