As many of you know, my site went down for the full month of September. I really haven't much control over the site, because it really isn't "my" site. The site belongs to a generous lady named Sadie who lives in England. She gave it to me to support my work on Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide.

The guide was always for you. That is why I created it. It is my gift to those who always wanted to know which files they can delete from Windows XP, but couldn't find their answers. My site was only an afterthought.

Should the unforeseen happen, should my site go down again, whether temporarily or permanently, you should know another site now hosts my guide for you, Jan's Graphix an Stuff.

Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide has always been and will always be a work in progress. I edit and make changes to its contents on a continuous basis. I will continue my work on my guide on my site as well as on Jan's site.

Those of you who wish to make a donation, showing your support and appreciation for Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide, My Batch Files Are Available Here

Sincerely,

Bold_Fortune

My Batch Files Are Available Here

There are undoubtedly more important reasons for not deleting some of these files, as many files do have multiple uses. The reasons given here why I do not delete these 350 files are just the first good reasons I bumped into. If I couldn't boot to Windows without a particular file, there didn't seem much need to look for other reasons why I should keep it. The same would apply if a Windows feature I use wouldn't work without a particular file.

You will read below about the files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers. (I'm just using this as one example.) This does not mean those are the only files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers. It certainly goes without saying you will be needing some Internet Explorer files...just to be able to get to the Yahoo Movie Trailers.

Just as I had Internet Explorer setup before I uncovered which files were necessary for Microsoft Update, the files listed as necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers, I uncovered after I had certain other Windows features setup on my system. For all I know, you may need a Microsoft Update file to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers, but since I had Microsoft Update setup first... Well, you can see what I'm getting at.

It is highly probable too that some files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers are also needed by other Windows features. You yourself may delete one of the Yahoo Movie Trailer files, thinking you never watch them anyway, and might then discover something else on your system doesn't work.

This principle applies to many many Windows features. Files have multiple uses. It's that simple, and that complicated. This is the very reason I am not a proponent of removing whole Windows components using file-removal programs. Files need to be removed with precision.

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Needed by Outlook Express

acctres.dll.....(Microsoft Internet Account Manager Resources). Needed to open Outlook Express.

ATL.DLL.........(ATL Module for Windows XP (Unicode). Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly. Also needed by Microsoft Update. And needed to open Event and Services Viewers.

inetcomm.dll....(Microsoft Internet Messaging API). Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly. Additionally, the inetcomm.dll is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetres.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

inetres.dll.....(Microsoft Internet Messaging API Resources). Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOERES.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly. Additionally, the inetres.dll is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

mshtmler.dll....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component's Resource DLL). Needed to insert a picture in E-mail.
msident.dll.....Microsoft Identity Manager
msidntld.dll....Microsoft Identity Manager
MSOEACCT.DLL....Microsoft Internet Account Manager

MSOERT2.DLL.....(Microsoft Outlook Express RT Lib). Additionally, the MSOERT2.DLL is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll and the inetres.dll (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

sendmail.dll....(Send Mail). The sendmail.dll is a library file used for sending mail via Websites. When you select "Send Link by E-mail" in Internet Explorer's File menu, Outlook Express will attach a URL to your E-mail. When you delete the sendmail.dll file, the "Send To Desktop" will be removed from your right-click context menu. If you UnRegister the sendmail.dll file, the icon for the "Desktop (create shortcut).DeskLink" file in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\SendTo will be erased.

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Needed by Registry Editor

aclui.dll.......(Security Descriptor Editor). Needed to open Registry Editor.
clb.dll.........(Column List Box). Needed to open Registry Editor.

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Needed by Event Viewer

ACTIVEDS.DLL....ADs Router Layer DLL
ADSLDPC.DLL.....ADs LDAP Provider C DLL

apphelp.dll......(Application Compatibility Client Library). Should you install SP3, know that the Management Console is now dependent upon the apphelp.dll and will not open without it being present.

ATL.DLL ........ATL Module for Windows XP (Unicode)
ELS.DLL.........Event Viewer Snapin

EVENTLOG.DLL....(Event Logging Service). Without this file present it will take a very long time for your system to boot to Windows.

EVENTVWR.EXE....(Event Viewer Snapin Launcher). Main Service file for Event Log.

eventvwr.msc....(Event Viewer Microsoft Management Console). Without this file present, instead of the Event Viewer opening, Device Manager will.

mfc42u.dll......MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version
MMC.EXE.........Microsoft Management Console
mmcbase.dll.....MMC Base DLL
mmcndmgr.dll....MMC Node Manager DLL
MSXML3.DLL .....MSXML 3.0 SP 5
MSXML3R.DLL.....XML Resources

riched20.dll....(Rich Text Edit Control, v3.0). Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control versions 2.0 and 3.0. Needed to read Information and Error Messages (Event Properties).

riched32.dll....(Wrapper Dll for Richedit 1.0). Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control version 1.0. Needed to read Information and Error Messages (Event Properties).

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Needed by Services Viewer

ACTIVEDS.DLL....ADs Router Layer DLL
ADSLDPC.DLL.....ADs LDAP Provider C DLL

apphelp.dll......(Application Compatibility Client Library). Should you install SP3, know that the Management Console is now dependent upon the apphelp.dll and will not open without it being present.

ATL.DLL ........ATL Module for Windows XP (Unicode)
filemgmt.dll....Services and Shared Folders
JSCRIPT.DLL.....Microsoft ® JScript
mfc42u.dll......MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version
MMC.EXE.........Microsoft Management Console
mmcbase.dll.....MMC Base DLL
mmcndmgr.dll....MMC Node Manager DLL
MSXML3.DLL .....MSXML 3.0 SP 5
MSXML3R.DLL.....XML Resources

services.msc....(Services Viewer Microsoft Management Console). Without this file present, instead of the Services Viewer opening, Device Manager will.

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Needed by PerfectDisk

ACTIVEDS.DLL....ADs Router Layer DLL
ADSLDPC.DLL.....ADs LDAP Provider C DLL
MSI.DLL.........(Windows Installer). PerfectDisk 6 needs the MSI.DLL. PerfectDisk 8 does not.
PDBoot.exe......PerfectDisk Boot Time Defragmentation

PDBootState.....Temp file created by PerfectDisk after performing an Offline Defrag. It can be safely deleted, but will return the next time you have PerfectDisk perform an Offline Defrag.

SHFOLDER.DLL....(Shell Folder Service). PerfectDisk 6 needs the SHFOLDER.DLL. PerfectDisk 8 does not.

WTSAPI32.DLL....(Windows Terminal Server SDK APIs). PerfectDisk 6 needs the WTSAPI32.DLL. PerfectDisk 8 does not.

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Internet Explorer Files I Do Not Delete (See PART 9 for Internet Explorer Files I Delete.)

actxprxy.dll....(ActiveX Interface Marshaling Library). Essential to Internet Explorer.

ADVPACK.DLL.....(Advpack Library). Needed by Microsoft Update. When you delete this file your Microsoft Update Start Menu shortcut (the one created by Microsoft Update) is no longer functional. You can create a new shortcut, but Microsoft Update will still need the ADVPACK.DLL to function.

BROWSELC.DLL....(Shell Browser UI Library). Important for IE Toolbar. The Toolbar will look messed up without it, and you cannot right-click access "Customize" without it.

BROWSEUI.DLL...(Shell Browser UI Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

COMCTL32.DLL...(Common Controls Library). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides the functionality to create and manage screen windows and most basic controls, such as buttons and scrollbars, receive mouse and keyboard input, and other functionality associated with the GUI part of Windows. Gives applications access to some advanced controls provided by the operating system. These include things like status bars, progress bars, toolbars and tabs.

DCIMAN32.DLL...(DCI Manager). Needed by Websites with streaming media.
DHCPCSVC.DLL....(DHCP Client Service). Needed for Internet connectivity. Main Service file for DHCP Client.
dssenh.dll......(Microsoft Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider). Also needed by Microsoft Update.

dxtmsft.dll.....(DirectX Media -- Image DirectX Transforms). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

dxtrans.dll.....(DirectX Media -- DirectX Transform Core). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

ESENT.DLL.......(Server Database Storage Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed to open Properties of Disk Drives.

ieframe.dll.....(Internet Explorer). Essential to Internet Explorer 7. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
ieframe.dll.mui.(Internet Explorer). Needed by Internet Explorer 7 Toolbar. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
iepeers.dll.....(Internet Explorer Peer Objects). Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers.

iertutil.dll....(Run time utility for Internet Explorer). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The iertutil.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

ieui.dll........(Internet Explorer UI Engine). Essential to Internet Explorer 7. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

imgutil.dll.....(IE plugin image decoder support DLL). Needed so you don't see those little red x's in place of some images.
inetcpl.cpl.....Internet Options
inetcplc.dll....(Internet Control Panel). Needed to access Internet Options.
MLANG.DLL.......(Multi Language Support DLL). Essential to Internet Explorer.
mshtml.dll......Microsoft ® HTML Viewer

MSHTML.TLB......(Microsoft ® MSHTML Typelib). Needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll, the inetres.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files).

MSHTMLED.DLL....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component). This file gives you the ability to edit HTML. An example of that would be when you edit one of your posts on some forums. You wouldn't be able to do that without this file.

mshtmler.dll....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component's Resource DLL). Needed to insert a picture in E-mail using Outlook Express.

msident.dll.....(Microsoft Identity Manager). Needed by Outlook Express.
msidntld.dll....Microsoft Identity Manager
msls31.dll......(Microsoft Line Services library file). Essential to Internet Explorer.
MSWSOCK.DLL.....(Microsoft Windows Sockets 2.0 Service Provider). Essential to Internet Explorer.

normaliz.dll....(Unicode Normalization DLL). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The normaliz.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

occache.dll.....(Object Control Viewer). Needed to view icon for ActiveX objects in Downloaded Program Files. Otherwise, the ActiveX objects show up as .ini files.

pngfilt.dll.....(IE PNG plugin image decoder). Needed so you don't see those little red x's in place of some images.
RTUTILS.DLL.....(Routing Utilities). Needed by Websites with streaming media.
SCHANNEL.DLL....(TLS / SSL Security Provider). Also needed by Microsoft Update.

sendmail.dll....(Send Mail). The sendmail.dll is a library file used for sending mail via Websites. When you select "Send Link by E-mail" in Internet Explorer's File menu, Outlook Express will attach a URL to your E-mail. When you delete the sendmail.dll file, the "Send To Desktop" will be removed from your right-click context menu. If you UnRegister the sendmail.dll file, the icon for the "Desktop (create shortcut).DeskLink" file in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\SendTo will be erased.

SHDOCLC.DLL.....(Shell Doc Object and Control Library). Needed to be able to access right-click options while right-clicking on a Webpage.

SHDOCVW.DLL.....(Shell Doc Object and Control Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

SHFOLDER.DLL....(Shell Folder Service). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed by PerfectDisk 6. (PerfectDisk 8 does not need the SHFOLDER.DLL.)

SHLWAPI.DLL.....(Shell Light-weight Utility Library). Needed to boot to Windows. Allows applications to access the functionality provided by the operating system shell, as well as change and enhance it.

url.dll.........(Internet Shortcut Shell Extension DLL). Displays default "e" icon for Internet Shortcuts and the one displayed in your Explorer Toolbar Address Bar.

urlmon.dll......(OLE32 Extensions for Win32). Essential to Internet Explorer.

