How do you decide which installation files to delete after setup? (2024)

Installation files are the data that a software program uses to copy itself to your computer, typically with extensions such as .exe, .msi, .zip, or .iso. Depending on the type of software and the installation method, these files can be found in a variety of places. For example, they may be in your downloads folder if you saved the installation file from the internet or a disk. Additionally, they may be found in your program files folder if the software extracted or copied some installation files during setup. Furthermore, they might be stored in your appdata folder if the software stored some configuration or temporary files there. Lastly, they might be located in your windows folder if the software added some system files or registry entries there.

Before deleting any installation files, it is important to make sure that the software program has been successfully installed and tested, as well as backing up any important data and creating a system restore point. To delete installation files, start by looking in the downloads folder for any installation files downloaded from the internet or a disk. These can usually be deleted after setup, unless you want to keep them for future use or reinstallation. Then, go to the program files folder and look for any subfolders that contain installation files. After setup, these subfolders can usually be deleted unless they contain other important files or features. Next, go to the appdata folder and look for any temporary or cache files created during installation. These can usually be deleted after setup, unless they contain personal settings or preferences. Finally, go to the windows folder and look for any system files or registry entries added during installation. Be very careful when deleting these files, as they may affect the functionality or stability of your system. Only delete these files if you are sure that they are related to the software program and that they are not needed by other programs or processes.

If you are not sure which installation files to delete, or if you want to delete other types of files that are taking up space on your disk, the disk cleanup tool can help. This tool scans your disk and displays the amount of space you can free up by deleting different categories of files, such as temporary internet files, recycle bin items, system files, and previous windows installations. To use the tool, open the start menu and type "disk cleanup" in the search box. Select the drive that you want to clean up and click OK. Check the boxes next to the categories of files that you want to delete and click on the "Clean up system files" button if you want to delete system files or previous windows installations. Finally, click on the "Delete files" button to confirm your selection and initiate the cleanup process.

If you no longer need or want a software program on your computer, you can uninstall it instead of deleting its installation files. Uninstalling a software program will remove it from your system and delete most of its associated files and folders, though some residual files may remain on your disk, such as configuration files, user data, or registry entries. To uninstall a software program, open the start menu and type "control panel" in the search box. Click on the control panel app that appears in the results and then click on the "Programs" category. Under it, select the "Uninstall a program" link to open a list of all the installed software programs. Find the one you want to uninstall and click on it, then click the "Uninstall" button that appears above the list. You may need to confirm your choice or follow some instructions from the software program. Wait for the uninstallation process to complete before closing the control panel window.

Sometimes, deleting installation files can cause issues with your system or other software programs, such as errors, crashes, missing features, or reduced performance. To fix this, you can try restoring your system to a previous point before deleting the installation files. This will undo any changes and restore its original state. You can also try reinstalling the software program that you deleted the installation files for. Additionally, scan your system for viruses or malware that may have infected or corrupted your files. Use a reliable antivirus or anti-malware software to run a full scan of your system and remove any harmful or unwanted programs.

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Software Installation

+ Follow

Thanks for your feedback

Your feedback is private. Like or react to bring the conversation to your network.