---------------------------------

webcheck.dll....(Web Site Monitor). Needed by Microsoft Update. You will need the webcheck.dll to install the new Microsoft Update software.

The C:\WINDOWS\Offline Web Pages folder stores downloaded Webpages for offline availability. By default, within the folder is the Web Document, "My Current Home Page". When you click on it, you will be taken to your Home Page. The URL you will then see in your Explorer address bar should read "about:Home". When you right-click on "My Current Home Page" and select Properties, you will see the options for Offline Synchronization.

When you remove the webcheck.dll, the options in Properties will no longer be available, and you will not be able to get to "about:Home". The "My Current Home Page" will become a desktop.ini. The Offline Web Pages folder itself will, after a time, lose its default icon, becoming a plain, manila folder, as any other. Or, it could lose its folder appearance entirely, and become a bland, file icon, like that of an .NLS file.

Additional Note: With the arrival of Internet Explorer 7, in addition to the webcheck.dll, you will need in place the "webcheck.dll.mui" in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\en-US folder in order to open "My Current Home Page Properties," and to be able to get to "about:Home".

---------------------------------

WININET.DLL.....(Internet Extensions for Win32). Needed to boot to Windows.
WSHTCPIP.DLL....(Windows Sockets Helper DLL). Essential to Internet Explorer.

WSOCK32.DLL.....(Windows Socket 32-Bit DLL). Needed for Internet Connectivity. Winsock (short for Windows Sockets) is a specification that defines how Windows network software should access network services, especially TCP/IP.

WTSAPI32.DLL....(Windows Terminal Server SDK APIs). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed by PerfectDisk.

xmllite.dll.....(Microsoft XmlLite Library). Needed by Internet Explorer 7 Toolbar. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

Additional Files Needed By Internet Explorer 7

CSCDLL.DLL......(Offline Network Agent). After installing Internet Explorer 7, If this file is not present your system can lockup while working at your Desktop.

CSCUI.DLL.......(Client Side Caching UI). After installing Internet Explorer 7, If this file is not present your system can lockup while working at your Desktop.

MPRAPI.DLL......(Windows NT MP Router Administration DLL). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel.

MSCTFIME.IME....(Microsoft Text Frame Work Service IME). Installed with Internet Explorer 7. If this file is not present your system could lockup while working at your Desktop.

msrating.dll....(Internet Ratings and Local User Management DLL). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll.

rasapi32.dll....(Remote Access API). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally, in Internet Properties under the Connections tab, under "Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings" the rasapi32.dll and the rasman.dll are needed to access the New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard is accessed through the "Add" button.

rasdlg.dll......(Remote Access Common Dialog API). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel.

rasman.dll......(Remote Access Connection Manager). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally, in Internet Properties under the Connections tab, under "Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings" the rasman.dll and the rasapi32.dll are needed to access the New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard is accessed through the "Add" button.

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Files Needed To Boot To Windows

ADVAPI32.DLL...(Advanced Windows 32 Base API). Provides access to the fundamental resources available to a Windows system. Included are things like file systems, devices, processes and threads, access to the Windows registry, and error handling.

AUTHZ.DLL .......Authorization Framework

AUTOCHK.EXE.....(Auto Check Disk). Launches automatically during Windows XP bootup if a volume is marked as dirty (has bad clusters, has error blocks, or is otherwise damaged).

BASESRV.DLL.....Windows NT BASE API Server DLL
bootvid.dll.....VGA Boot Driver
BROWSEUI.DLL....Shell Browser UI Library
c_437.nls.......
c_1252.nls......

COMCTL32.DLL....(Common Controls Library). Provides the functionality to create and manage screen windows and most basic controls, such as buttons and scrollbars, receive mouse and keyboard input, and other functionality associated with the GUI part of Windows. Gives applications access to some advanced controls provided by the operating system. These include things like status bars, progress bars, toolbars and tabs.

COMDLG32.DLL....(Common Dialogs DLL). Provides applications the standard dialog boxes for opening and saving files, choosing color and font, etc.

CRYPT32.DLL.....Crypto API32
CRYPTDLL.DLL....Cryptography Manager
CRYPTUI.DLL.....Microsoft Trust UI Provider
CSRSRV.DLL......Client Server Runtime Process

CSRSS.EXE.......(Client-Server Runtime Server Subsystem). Used to maintain the Win32 system environment console and other essential functions.

ctype.nls.......
DNSAPI.DLL......DNS Client API DLL
dpcdll.dll......(Dpcdll Module). Product Code activation.

duser.dll.......(Windows DirectUser Engine). If you delete this file Windows will display the classic logoff and logon prompts. However, you can boot up to Windows without it. Also needed by Add/Remove Module.

EVENTLOG.DLL....(Event Logging Service). Without this file present it will take a very long time for your system to boot to Windows. Needed by Event Viewer.

GDI32.DLL.......(GDI Client DLL). Provides the functionality for outputting graphical content to monitors, printers and other output devices.

hal.dll.........Hardware Abstraction Layer

iertutil.dll....(Run time utility for Internet Explorer). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The iertutil.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

IMAGEHLP.DLL....Windows NT Image Helper
IPHLPAPI.DLL....IP Helper API

kbdus.dll.......(United States Keyboard Layout). You may need a different KBD*.DLL depending on your system. (See PART 7.)

kdcom.dll.......Kernel Debugger HW Extension DLL

kernel32.dll....(Windows NT BASE API Client DLL). Provides access to the fundamental resources available to a Windows system. Included are things like file systems, devices, processes and threads, access to the Windows registry, and error handling.

l_intl.nls......
locale.nls......

LOGONUI.EXE.....(Windows Logon User Interface). The user interface that appears when Windows XP first starts. If you delete this file, Windows will display the classic logoff and logon prompts. However, you can boot up to Windows without it.

LSASRV.DLL......LSA Server DLL
LSASS.EXE.......(LSA Security Service). The Local Security Authority server process.
MPR.DLL.........Multiple Provider Router DLL
MSASN1.DLL......ASN.1 Runtime APIs
MSGINA.DLL......(Windows NT Logon GINA DLL). Loads Logon User Interface.

MSIMG32.DLL.....(GDIEXT Client DLL). Without this file present, upon booting to Windows, you will need to click OK on a Logon Message in order to enter Windows.

MSPRIVS.DLL.....Microsoft Privilege Translations
MSV1_0.DLL......Microsoft Authentication Package v1.0
MSVCP60.DLL.....Microsoft ® C++ Runtime Library
MSVCRT.DLL......Windows NT CRT DLL

normaliz.dll....(Unicode Normalization DLL). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The normaliz.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

NCOBJAPI.DLL....
NDDEAPI.DLL.....Network DDE Share Management APIs
NETAPI32.DLL....Net Win32 API DLL
NTDLL.DLL.......NT Layer DLL
NTDSAPI.DLL.....NT5DS Library

NTMARTA.DLL.....(Windows NT MARTA provider). I can boot to Windows without this file, but my Windows Style reverts to Default Blue.

NTOSKRNL.EXE....(NT Kernel & System). Windows XP operating system Kernel.

nv4_disp.dll....(NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display driver). Essential for Display Adapter. And needed to boot to Windows.

ODBC32.DLL......Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager
ODBCINT.DLL.....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Resources

---------------------------------

oleacc.dll......Active Accessibility Core Component
oleaccrc.dll....Active Accessibility Resource DLL

The above two files are both needed to avoid seeing these four Classic Logon prompts:
1. (Upon booting to Windows) "Log On to Windows" ...Then you will either need to click on OK, or if you use a password, type it in, and then click on OK.
2. (And then) "Loading your personal settings"
3. (Upon restarting from your Desktop) "Please wait... Windows in saving your settings"
4. (And then) "Windows is shutting down"

---------------------------------

OLE32.DLL.......Microsoft OLE for Windows
OLEAUT32.DLL....
PROFMAP.DLL.....Userenv
PSAPI.DLL.......Process Status Helper
REGAPI.DLL......Registry Configuration API
RPCRT4.DLL .....Remote Procedure Call Runtime
RPCSS.DLL ......(Distributed COM Services). Main Service file for Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

RSAENH.DLL......(Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider). The RSAENH.DLL is needed to accurately check license for Windows.

SAMLIB.DLL......SAM Library DLL
SAMSRV.DLL......SAM Server DLL
SCESRV.DLL......Windows Security Configuration Editor Engine
SECUR32.DLL.....Security Support Provider Interface
services.exe....(Services and Controller app). Main Service file for Plug and Play.
SETUPAPI.DLL....Windows Setup API

SFC_OS.DLL......(Windows File Protection). You can boot to Windows without this file, but not without first having to click OK on an error that appears telling you the SFC_OS.DLL cannot be found.

SHDOCVW.DLL.....Shell Doc Object and Control Library
SHELL32.DLL.....Windows Shell Common Dll

shgina.dll......(Windows Shell User Logon). Needed to restart your computer from your Desktop. Further, once you delete or move this file from the system32 folder--even if you put it back--you still won't be able to restart from your Desktop.

SHLWAPI.DLL.....(Shell Light-weight Utility Library). Allows applications to access the functionality provided by the operating system shell, as well as change and enhance it.

SMSS.EXE........(Windows NT Session Manager). Used to establish the Windows XP environment during bootup.
sortkey.nls.....
sorttbls.nls....
SVCHOST.EXE.....Generic Host Process for Win32 Services
SXS.DLL.........Fusion 2.5
umpnpmgr.dll....User-mode Plug-and-Play Service
unicode.nls.....
user32.dll......Windows XP USER API Client DLL
userenv.dll.....Userenv
USERINIT.EXE....(User Initialization). Used to establish the operating environment for a user after logon.
UXTHEME.DLL.....(Microsoft UxTheme Library). Main Service file for Themes.
VERSION.DLL.....Version Checking and File Installation Libraries
WATCHDOG.SYS....Watchdog Driver
WIN32K.SYS......Multi-User Win32 Driver
WININET.DLL.....Internet Extensions for Win32
WINLOGON.EXE....(Windows NT Logon Application). Windows logon manager. Handles the login and logout procedures.

WINSPOOL.DRV....(Windows Spooler Driver). Important: If in PART 5 you chose to delete the system folder and its files (C:\WINDOWS\system), at least keep the copy of the WINSPOOL.DRV that is in the system32 folder, or you may not be able to reboot to Windows. Just be sure to keep one of them.

WINSRV.DLL......Windows Server DLL
WINSTA.DLL......Winstation Library
WINTRUST.DLL....Microsoft Trust Verification APIs
WLDAP32.DLL.....Win32 LDAP API DLL
wpa.dbl.........Windows Product Activation (WPA).
WS2_32.DLL......Windows Socket 2.0 32-Bit DLL
WS2HELP.DLL.....Windows Socket 2.0 Helper for Windows NT
XPSP2RES.DLL....Service Pack 2 Messages

---------------------------------------

apphelp.dll......(Application Compatibility Client Library). Should you install SP3, know that the Management Console is now dependent upon the apphelp.dll and will not open without it being present.

---------------------------------------

Control Panel Applets I Keep

appwiz.cpl.....(Shell Application Manager). Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet.
desk.cpl.......(Desktop Control Panel). Display Properties Control Panel applet.
inetcpl.cpl....(Internet Control Panel). Internet Options Control Panel applet.

main.cpl.......(Control Panel DLL). Mouse Properties and Keyboard Properties Control Panel applets. If you delete the main.cpl to remove the Mouse Properties and Keyboard Properties Control Panel applets, the default icons for Administrative Tools and the Fonts Folder shortcuts in the Control Panel will eventually disappear. (You will however still be able to use the shortcuts for Administrative Tools and the Fonts Folder.) After you reboot your system their icons will reappear, but only temporarily.

powercfg.cpl....(Power Management Configuration Control Panel Applet). Along with the POWRPROF.DLL, needed to enter Power Options where you can adjust how you want your computer to power down.

sysdm.cpl.......(System Applet for the Control Panel). System Properties Control Panel applet.
timedate.cpl....(Time Date Control Panel Applet). Date and Time Properties Control Panel applet.
wuaucpl.cpl.....(Automatic Updates Control Panel). Automatic Updates Control Panel applet. Needed by Microsoft Update.

---------------------------------------

ASYCFILT.DLL...Allows applications to communicate between each other using Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

ATTRIB.EXE......(Attribute Utility). Displays or changes file attributes (read-only, archive, hidden, or system). I keep this file because I need it for a few of my batch files which remove files with Hidden file attributes.

AUDIOSRV.DLL....(Windows Audio Service). Needed to hear sound on your computer. Main Service file for Windows Audio.

---------------------------------------

Needed by Microsoft Update

ADVPACK.DLL.....(Advpack Library). When you delete this file your Microsoft Update Start Menu shortcut (the one created by Microsoft Update) is no longer functional. You can create a new shortcut, but Microsoft Update will still need the ADVPACK.DLL to function.

ATL.DLL.........(ATL Module for Windows XP (Unicode). Also needed to open Event and Services Viewers. And needed by Outlook Express. Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly.

CABINET.DLL.....(Microsoft® Cabinet File API). Also needed to access Properties of Devices in Device Manager.
CDM.DLL.........Windows Update CDM Stub
corpol.dll......Microsoft COM Runtime Execution Engine
cryptsvc.dll....(Cryptographic Services). Needed by Cryptographic Services. Also needed to access Properties of Disk Drives.
dssenh.dll......(Microsoft Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider). Also needed by Internet Explorer.
ESENT.DLL.......(Server Database Storage Engine). Also needed to access Properties of Disk Drives.
iuengine.dll....Windows Update Control Engine
JSCRIPT.DLL.....(Microsoft ® JScript). Also needed by Services Viewer.

LegitCheckControl.dll.(Windows Genuine Advantage Validation). If you delete the LegitCheckControl.dll along with the other Windows Genuine Advantage files, (See PART 9 under Windows Genuine Advantage.), Microsoft Update will make it "mandatory" that you re-install WGA before it will allow you to continue to get Microsoft Updates--instead of giving you "the option" of installing WGA, as it does if you only delete the wgalogon.dll and the wgatray.exe files.

licdll.dll......Licdll Module
msidle.dll......User Idle Monitor
MSPATCHA.DLL....Microsoft® Patch Engine
muweb.dll.......(Microsoft Update Web Control). Installed by Microsoft Update Software.

pidgen.dll......(Pid3.0 generation). During Windows setup the pidgen.dll produces a PID (Product Identification) from the serial number entered.

qmgr.dll........(Background Intelligent Transfer Service). Main Service file for Background Intelligent Transfer.
SCHANNEL.DLL....(TLS / SSL Security Provider). Also needed by Internet Explorer.
SFC.DLL.........Windows File Protection
SHFOLDER.DLL....(Shell Folder Service). Also needed by PerfectDisk 6. (PerfectDisk 8 does not need the SHFOLDER.DLL.)

---------------------------------

webcheck.dll....(Web Site Monitor). Needed by Microsoft Update. You will need the webcheck.dll to install the new Microsoft Update software.

The C:\WINDOWS\Offline Web Pages folder stores downloaded Webpages for offline availability. By default, within the folder is the Web Document, "My Current Home Page". When you click on it, you will be taken to your Home Page. The URL you will then see in your Explorer address bar should read "about:Home". When you right-click on "My Current Home Page" and select Properties, you will see the options for Offline Synchronization.

When you remove the webcheck.dll, the options in Properties will no longer be available, and you will not be able to get to "about:Home". The "My Current Home Page" will become a desktop.ini. The Offline Web Pages folder itself will, after a time, lose its default icon, becoming a plain, manila folder, as any other. Or, it could lose its folder appearance entirely, and become a bland, file icon, like that of an .NLS file.

Additional Note: With the arrival of Internet Explorer 7, in addition to the webcheck.dll, you will need in place the "webcheck.dll.mui" in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\en-US folder in order to open "My Current Home Page Properties," and to be able to get to "about:Home".

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WINHTTP.DLL.....(Windows HTTP Services). Uncovered by Level, one of our forum members: The winhttp.dll is also needed to open Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Control Panel.

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WINSCARD.DLL....Microsoft Smart Card API
WLNOTIFY.DLL....Common DLL to receive Winlogon notifications

You need both the WINSCARD.DLL and the WLNOTIFY.DLL for these two functions: (Uncovered by one of our forum members, XiRoX.)

1.) When you right-click on a shortcut and select Properties from the context menu, "Find Target" is one of the buttons you will see in the opening dialog box. When clicked, the folder where the target file is located will open.

2.) When searching with your Search Assistant, should you right-click on a file displayed in the results panel, and then select "Open Containing Folder" from the context menu, the folder where the file is located will open.

So, you set your file-removal program to take out Microsoft Update. ...Oops!

I've said it countless times throughout this guide, many files have more than one purpose on a system. That is what makes deleting files with precision so difficult...and so important. And that is why removing whole components with file-removal programs is something I choose not to do.

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WTSAPI32.DLL....(Windows Terminal Server SDK APIs). Needed both to view the Automatic Updates tab in System Properties, and by Microsoft Update. Also needed to enter System Properties by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Properties without receiving this error: This application has failed to start because WTSAPI32.DLL was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this. However, System Properties will open after clicking OK on the error message even without this file present.

WUAPI.DLL.......Windows Update Client API
wuapi.dll.mui...Windows Update Client API
WUAUCLT.EXE.....(Windows Update). An auto-update client.
wuauclt1.exe....Windows Update AutoUpdate Client
wuaucpl.cpl.....(Automatic Updates Control Panel). Automatic Updates Control Panel applet.
wuaucpl.cpl.mui...Automatic Updates Control Panel
wuaueng.dll.....Windows Update AutoUpdate Engine
wuaueng.dll.mui...Windows Update Agent
WUAUENG1.DLL....Windows Update AutoUpdate Engine
wuauserv.dll....(Windows Update AutoUpdate Service). Main Service file for Automatic Updates.
WUCLTUI.DLL.....Windows Update Client UI Plugin
wucltui.dll.mui...Windows Update Client UI Plugin
wupdmgr.exe.....Windows Update Manager for NT
WUPS.DLL........Windows Update client proxy stub
wups2.dll.......Windows Update client proxy stub 2
WUWEB.DLL.......Windows Update Web Control

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Windows Media Player

See PART 9 under Windows Media Player Files for Windows Media Player files I delete. You will also find some additional Windows Media Player files I delete in PART 4 under C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player.

avifil32.dll....(Microsoft AVI File support library). If you download from the Megaupload site (and most likely if you upload to it too) you are going to need the avifil32.dll, along with the MFC42.DLL (DirectX file).

DBGHELP.dll.....(Windows Image Helper). Absolutely needed by Windows Media Player 11. Without it, when you click on something to play, a message tells you to re-install Windows Media Player. Also needed to install WMP11.

mcicda.dll......(MCI driver for cdaudio devices). Needed by Windows Media Player burning and ripping processes.

MFPLAT.dll......(Media Foundation Platform). To even open Windows Media Player 11.
msvfw32.dll.....(Microsoft Video for Windows DLL). Needed to open Windows Media Player.
WINMM.DLL.......MCI API DLL
WMASF.DLL.......Windows Media ASF DLL

WDMAUD.DRV......(WDM Audio driver mapper). Needed by Windows Media Player. Also needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game.

WMP.DLL.........(Windows Media Player Core). Needed to open Windows Media Player.

wmpdxm.dll......(Windows Media 6.4 Player Shim). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The wmpdxm.dll and the msdxm.ocx (a DirectX file) work together. The wmpdxm.dll is also needed to play media files with Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

wmpeffects.dll..(Windows Media Player Effects). Needed for visual effects while playing music with Windows Media Player 11.

WMPLOC.DLL......(Windows Media Player). Needed to open Windows Media Player.

wmpps.dll.......(Windows Media Player Proxy Stub Dll). Needed to rip music CDs using Windows Media Player 11 with file-name information intact, such as the name of the artist, album, song title. Without the wmpps.dll file present, the file-name information it will read and write as "01 Unknown Artist Track 1". Also needed to burn .WMA files to a CD using WMP11.

wmpshell.dll....(Windows Media Player Launcher). Without the wmpshell.dll present WMP cannot remember that it's supposed to open your media files. The Open With dialog box will open instead, asking you to choose a program you want to use to open the file. Even if you put a tick in "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file," WMP will not remember, and you'll have to do it all over again the next time you click to open a media file.

---------------------------------

Audio Codecs I do not delete:

l3codeca.acm....(MPEG Layer-3 Audio Codec for MSACM). Needed by Windows Media Player to play .mp3 music files, and also needed to be able to rip music CDs to the .mp3 format.

l3codecp.acm....(MPEG Audio Layer-3 Codec for MSACM). Needed by Windows Media Player to be able to rip music CDs to the .mp3 format.

wmadmod.dll.....(Windows Media Audio Decoder). Needed by Windows Media Player to play .WMA music files.

wmadmoe.dll.....(Windows Media Audio Encoder/Transcoder). Needed by Windows Media Player ripping process.

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Video Codecs I do not delete:

mpg4dmod.dll....(Corona Windows Media MPEG-4 S Video Decoder). Needed to be able to adjust the brightness in Windows Media Player for certain videos.

WMVDECOD.dll....(Windows Media Video Decoder). Needed to watch MSNBC videos online, and to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers with Windows Media Player 11 installed on your system.

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BATMETER.DLL....(Battery Meter Helper DLL). Needed to open Power Options in Control Panel.

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NLS Files

NLS Files are Code Page National Language Support, or National Language Services driver (font or font map).

A WORD OF CAUTION about NLS Files: Delete any one of these you shouldn't, and your system will not reboot. Delete others you shouldn't, and some Webpages will not display.

I live in the United States and have a U.S. computer. If you live outside of the United States, and are using a foreign from U.S. computer, you will need to check within the Layout.ini within your Prefetch folder to see exactly which NLS Files your system uses. The NLS Files you need to at least reboot your computer will be listed there.

Figuring out which other NLS Files are needed to display certain Webpages is a little more complicated. You kind of have to play with them a little.

Here's a trick. Group all your NLS Files together in the system32 folder, and highlight them all. Open any Webpage. Now try to delete all the NLS Files you have highlighted. The one being used by your open Webpage, is the one that won't delete.

For my U.S. computer, I keep these NLS Files:

c_437.nls.......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
c_932.nls
c_936.nls
c_949.nls
c_950.nls
c_1250.nls
c_1251.nls
c_1252.nls......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
c_1253.nls
c_1254.nls
c_1255.nls
c_1256.nls
c_1257.nls
c_20127.nls
c_28591.nls
ctype.nls.......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
l_intl.nls
locale.nls......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
sortkey.nls.....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
sorttbls.nls....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
unicode.nls.....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

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cabview.dll.....(Cabinet File Viewer Shell Extension). Needed to view inside .cab files.

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Needed by Device Manager

CABINET.DLL.....(Microsoft® Cabinet File API). Needed to access Properties of Devices in Device Manager. Also needed by Microsoft Update.

certcli.dll.....(Microsoft® Certificate Services Client). Needed to display Properties of devices in Device Manager.

cryptsvc.dll....(Cryptographic Services). Needed to access Properties of Disk Drives. Also needed by Cryptographic Services, which is needed by Microsoft Update.

devmgmt.msc.....(Computer Management Console). Needed to access Device Manager.
devmgr.dll......(Device Manager MMC Snapin). Needed to access Device Manager.
dmocx.dll.......(TreeView OCX). Needed to access Device Manager.

ESENT.DLL.......(Server Database Storage Engine). Needed to access Properties of Disk Drives. Also needed by Microsoft Update.

mfc42u.dll......(MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version). Needed to access Device Manager.
MMC.EXE.........(Microsoft Management Console). Needed to access Device Manager.
mmcbase.dll.....(MMC Base DLL). Needed to access Device Manager.
mmcndmgr.dll....(MMC Node Manager DLL). Needed to access Device Manager.
MSXML3.DLL .....(MSXML 3.0 SP 5). Needed to access Device Manager.
MSXML3R.DLL.....(XML Resources). Needed to access Device Manager.

stdole2.tlb.....(Microsoft OLE 3.50 for Windows NT™ and Windows 95™ Operating Systems). Needed to display Properties of Devices in Device Manager.

storprop.dll....(Property Pages for Storage Devices). Needed to view Advanced Settings tab in Primary IDE Channel and Secondary IDE Channel under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers in Device Manager.

usbui.dll.......(USB UI Dll). Needed to display Advanced tab in USB Universal Host Controller Properties, and Power tab in USB Root Hub Properties in Device Manager.

WMI.DLL.........(WMI DC and DP functionality). Needed to access Device Manager. Also needed to open Network Connections from Control Panel. And needed to enter Computer Management without first receiving an error.

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These files comprise CHKDSK

CFGMGR32.DLL....Configuration Manager Forwarder DLL
CHKDSK.EXE......(Check Disk). A disk inspection tool that can search for and repair disk errors.
fmifs.dll.......FM IFS Utility DLL
ifsutil.dll.....IFS Utility DLL
ULIB.DLL........File Utilities Support DLL
untfs.dll.......NTFS Utility DLL

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CLUSAPI.DLL.....(Cluster API Library). Needed to access Disk Management in Computer Management. Also needed by Microsoft Update to install February 20, 2006 update for Windows Media Player 10. An application programming interface (API) is the interface that a computer system, library or application provides in order to allow requests for service to be made of it by other computer programs, and/or to allow data to be exchanged between them.

CMD.EXE........(Command Prompt). Needed (at the very least) to be able to execute a batch file. An executable that provides the command prompt (MS-DOS shell interpreter) for Windows NT.

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Needed by Streaming Media

DCIMAN32.DLL....(DCI Manager). Needed by Websites with streaming media.

msdmo.dll.......(DMO Runtime). Without the msdmo.dll present, Windows Media Player will not play...anything. Also, the msdmo.dll is very much needed by Websites with streaming media.

msdxm.ocx.......(Windows Media Player 2 ActiveX Control). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The msdxm.ocx (DirectX file) and the wmpdxm.dll (Windows Media Player file) work together. The msdxm.ocx is also needed to start Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

RTUTILS.DLL.....(Routing Utilities). Needed by Websites with streaming media.

TAPI32.DLL......(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony API Client DLL). TAPI32.DLL is needed by streaming media on many sites.

vbscript.dll....(Microsoft ® VBScript). Needed by some Websites with streaming media. Also needed by Yahoo Chat.

wmpdxm.dll......(Windows Media 6.4 Player Shim). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The wmpdxm.dll and the msdxm.ocx (a DirectX file) work together. The wmpdxm.dll is also needed to play media files with Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

WMVDECOD.dll....(Windows Media Video Decoder). Needed to watch MSNBC videos online, and to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers with Windows Media Player 11 installed on your system.

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Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers

dispex.dll.......If this file is deleted, when you click on a link to watch a Yahoo Movie Trailer, two windows will open, each playing the same Trailer you selected. And many times, too, you will receive this error: iedw.exe - Unable To Locate Component. This application failed to start because DBGHELP.dll was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

iepeers.dll.....Internet Explorer Peer Objects

msdmo.dll.......(DMO Runtime). The msdmo.dll is very much needed by Websites with streaming media. Also, without the msdmo.dll present, Windows Media Player will not play...anything.

TAPI32.DLL......(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony API Client DLL). TAPI32.DLL is needed by streaming media on many sites.

wmnetmgr.dll....Windows Media Network Plugin Manager DLL
WMVCORE.DLL.....Windows Media Playback/Authoring DLL

WMVDECOD.dll....(Windows Media Video Decoder). Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers with Windows Media Player 11 installed on your system. Also needed to watch MSNBC videos online with WMP11 installed on your system.

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DirectX

Microsoft DirectX is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based computers an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as full-color graphics, video, 3D animation, and rich audio.

I don't play games on my computer, so I really have no need for the extra graphics and sound support DirectX has to offer. I do however keep a few DirectX files, as they are needed for other purposes. (See PART 9 for DirectX Files I Delete.)

d3d8thk.dll.....(Microsoft Direct3D OS Thunk Layer). Needed by ConvertXtoDVD.

d3d9.dll........(Microsoft Direct3D). If you update to NVIDIA display drivers version 93.71, the d3d9.dll is used by NVIDIA so that you can manually adjust Brightness, Contrast, Gamma and Image sharpening in Display Properties -> Settings -> Advanced -> NVIDIA Unknown (or your designated graphics card, depending upon whether or not you've chosen to delete the nvapi.dll) -> select Color Correction -> under "Apply color changes to:" click on the drop arrow to the right of the box and select "Overlay".

ddraw.dll.......(Microsoft DirectDraw). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

ddrawex.dll....(Direct Draw Ex). Keeping this file on your system, you will notice when browsing Webpages are snappier. A complete page can download much more rapidly. Without it, some pages may go through some odd behavior. You may notice extreme flashing throughout the page as it fully downloads.

devenum.dll.....(Device enumeration). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

dinput.dll......(Microsoft DirectInput). Needed by ffdshow.

dsound.dll......(DirectSound). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

dxtmsft.dll.....(DirectX Media -- Image DirectX Transforms). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

dxtrans.dll.....(DirectX Media -- DirectX Transform Core). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

ksproxy.ax......Installed by Sound Card driver installations from either the XP installation CD, or a cab file in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386. The installation will ask for the "ksuser.dll." Once located, the "ksproxy.ax" will be installed along with the "ksuser.dll to C:\WINDOWS\system32.

ksuser.dll.....(User CSA Library). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player. Installed by Sound Card driver installations from either the XP installation CD, or a cab file in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386. The installation will ask for the "ksuser.dll." Once located, the "ksuser.dll" will be installed along with the "ksproxy.ax" to C:\WINDOWS\system32.

MFC42.DLL.......(MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version). If you download from the Megaupload site (and most likely if you upload to it too) you are going to need the MFC42.DLL, along with the avifil32.dll (Windows Media Player file).

msdmo.dll.......(DMO Runtime). Without the msdmo.dll present, Windows Media Player will not play...anything. Also, the msdmo.dll is very much needed by Websites with streaming media.

msdxm.ocx.......(Windows Media Player 2 ActiveX Control). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The msdxm.ocx and the wmpdxm.dll (Windows Media Player file) work together. The msdxm.ocx is also needed to start Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

qasf.dll........(DirectShow ASF Support). Needed to play WMA music files and WMV video files with Media Player Classic, a third-party media player. GASF stands for Advanced Systems Format (formerly Advanced Streaming Format), Microsoft's proprietary digital audio/digital video container format, especially meant for streaming media. The most common file types contained within an ASF file are Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV).

qdvd.dll........(DirectShow DVD Playback Runtime). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

quartz.dll......(DirectShow Runtime). Needed by Windows Media Player and also NVDVD Player.

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Needed by NVDVD Player

ddraw.dll.......(Microsoft DirectDraw). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.
devenum.dll.....(Device enumeration). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.
dsound.dll......(DirectSound). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.
ksuser.dll......(User CSA Library). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

oledlg.dll......(Microsoft Windows™ OLE 2.0 User Interface Support). Needed to open NVDVD Player. Also needed by Wordpad.

olepro32.dll....Needed to open NVDVD Player.

qdvd.dll........(DirectShow DVD Playback Runtime). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

quartz.dll......(DirectShow Runtime). Needed by Windows Media Player and also NVDVD Player.

These files are installed and needed by NVDVD Player:

DolbyHph.dll....Dolby Headphone Engine

license.955200..When I deleted this seemingly harmless file, I started getting Memory/Application errors just as I would click to restart my computer. Even when I put the file back in the system32 folder, the errors would continue.

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Needed by Add/Remove Module

duser.dll.......(Windows DirectUser Engine). Also, if you delete this file, Windows will display the classic logoff and logon prompts. However, you can boot to Windows without it.

xpsp1res.dll ...(Service Pack 1 Messages). Needed to open Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel

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To Do With Fonts

FNTCACHE.DAT....(Font Cache). If deleted, Windows will rebuild a new FNTCACHE.DAT file the next time you reboot your system. After I delete all of the fonts outlined in PART 5, I delete the FNTCACHE.DAT and reboot my system. Windows then builds a fresh FNTCACHE.DAT.

fontext.dll.....(Windows Font Folder). Needed to maintain selected view of Font Folder, and also needed to display the default icon for .TTF Fonts

LZ32.DLL........(LZ Expand/Compress API DLL). Needed to properly display the default icon for .ttf extension fonts. And without it, should you double-click on a .ttf font file to view it in Font View, you will receive an Application Error telling you that this application failed to start because LZ32.dll was not found. However, the Font View will open after you click OK on the error. Reportedly, some installation setups fail to start, and the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag.exe) also exhibits an error upon loading.

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framebuf.dll....(Framebuffer Display Driver). Needed so graphics in Safemode don't look all screwed up.

GRPCONV.EXE.....(Group Convert). Needed for some programs to install. Converts Microsoft Windows 3.x and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Program Manager groups into Start Menu items.

hccoin.dll......(USB Coinstaller). Needed by Intel Chipset INF Update Utility.

hhctrl.ocx......(Microsoft® HTML Help Control). Part of Microsoft's HTML Help (.chm) format. One of three files needed to open *.chm help files. Also need to open *.chm help files are the itss.dll in the system32 folder, and the hh.exe in the WINDOWS folder. However, this is not the reason why I keep the hhctrl.ocx. I keep the hhctrl.ocx because it is also needed to be able to open WinAVIVideoConverter, a third-party program I have installed.

hid.dll.........(Hid User Library). Needed by Sound and Video Card driver installations. I'm sure other hardware device driver installations need it too. I know that it is also needed to open Realtek's Auto Configuration utility (soundman.exe), so I imagine it would also be needed by other manufacturers's Sound Card Auto Configuration utilities of like kind. HID stands for Human Interface Device, a type of computer device that interacts directly with and takes input from humans.

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Needed by Wordpad

html.iec........(Microsoft HTML Converter). Needed to be able to copy text from a Webpage and paste it to Wordpad.
mfc42u.dll......MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version
msftedit.dll....(Rich Text Edit Control, v4.1). Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control version 4.1.
oledlg.dll .....(Microsoft Windows™ OLE 2.0 User Interface Support). Also needed to open NVDVD Player.

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icmp.dll........(ICMP DLL). Needed in order to install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. Also needed by TCPOptimizer. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is used when networking. It ensures the integrity of information being sent across a network.

Let's suppose you installed your Windows XP installation using a pre-install file-removal program. Or, suppose even that you setup your system post-install, using a post-install file-removal program. You discover that you cannot install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. You uncover the source of your problem, or in file-removal program terms, "which component you need" in order to be able install the PCPitStop Utility. You would probably be told to redo your installation, and this time, leave Routing and Remote Access Service installed. This means that you would be leaving the icmp.dll installed...along with an additional 24 system32 files, and 8 drivers in your drivers folder, which you actually don't need to install the PCPitStop Utility. So you've defeated your purpose to remove all unnecessary files from your Windows XP installation.

File removal programs give you a choice: keep an entire Windows component and all its associated files, or remove the component completely, and lose functionality elsewhere.

---------------------------------

imm32.dll......(Windows XP IMM32 API Client DLL). You cannot enter System Properties without the imm32.dll or the usp10.dll present.

inetcplc.dll....(Internet Control Panel). Needed to access Internet Options.

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Needed by Microsoft's Pinball Game

MSACM32.dll.....(Microsoft ACM Audio Filter). Needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game. Also needed to open Audio tab in Sound and Audio Device properties. You cannot view or change multimedia properties without this file. The msacm32.dll contains program code that is used by windows when working with compressed audio files.

MSACM32.DRV.....(Microsoft Sound Mapper). Needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game.

WDMAUD.DRV......(WDM Audio driver mapper). Needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game. Also needed by Windows Media Player.

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msconfig.exe....(System Configuration Utility). Designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your computer. MSCONFIG can also be used to ensure that your computer boots faster and crashes less. In PART 5 I moved msconfig.exe to the system32 folder from C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries before I deleted the pchealth folder and its contents.

MSHTML.TLB......(Microsoft ® MSHTML Typelib). Needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with a .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with a .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll and inetres.dll Outlook Express files.

MSHTMLED.DLL....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component). Gives you the ability to edit HTML. An example of this would be when you edit one of your posts on some forums. You wouldn't be able to do that without this file.

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Windows Installer

Windows Installer uses the information within .MSI files that are provided with some applications, and installs, repairs, or removes software using this information. You can view these .MSI (Windows Installer File) files within the C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder.

MSI.DLL.........(Windows Installer). Also needed by PerfectDisk 6. (PerfectDisk 8 does not need the MSI.DLL.)
MSIEXEC.EXE.....(Windows Installer). Main Service File for Windows Installer.
msihnd.dll......Windows® installer
msisip.dll......(MSI Signature SIP Provider). SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol.

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MSPAINT.EXE.....(Microsoft Paint). A basic graphics creation and viewing tool.

MSVBVM60.DLL....(Visual Basic Virtual Machine). Contains program code used to run programs that are written in the Visual Basic programming language. As one example, CCleaner, a very popular program needs this file.

mydocs.dll.....(My Documents Folder UI). Needed to properly display the My Documents Icon.

newdev.dll......(Add Hardware Device Library). Needed by Sound and Video Card driver installations. I'm sure other hardware device driver installations need it too.

OLETHK32.DLL....(Microsoft OLE for Windows). Needed by Nero.

NOTEPAD.EXE.....(Notepad). Notepad text-editing utility.

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NVIDIA Display Drivers (See PART 9 for NVIDIA files I delete.)

I keep these NVIDIA files in C:\WINDOWS\system32:

nv4_disp.dll....(NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display driver). Essential for Display Adapter, and needed to boot to Windows.

nvapps.xml......You can delete this file, but it will only return after a reboot.
nvcod.dll.......NVIDIA Driver CoInstaller
nvcpl.dll.......NVIDIA Display Properties Extension

nvdisp.nvu......When I deleted this seemingly harmless file, I started getting Memory/Application errors just as I would click to restart my computer. Even when I put the file back in the system32 folder, the errors would continue. Also, if you open the file with Notepad, you will be able to see that it gives proper guidance to the uninstall process. It directs what to remove and what to UnRegister in the registry.

nvshell.dll.....NVIDIA Desktop Explorer

nvudisp.exe.....(NVIDIA Uninstaller Utility). Needed by NVIDIA to uninstall older drivers before installing new drivers during the updating process.

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occache.dll.....(Object Control Viewer). Needed to view icon for ActiveX objects in Downloaded Program Files. Otherwise the ActiveX objects show up as .ini files.

POWRPROF.DLL....(Power Profile Helper DLL). Along with the powercfg.cpl, needed to enter Power Options where you can adjust how you want your computer to power down. Without this file present, you will receive an error when opening Properties for your Keyboard. However, the Properties for Keyboard will eventually open.

REGSVR32.EXE....(Microsoft© Register Server). You can use the Regsvr32 tool (Regsvr32.exe) to Register and UnRegister object linking and embedding (OLE) controls such as dynamic-link library (DLL) or ActiveX Controls (OCX) files that are self-registerable.

rshx32.dll......(Security Shell Extension). The Rshx32.dll controls the Security tab in Properties of files and folders. (To be able to see the Security tab in XP Home Edition you must be in Safemode.)

RUNDLL32.EXE....(Run DLL). Used to run DLL files from a command line.
RUNONCE.EXE.....(Run Once). Used to perform tasks as defined in the RunOnce Registry key.

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SC.EXE..........(A tool to aid in developing services for Windows NT). Communicates with the Service Controller and installed services. The SC.exe retrieves and sets control information about Services.

When I run Acronis True Image 10 or PerfectDisk 8 their Services start-up. And even though I have these Services set to Manual, they do not stop automatically when I close the programs. I use a batch file to stop these Services from continuing to run in the background. The SC.EXE is needed in order for that batch file to work.

Originally, I was using the NET STOP command in my batch file to perform this task, which required the presence of three system32 files: NET1.EXE, NET.EXE and netrap.dll. A special thanks one of our forum members, mhc, for showing me how I could perform this same task using the SC STOP command, while needing the presence of only a single file, SC.EXE.

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Installed by Acronis True Image 10

acrotls.dll.....(Acronis TLS for Win32). TLS = Transport Layer Security.
msvcp71.dll.....Microsoft® C++ Runtime Library
msvcr71.dll.....Microsoft® C Runtime Library
relog_ap.dll....Acronis Relogon Authentication Package
snapapi.dll.....(Acronis Snapshot Dynamic Link Library). Application programming interface.

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Needed to display Properties button in Control Panel > Keyboard > Hardware without receiving an error

sfcfiles.dll....Windows 2000 System File Checker
syssetup.dll....Windows NT System Setup

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shellstyle.dll..(Windows Shell Style Resource Dll). If you choose to use the Windows Classic theme, and delete the Themes folder and its contents, you will still need the shellstyle.dll that is in the system32 folder in order to gain access to the Add or Remove Programs panel. (For a complete explanation of the shellstyle.dll see PART 5 under C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes.)

shimgvw.dll ....(Windows Picture and Fax Viewer). Needed to display saved image files.

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shsvcs.dll......(Windows Shell Services Dll). Main Service file for Shell Hardware Detection.

Shell Hardware Detection allows you the option of selecting what action you wish taken with a type of file on a CD or DVD, (Music files, Pictures, Video files, a Music CD, or a DVD movie), when you place the disc into one of your optical drives. When you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, when checking the Properties of an optical drive, you won't have the AutoPlay tab available. (Where you would normally make these selections.) Everything else will work fine with your optical drives. You just won't have the AutoPlay selections available to you.

If you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in "My Computer," you may not see your optical drives displayed as "DVD Drive" and/or "DVD-RW Drive." They will still be displayed, only now they might be displayed simply as "CD Drive."

Also, if you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in Display Properties under the Appearance tab, you will no longer be able to choose the Windows XP Theme over the Windows Classic Theme.

---------------------------------------

SHUTDOWN.EXE....(Remote Shutdown Tool). Allows shutdowns and restarts on local or remote PCs. I need this file to create a reboot computer shortcut in my Quick Launch.

SNDVOL32.EXE....(Volume Control). A GUI (Graphical User Interface) volume application.

stdole2.tlb....(Microsoft OLE 3.50 for Windows NT™ and Windows 95™ Operating Systems). After deleting the stdole2.tlb and rebooting your system, you may be unable to launch the Search Assistant. Placing the file back in the system32 folder immediately corrects this issue, without having to reboot. When you delete one or both the stdole2.tlb or the stdole32.tlb from the system32 folder, when installing a program that uses InstallShield, you may receive the following error message: The install Shield engine "ikernel.exe" could not be launched -Error loading type library /dll. This issue may also occur if the stdole.tlb is missing from the C:\WINDOWS\system folder. (See PART 5.)

stdole32.tlb....(Microsoft OLE 2.1 for Windows NT™ Operating System). When you delete one or both the stdole32.tlb or the stdole2.tlb from the system32 folder, when installing a program that uses InstallShield, you may receive the following error message: The install Shield engine "ikernel.exe" could not be launched -Error loading type library /dll. This issue may also occur if the stdole.tlb is missing from the C:\WINDOWS\system folder. (See PART 5.)

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Needed by Windows Task Manager

TASKMGR.EXE.....(Task Manager). The Task Manager application.
vdmdbg.dll......(VDMDBG.DLL). Needed to access Task Manager.

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themeui.dll.....(Windows Theme API). Needed by Display Properties.

usp10.dll.......(Uniscribe Unicode script processor). You cannot enter System Properties without the usp10.dll or the imm32.dll present.

zipfldr.dll ......(Compressed (zipped) Folders). Needed to package files in Compressed (zipped) form.

There are undoubtedly more important reasons for not deleting some of these files, as many files do have multiple uses. The reasons given here why I do not delete these 350 files are just the first good reasons I bumped into. If I couldn't boot to Windows without a particular file, there didn't seem much need to look for other reasons why I should keep it. The same would apply if a Windows feature I use wouldn't work without a particular file.

You will read below about the files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers. (I'm just using this as one example.) This does not mean those are the only files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers. It certainly goes without saying you will be needing some Internet Explorer files...just to be able to get to the Yahoo Movie Trailers.

Just as I had Internet Explorer setup before I uncovered which files were necessary for Microsoft Update, the files listed as necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers, I uncovered after I had certain other Windows features setup on my system. For all I know, you may need a Microsoft Update file to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers, but since I had Microsoft Update setup first... Well, you can see what I'm getting at.

It is highly probable too that some files necessary to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers are also needed by other Windows features. You yourself may delete one of the Yahoo Movie Trailer files, thinking you never watch them anyway, and might then discover something else on your system doesn't work.

This principle applies to many many Windows features. Files have multiple uses. It's that simple, and that complicated. This is the very reason I am not a proponent of removing whole Windows components using file-removal programs. Files need to be removed with precision.

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acctres.dll.....(Microsoft Internet Account Manager Resources). Needed to open Outlook Express.

aclui.dll.......(Security Descriptor Editor). Needed to open Registry Editor.

acrotls.dll.....(Acronis TLS for Win32). TLS = Transport Layer Security. Installed by Acronis True Image 10.

ACTIVEDS.DLL....(ADs Router Layer DLL). Needed to open the Event and Services Viewers. And also needed by PerfectDisk.

actxprxy.dll....(ActiveX Interface Marshaling Library). Essential to Internet Explorer.

ADSLDPC.DLL.....(ADs LDAP Provider C DLL). Needed to open the Event and Services Viewers. And also needed by PerfectDisk.

ADVAPI32.DLL....(Advanced Windows 32 Base API). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides access to the fundamental resources available to a Windows system. Included are things like file systems, devices, processes and threads, access to the Windows registry, and error handling.

ADVPACK.DLL.....(Advpack Library). Needed by Microsoft Update. When you delete this file your Microsoft Update Start Menu shortcut (the one created by Microsoft Update) is no longer functional. You can create a new shortcut, but Microsoft Update will still need the ADVPACK.DLL to function.

apphelp.dll......(Application Compatibility Client Library). Should you install SP3, know that the Management Console is now dependent upon the apphelp.dll and will not open without it being present.

appwiz.cpl......(Shell Application Manager). Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet.

ASYCFILT.DLL....Allows applications to communicate between each other using Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

ATL.DLL.........(ATL Module for Windows XP (Unicode). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed to open Event and Services Viewers. And needed by Outlook Express. Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly.

ATTRIB.EXE......(Attribute Utility). Displays or changes file attributes (read-only, archive, hidden, or system). I keep this file because I need it for a few of my batch files which remove files with Hidden file attributes.

AUDIOSRV.DLL....(Windows Audio Service). Needed to hear sound on your computer. Main Service file for Windows Audio.

AUTHZ.DLL ......(Authorization Framework). Needed to boot to Windows.

AUTOCHK.EXE.....(Auto Check Disk). Needed to boot to Windows. Launches automatically during Windows XP bootup if a volume is marked as dirty (has bad clusters, has error blocks, or is otherwise damaged).

avifil32.dll....(Microsoft AVI File support library). If you download from the Megaupload site (and most likely if you upload to it too) you are going to need the avifil32.dll (Windows Media Player file), along with the MFC42.DLL (DirectX file).

BASESRV.DLL.....(Windows NT BASE API Server DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

BATMETER.DLL....(Battery Meter Helper DLL). Needed to open Power Options in Control Panel.

bootvid.dll.....(VGA Boot Driver). Needed to boot to Windows.

BROWSELC.DLL....(Shell Browser UI Library). Important for IE Toolbar. IE Toolbar will look messed up without it, and you cannot right-click access "Customize" without it.

BROWSEUI.DLL....(Shell Browser UI Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

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NLS Files

NLS Files are Code Page National Language Support, or National Language Services driver (font or font map).

A WORD OF CAUTION about NLS Files: Delete any one of these you shouldn't, and your system will not reboot. Delete others you shouldn't, and some Webpages will not display.

I live in the United States and have a U.S. computer. If you live outside of the United States, and are using a foreign from U.S. computer, you will need to check within the Layout.ini within your Prefetch folder to see exactly which NLS Files your system uses. The NLS Files you need to at least reboot your computer will be listed there.

Figuring out which other NLS Files are needed to display certain Webpages is a little more complicated. You kind of have to play with them a little.

Here's a trick. Group all your NLS Files together in the system32 folder, and highlight them all. Open any Webpage. Now try to delete all the NLS Files you have highlighted. The one being used by your open Webpage, is the one that won't delete.

For my U.S. computer, I keep these NLS Files:

c_437.nls.......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

c_932.nls
c_936.nls
c_949.nls
c_950.nls

c_1250.nls
c_1251.nls
c_1252.nls......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
c_1253.nls
c_1254.nls
c_1255.nls
c_1256.nls
c_1257.nls

c_20127.nls

c_28591.nls

ctype.nls.......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

l_intl.nls
locale.nls......<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

sortkey.nls.....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.
sorttbls.nls....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

unicode.nls.....<-- Needed to boot to Windows.

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CABINET.DLL.....(Microsoft® Cabinet File API). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed to access Properties of Devices in Device Manager.

cabview.dll.....(Cabinet File Viewer Shell Extension). Needed to view inside .cab files.

CDM.DLL.........(Windows Update CDM Stub). Needed by Microsoft Update.

certcli.dll.....(Microsoft® Certificate Services Client). Needed to display Properties of devices in Device Manager.

CFGMGR32.DLL....(Configuration Manager Forwarder DLL). Part of CHKDSK.

CHKDSK.EXE......(Check Disk). Part of CHKDSK. A disk inspection tool that can search for and repair disk errors.

clb.dll.........(Column List Box). Needed to open Registry Editor.

CLUSAPI.DLL.....(Cluster API Library). Needed to access Disk Management in Computer Management. Also needed by Microsoft Update to install February 20, 2006 update for Windows Media Player 10. An application programming interface (API) is the interface that a computer system, library or application provides in order to allow requests for service to be made of it by other computer programs, and/or to allow data to be exchanged between them.

CMD.EXE.........(Command Prompt). Needed (at the very least) to be able to execute a batch file. An executable that provides the command prompt (MS-DOS shell interpreter) for Windows NT.

COMCTL32.DLL....(Common Controls Library). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides the functionality to create and manage screen windows and most basic controls, such as buttons and scrollbars, receive mouse and keyboard input, and other functionality associated with the GUI part of Windows. Gives applications access to some advanced controls provided by the operating system. These include things like status bars, progress bars, toolbars and tabs.

COMDLG32.DLL....(Common Dialogs DLL). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides applications the standard dialog boxes for opening and saving files, choosing color and font, etc.

corpol.dll......(Microsoft COM Runtime Execution Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update.

CRYPT32.DLL.....(Crypto API32). Needed to boot to Windows.

CRYPTDLL.DLL....(Cryptography Manager). Needed to boot to Windows.

cryptsvc.dll....(Cryptographic Services). Needed by Cryptographic Services, which is needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed to access Properties of Disk Drives.

CRYPTUI.DLL.....(Microsoft Trust UI Provider). Needed to boot to Windows.

CSCDLL.DLL......(Offline Network Agent). After installing Internet Explorer 7, If this file is not present your system can lockup while working at your Desktop.

CSCUI.DLL.......(Client Side Caching UI). After installing Internet Explorer 7, If this file is not present your system can lockup while working at your Desktop.

CSRSRV.DLL......(Client Server Runtime Process). Needed to boot to Windows.

CSRSS.EXE ......(Client-Server Runtime Server Subsystem). Needed to boot to Windows. Used to maintain the Win32 system environment console and other essential functions.

d3d8thk.dll.....(Microsoft Direct3D OS Thunk Layer). Needed by ConvertXtoDVD.

d3d9.dll........(Microsoft Direct3D). If you update to NVIDIA display drivers version 93.71, the d3d9.dll is used by NVIDIA so that you can manually adjust Brightness, Contrast, Gamma and Image sharpening in Display Properties -> Settings -> Advanced -> NVIDIA Unknown (or your designated graphics card, depending upon whether or not you've chosen to delete the nvapi.dll) -> select Color Correction -> under "Apply color changes to:" click on the drop arrow to the right of the box and select "Overlay".

DBGHELP.dll.....(Windows Image Helper). Absolutely needed by Windows Media Player 11. Without it, when you click on something to play, a message tells you to re-install Windows Media Player. Also needed to install WMP11.

DCIMAN32.DLL....(DCI Manager). Needed by Websites with streaming media.

ddraw.dll.......(Microsoft DirectDraw). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

ddrawex.dll.....(Direct Draw Ex). Keeping this file on your system, you will notice when browsing Webpages are snappier. A complete page can download much more rapidly. Without it, some pages may go through some odd behavior. You may notice extreme flashing throughout the page as it fully downloads.

desk.cpl........(Desktop Control Panel). Display Properties Control Panel applet.

devenum.dll.....(Device enumeration). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

devmgmt.msc.....(Computer Management Console). Needed to access Device Manager.

devmgr.dll......(Device Manager MMC Snapin). Needed to access Device Manager.

DHCPCSVC.DLL....(DHCP Client Service). Needed for Internet connectivity. Main Service file for DHCP Client.

dinput.dll......(Microsoft DirectInput). Needed by ffdshow.

dispex.dll.......If this file is deleted, when you click on a link to watch a Yahoo Movie Trailer, two windows will open, each playing the same Trailer you selected. And many times, too, you will receive this error: iedw.exe - Unable To Locate Component. This application failed to start because DBGHELP.dll was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

dmocx.dll.......(TreeView OCX). Needed to access Device Manager.

DNSAPI.DLL......(DNS Client API DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

DolbyHph.dll....(Dolby Headphone Engine). Installed and needed by NVDVD Player.

dpcdll.dll......(Dpcdll Module). Needed to boot to Windows. Product Code activation.

dsound.dll......(DirectSound). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

dssenh.dll......(Microsoft Enhanced DSS and Diffie-Hellman Cryptographic Provider). Needed by Internet Explorer. Also needed by Microsoft Update.

duser.dll.......(Windows DirectUser Engine). Needed by Add/Remove Module. Also, if you delete this file Windows will display the classic logoff and logon prompts. However, you can boot to Windows without it.

dxtmsft.dll.....(DirectX Media -- Image DirectX Transforms). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

dxtrans.dll.....(DirectX Media -- DirectX Transform Core). When you delete this file the "Next" button of the Windows Media Player displayed when watching video on MSNBC has a small white blank box covering it so you can't use it.

ELS.DLL.........(Event Viewer Snapin). Needed by Event Viewer.

ESENT.DLL.......(Server Database Storage Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed to access Properties of Disk Drives.

EVENTLOG.DLL ...(Event Logging Service). Needed by Event Viewer. Without this file present it will take a very long time for your system to boot to Windows.

EVENTVWR.EXE....(Event Viewer Microsoft Management Console). Needed by Event Viewer. Main Service file for Event Log.

eventvwr.msc....(Event Viewer Microsoft Management Console). Needed by Event Viewer.

filemgmt.dll....(Services and Shared Folders). Needed by Services Viewer.

fmifs.dll.......(FM IFS Utility DLL). Part of CHKDSK.

FNTCACHE.DAT....(Font Cache). If deleted, Windows will rebuild a new FNTCACHE.DAT the next time you reboot your system. After I delete all of the fonts outlined in PART 5, I delete the FNTCACHE.DAT and reboot my system. Windows then builds a fresh FNTCACHE.DAT.

fontext.dll.....(Windows Font Folder). Needed to maintain selected view of Font Folder, and also needed to display the default icon for .TTF Fonts

framebuf.dll....(Framebuffer Display Driver). Needed so graphics in Safemode don't look all screwed up

GDI32.DLL.......(GDI Client DLL). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides the functionality for outputting graphical content to monitors, printers and other output devices.

GRPCONV.EXE.....(Group Convert). Needed for some programs to install. Converts Microsoft Windows 3.x and Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Program Manager groups into Start Menu items.

hal.dll.........(Hardware Abstraction Layer). Needed to boot to Windows.

hccoin.dll......(USB Coinstaller). Needed by Intel Chipset INF Update Utility.

hid.dll.........(Hid User Library). Needed by Sound and Video Card driver installations. I'm sure other hardware device driver installations need it too. I know that it is also needed to open Realtek's Auto Configuration utility (soundman.exe), so I imagine it would also be needed by other manufacturers's Sound Card Auto Configuration utilities of like kind. HID stands for Human Interface Device, a type of computer device that interacts directly with and takes input from humans.

html.iec........(Microsoft HTML Converter). Needed to be able to copy text from a Webpage and paste it to Wordpad.

---------------------------------

icmp.dll........(ICMP DLL). Needed in order to install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. Also needed by TCPOptimizer. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is used when networking. It ensures the integrity of information being sent across a network.

Let's suppose you installed your Windows XP installation using a pre-install file-removal program. Or, suppose even that you setup your system post-install, using a post-install file-removal program. You discover that you cannot install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. You uncover the source of your problem, or in file-removal program terms, "which component you need" in order to be able install the PCPitStop Utility. You would probably be told to redo your installation, and this time, leave Routing and Remote Access Service installed. This means that you would be leaving the icmp.dll installed...along with an additional 24 system32 files, and 8 drivers in your drivers folder, which you actually don't need to install the PCPitStop Utility. So you've defeated your purpose to remove all unnecessary files from your Windows XP installation.

File removal programs give you a choice: keep an entire Windows component and all its associated files, or remove the component completely, and lose functionality elsewhere.

---------------------------------

ieframe.dll.....(Internet Explorer). Essential to Internet Explorer 7. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

ieframe.dll.mui.(Internet Explorer). Needed by Internet Explorer 7 Toolbar. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

iepeers.dll.....(Internet Explorer Peer Objects). Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers.

iertutil.dll....(Run time utility for Internet Explorer). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The iertutil.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

ieui.dll........(Internet Explorer UI Engine). Essential to Internet Explorer 7. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

ifsutil.dll.....(IFS Utility DLL). Part of CHKDSK.

IMAGEHLP.DLL....(Windows NT Image Helper). Needed to boot to Windows.

imgutil.dll.....(IE plugin image decoder support DLL). Belongs to Internet Explorer. Needed so you don't see those little red x's in place of some images

imm32.dll.......(Windows XP IMM32 API Client DLL). You cannot enter System Properties without the imm32.dll or the usp10.dll present.

inetcomm.dll....(Microsoft Internet Messaging API). Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly. Additionally, the inetcomm.dll is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetres.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

inetcpl.cpl.....(Internet Control Panel). Internet Options Control Panel applet.

inetcplc.dll....(Internet Control Panel). Needed to access Internet Options.

inetres.dll.....(Microsoft Internet Messaging API Resources). Without this file Outlook Express will not open. You will receive this message when you click on the Outlook Express shortcut: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOERES.DLL could not be found. Outlook Express may not be installed correctly. Additionally, the inetres.dll is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

IPHLPAPI.DLL....(IP Helper API). Needed to boot to Windows.

iuengine.dll....(Windows Update Control Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update.

JSCRIPT.DLL.....(Microsoft ® JScript). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed by Services Viewer.

kbdus.dll.......(United States Keyboard Layout). Needed to boot to Windows. You may need a different KBD*.DLL depending on your system. (See PART 7.)

kdcom.dll.......(Kernel Debugger HW Extension DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

kernel32.dll....(Windows NT BASE API Client DLL). Needed to boot to Windows. Provides access to the fundamental resources available to a Windows system. Included are things like file systems, devices, processes and threads, access to the Windows registry, and error handling.

ksproxy.ax......Installed by Sound Card driver installations from either the XP installation CD, or a cab file in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386. The installation will ask for the "ksuser.dll." Once located, the "ksproxy.ax" will be installed along with the "ksuser.dll to C:\WINDOWS\system32.

ksuser.dll.....(User CSA Library). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player. Installed by Sound Card driver installations from either the XP installation CD, or a cab file in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386. The installation will ask for the "ksuser.dll." Once located, the "ksuser.dll" will be installed along with the "ksproxy.ax" to C:\WINDOWS\system32.

l3codeca.acm....(MPEG Layer-3 Audio Codec for MSACM). Needed by Windows Media Player to play .mp3 music files, and also needed to be able to rip music CDs to the .mp3 format.

l3codecp.acm....(MPEG Audio Layer-3 Codec for MSACM). Needed by Windows Media Player to be able to rip music CDs to the .mp3 format.

LegitCheckControl.dll.(Windows Genuine Advantage Validation). Needed by Microsoft Update. If you delete the LegitCheckControl.dll along with the other Windows Genuine Advantage files, (See PART 9 under Windows Genuine Advantage.), Microsoft Update will make it "mandatory" that you re-install WGA before it will allow you to continue to get Microsoft Updates--instead of giving you "the option" of installing WGA, as it does if you only delete the wgalogon.dll and the wgatray.exe files.

licdll.dll......(Licdll Module). Needed by Windows Update.

license.955200..Installed by NVDVD Player. When I deleted this seemingly harmless file, I started getting Memory/Application errors just as I would click to restart my computer. Even when I put the file back in the system32 folder, the errors would continue.

LOGONUI.EXE.....(Windows Logon User Interface). The user interface that appears when Windows XP first starts. If you delete this file, Windows will display the classic logoff and logon prompts. However, you can boot up to Windows without it.

LSASRV.DLL......(LSA Server DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

LSASS.EXE.......(LSA Security Service). Needed to boot to Windows. The Local Security Authority server process.

LZ32.DLL........(LZ Expand/Compress API DLL). Needed to properly display the default icon for .ttf extension fonts. And without it, should you double-click on a .ttf font file to view it in Font View, you will receive an Application Error telling you that this application failed to start because LZ32.dll was not found. However, the Font View will open after you click OK on the error. Reportedly, some installation setups fail to start, and the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag.exe) also exhibits an error upon loading.

main.cpl........(Control Panel DLL). Mouse Properties and Keyboard Properties Control Panel applets. If you delete the main.cpl to remove the Mouse Properties and Keyboard Properties Control Panel applets, the default icons for Administrative Tools and the Fonts Folder shortcuts in the Control Panel will eventually disappear. (You will however still be able to use the shortcuts for Administrative Tools and the Fonts Folder.) After you reboot your system their icons will reappear, but only temporarily.

mcicda.dll......(MCI driver for cdaudio devices). Needed by Windows Media Player burning and ripping processes.

MFC42.DLL.......(MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version). If you download from the Megaupload site (and most likely if you upload to it too) you are going to need the MFC42.DLL (DirectX file), along with the avifil32.dll (Windows Media Player file).

mfc42u.dll......(MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version). Needed to open Event and Services Viewers. Needed to access Device Manager. And also needed by Wordpad.

MFPLAT.dll......(Media Foundation Platform). To even open Windows Media Player 11.

MLANG.DLL.......(Multi Language Support DLL). Essential to Internet Explorer.

MMC.EXE.........(Microsoft Management Console). Needed to open Event and Services Viewers. Also needed to access Device Manager.

mmcbase.dll.....(MMC Base DLL). Needed by Event and Services Viewers. Also needed to access Device Manager.

mmcndmgr.dll....(MMC Node Manager DLL). Needed by Event and Services Viewers. Also needed to access Device Manager.

mpg4dmod.dll....(Corona Windows Media MPEG-4 S Video Decoder). Needed to be able to adjust the brightness in Windows Media Player for certain videos.

MPR.DLL.........(Multiple Provider Router DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

MPRAPI.DLL......(Windows NT MP Router Administration DLL). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel.

MSACM32.dll.....(Microsoft ACM Audio Filter). Needed to open Audio tab in Sound and Audio Device properties. You cannot view or change multimedia properties without this file. Also needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game.

MSACM32.DRV.....(Microsoft Sound Mapper). Needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game.

MSASN1.DLL......(ASN.1 Runtime APIs). Needed to boot to Windows.

msconfig.exe....(System Configuration Utility). Designed to help you troubleshoot problems with your computer. MSCONFIG can also be used to ensure that your computer boots faster and crashes less. In PART 5 I moved msconfig.exe to the system32 folder from C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries before I deleted the pchealth folder and its contents.

MSCTFIME.IME....(Microsoft Text Frame Work Service IME). Installed with Internet Explorer 7. If this file is not present your system could lockup while working at your Desktop.

msdmo.dll.......(DMO Runtime). Without the msdmo.dll present, Windows Media Player will not play...anything. Also, the msdmo.dll is very much needed by Websites with streaming media.

msdxm.ocx.......(Windows Media Player 2 ActiveX Control). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The msdxm.ocx (DirectX file) and the wmpdxm.dll (Windows Media Player file) work together. The msdxm.ocx is also needed to start Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

msftedit.dll....(Rich Text Edit Control, v4.1). Needed by Wordpad. Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control version 4.1.

MSGINA.DLL......(Windows NT Logon GINA DLL). Needed to boot to Windows. Loads Logon User Interface.

mshtml.dll......(Microsoft ® HTML Viewer). Needed by Internet Explorer.

MSHTML.TLB......(Microsoft ® MSHTML Typelib). Needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll, the inetres.dll and the MSOERT2.DLL (Outlook Express files).

MSHTMLED.DLL....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component). Gives you the ability to edit HTML. An example of this would be when you edit one of your posts on some forums. You wouldn't be able to do that without this file.

mshtmler.dll....(Microsoft ® HTML Editing Component's Resource DLL). Needed to insert a picture in E-mail using Outlook Express.

MSI.DLL.........(Windows Installer). Needed by Windows Installer. Also needed by PerfectDisk 6. (PerfectDisk 8 does not need the MSI.DLL.)

msident.dll.....(Microsoft Identity Manager). Needed by Outlook Express.

msidle.dll......(User Idle Monitor). Needed by Microsoft Update.

msidntld.dll....(Microsoft Identity Manager). Needed by Outlook Express.

MSIEXEC.EXE.....(Windows Installer). Main Service File for Windows Installer. Windows Installer uses the information within .MSI files that are provided with some applications, and installs, repairs, or removes software using this information. Note: You can view these .MSI (Windows Installer File) files within the C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder.

msihnd.dll......Needed by Windows Installer.

MSIMG32.DLL.....(GDIEXT Client DLL). Without this file present, upon booting to Windows, you will need to click OK on a Logon Message in order to enter Windows.

msisip.dll......(MSI Signature SIP Provider). Windows Installer file. SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol.

msls31.dll......(Microsoft Line Services library file). Essential to Internet Explorer.

MSOEACCT.DLL....(Microsoft Internet Account Manager). Needed by Outlook Express.

MSOERT2.DLL.....(Microsoft Outlook Express RT Lib). Needed by Outlook Express. Additionally, the MSOERT2.DLL is needed in order to save a Webpage as an offline Webpage with an .mht extension. Also needed to save an offline Webpage with an .mht extension are the inetcomm.dll and the inetres.dll (Outlook Express files), and the MSHTML.TLB (Internet Explorer file).

MSPAINT.EXE.....(Microsoft Paint). A basic graphics creation and viewing tool.

MSPATCHA.DLL....(Microsoft® Patch Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update.

MSPRIVS.DLL.....(Microsoft Privilege Translations). Needed to boot to Windows.

msrating.dll....(Internet Ratings and Local User Management DLL). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll.

MSV1_0.DLL......(Microsoft Authentication Package v1.0). Needed to boot to Windows.

MSVBVM60.DLL....(Visual Basic Virtual Machine). Contains program code used to run programs that are written in the Visual Basic programming language. As one example, CCleaner, a very popular program needs this file.

MSVCP60.DLL.....(Microsoft ® C++ Runtime Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

msvcp71.dll.....(Microsoft® C++ Runtime Library). Installed by Acronis True Image 10.

msvcr71.dll.....(Microsoft® C Runtime Library). Installed by Acronis True Image 10.

MSVCRT.DLL......(Windows NT CRT DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

msvfw32.dll.....(Microsoft Video for Windows DLL). Needed to open Windows Media Player.

MSWSOCK.DLL.....(Microsoft Windows Sockets 2.0 Service Provider). Essential to Internet Explorer.

MSXML3.DLL......(MSXML 3.0 SP 5). Needed by Event and Services Viewers. Also needed to access Device Manager.

MSXML3R.DLL.....(XML Resources). Needed by Event and Services Viewers. Also needed to access Device Manager.

muweb.dll.......(Microsoft Update Web Control). Installed by Microsoft Update Software.

mydocs.dll......(My Documents Folder UI). Needed to properly display the My Documents Icon.

NCOBJAPI.DLL....Needed to boot to Windows.

NDDEAPI.DLL.....(Network DDE Share Management APIs). Needed to boot to Windows.

NETAPI32.DLL....(Net Win32 API DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

newdev.dll......(Add Hardware Device Library). Needed by Sound and Video Card driver installations. I'm sure other hardware device driver installations need it too.

normaliz.dll....(Unicode Normalization DLL). Needed to start explorer.exe with Internet Explorer 7 installed on your system. The explorer.exe (located in the C:\WINDOWS folder), manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop, and File Manager. Without it running, the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. (The normaliz.dll is installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

NOTEPAD.EXE.....(Notepad). Notepad text-editing utility.

NTDLL.DLL.......(NT Layer DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

NTDSAPI.DLL ....(NT5DS Library) Needed to boot to Windows

NTMARTA.DLL.....(Windows NT MARTA provider). I can boot to Windows without this file, but my Windows Style reverts to Default Blue.

NTOSKRNL.EXE....(NT Kernel & System). Windows XP operating system Kernel. Needed to boot to Windows.

---------------------------------------

NVIDIA Display Drivers (See PART 9 for NVIDIA files I delete.)

I keep these NVIDIA files in C:\WINDOWS\system32:

nv4_disp.dll....(NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display driver). Essential for Display Adapter. And needed to boot to Windows.

nvapps.xml......You can delete this file, but it will only return after a reboot.

nvcod.dll.......NVIDIA Driver CoInstaller
nvcpl.dll.......NVIDIA Display Properties Extension

nvdisp.nvu......When I deleted this seemingly harmless file, I started getting Memory/Application errors just as I would click to restart my computer. Even when I put the file back in the system32 folder, the errors would continue. Also, if you open the file with Notepad, you will be able to see that it gives proper guidance to the uninstall process. It directs what to remove and what to UnRegister in the registry.

nvshell.dll.....NVIDIA Desktop Explorer

nvudisp.exe.....(NVIDIA Uninstaller Utility). Needed by NVIDIA to uninstall older drivers before installing new drivers during the updating process.

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occache.dll.....(Object Control Viewer). Needed to view icon for ActiveX objects in Downloaded Program Files. Otherwise the ActiveX objects show up as .ini files.

ODBC32.DLL......(Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager). Needed to boot to Windows.

ODBCINT.DLL.....(Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Resources). Needed to boot to Windows.

OLE32.DLL.......(Microsoft OLE for Windows). Needed to boot to Windows.

---------------------------------------

oleacc.dll......Active Accessibility Core Component
oleaccrc.dll....Active Accessibility Resource DLL

The above two files are both needed to avoid seeing these four Classic Logon prompts:
1. (Upon booting to Windows) "Log On to Windows" ...Then you will either need to click on OK, or if you use a password, type it in, and then click on OK.
2. (And then) "Loading your personal settings"
3. (Upon restarting from your Desktop) "Please wait... Windows in saving your settings"
4. (And then) "Windows is shutting down"

---------------------------------------

OLEAUT32.DLL....Needed to boot to Windows.

oledlg.dll.....(Microsoft Windows™ OLE 2.0 User Interface Support). Needed to open NVDVD Player. Also needed by Wordpad.

olepro32.dll....Needed to open NVDVD Player.

OLETHK32.DLL....(Microsoft OLE for Windows). Needed by Nero.

PDBoot.exe......(PerfectDisk Boot Time Defragmentation). Needed by PerfectDisk.

PDBootState.....Temp file created by PerfectDisk after performing an Offline Defrag. It can be safely deleted, but will return the next time you have PerfectDisk perform an Offline Defrag.

pidgen.dll......(Pid3.0 generation). Needed by Microsoft Update. During Windows setup the pidgen.dll produces a PID (Product Identification) from the serial number entered.

pngfilt.dll.....(IE PNG plugin image decoder). Belongs to Internet Explorer. Needed so you don't see those little red x's in place of some images.

powercfg.cpl....(Power Management Configuration Control Panel Applet). Along with the POWRPROF.DLL, needed to enter Power Options where you can adjust how you want your computer to power down.

POWRPROF.DLL....(Power Profile Helper DLL). Along with the powercfg.cpl, needed to enter Power Options where you can adjust how you want your computer to power down. Without this file present, you will receive an error when opening Properties for your Keyboard. However, the Properties for Keyboard will eventually open.

PROFMAP.DLL.....(Userenv). Needed to boot to Windows.

PSAPI.DLL.......(Process Status Helper). Needed to boot to Windows.

qasf.dll........(DirectShow ASF Support). Needed to play WMA music files and WMV video files with Media Player Classic, a third-party media player. GASF stands for Advanced Systems Format (formerly Advanced Streaming Format), Microsoft's proprietary digital audio/digital video container format, especially meant for streaming media. The most common file types contained within an ASF file are Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Windows Media Video (WMV).

qdvd.dll........(DirectShow DVD Playback Runtime). Needed For DVD Playback with Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

qmgr.dll........(Background Intelligent Transfer Service). Needed by Microsoft Update. Main Service file for Background Intelligent Transfer.

quartz.dll......(DirectShow Runtime). Needed by Windows Media Player and NVDVD Player.

rasapi32.dll....(Remote Access API). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally, in Internet Properties under the Connections tab, under "Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings" the rasapi32.dll and the rasman.dll are needed to access the New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard is accessed through the "Add" button.

rasdlg.dll......(Remote Access Common Dialog API). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel.

rasman.dll......(Remote Access Connection Manager). After installing Internet Explorer 7, this file is one of five system32 files needed to open Internet Options: MPRAPI.DLL, msrating.dll, rasapi32.dll, rasdlg.dll and rasman.dll. Additionally, in Internet Properties under the Connections tab, under "Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings" the rasman.dll and the rasapi32.dll are needed to access the New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard is accessed through the "Add" button.

REGAPI.DLL......(Registry Configuration API). Needed to boot to Windows.

REGSVR32.EXE....(Microsoft© Register Server). You can use the Regsvr32 tool (Regsvr32.exe) to Register and UnRegister object linking and embedding (OLE) controls such as dynamic-link library (DLL) or ActiveX Controls (OCX) files that are self-registerable.

relog_ap.dll....(Acronis Relogon Authentication Package). Installed by Acronis True Image 10.

riched20.dll....(Rich Text Edit Control, v3.0). Needed by Event Viewer. Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control versions 2.0 and 3.0. Needed to read Information and Error Messages (Event Properties) in Event Viewer.

riched32.dll....(Wrapper Dll for Richedit 1.0). Needed by Event Viewer. Contains functions for the Rich Text Edit control version 1.0.Needed to read Information and Error Messages (Event Properties) in Event Viewer.

RPCRT4.DLL......(Remote Procedure Call Runtime). Needed to boot to Windows.

RPCSS.DLL.......(Distributed COM Services). Needed to boot to Windows. Main Service file for Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

RSAENH.DLL......(Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider). Needed to boot to Windows. The RSAENH.DLL is needed to accurately check license for Windows.

rshx32.dll......(Security Shell Extension). The Rshx32.dll controls the Security tab in Properties of files and folders. (To be able to see the Security tab in XP Home Edition you must be in Safemode.)

RTUTILS.DLL.....(Routing Utilities). Needed by Websites with streaming media.

RUNDLL32.EXE....(Run DLL). Used to run DLL files from a command line.

RUNONCE.EXE.....(Run Once). Used to perform tasks as defined in the RunOnce Registry key.

SAMLIB.DLL......(SAM Library DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

SAMSRV.DLL......(SAM Server DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

---------------------------------

SC.EXE..........(A tool to aid in developing services for Windows NT). Communicates with the Service Controller and installed services. The SC.exe retrieves and sets control information about Services.

When I run Acronis True Image 10 or PerfectDisk 8 their Services start-up. And even though I have these Services set to Manual, they do not stop automatically when I close the programs. I use a batch file to stop these Services from continuing to run in the background. The SC.EXE is needed in order for that batch file to work.

Originally, I was using the NET STOP command in my batch file to perform this task, which required the presence of three system32 files: NET1.EXE, NET.EXE and netrap.dll. A special thanks one of our forum members, mhc, for showing me how I could perform this same task using the SC STOP command, while needing the presence of only a single file, SC.EXE.

---------------------------------

SCESRV.DLL......(Windows Security Configuration Editor Engine). Needed to boot to Windows.

SCHANNEL.DLL....(TLS / SSL Security Provider). Needed by Internet Explorer. Also needed by Microsoft Update.

SECUR32.DLL.....(Security Support Provider Interface). Needed to boot to Windows.

sendmail.dll....(Send Mail). The sendmail.dll is a library file used for sending mail via Websites. When you select "Send Link by E-mail" in Internet Explorer's File menu, Outlook Express will attach a URL to your E-mail. When you delete the sendmail.dll file, the "Send To Desktop" will be removed from your right-click context menu. If you UnRegister the sendmail.dll file, the icon for the "Desktop (create shortcut).DeskLink" file in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\SendTo will be erased.

services.exe....(Services and Controller app). Needed to boot to Windows. Main Service file for Plug and Play.

services.msc....(Services Viewer). Needed by Services Viewer.

SETUPAPI.DLL....(Windows Setup API). Needed to boot to Windows.

SFC.DLL.........(Windows File Protection). Needed by Microsoft Update.

SFC_OS.DLL......(Windows File Protection). You can boot to Windows without this file, but not without first having to click OK on an error that appears telling you the SFC_OS.DLL cannot be found.

sfcfiles.dll....(Windows 2000 System File Checker). Needed to display Properties button in Control Panel > Keyboard > Hardware without receiving an error.

SHDOCLC.DLL.....(Shell Doc Object and Control Library). Needed to be able to access right-click options while right-clicking on a Webpage.

SHDOCVW.DLL.....(Shell Doc Object and Control Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

SHELL32.DLL.....(Windows Shell Common Dll). Needed to boot to Windows.

shellstyle.dll..(Windows Shell Style Resource Dll). If you choose to use the Windows Classic theme, and delete the Themes folder and its contents, you will still need the shellstyle.dll that is in the system32 folder in order to gain access to the Add or Remove Programs panel. (For a complete explanation of the shellstyle.dll see PART 5 under C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes.)

SHFOLDER.DLL....(Shell Folder Service). Needed by Microsoft Update. Also needed by PerfectDisk 6. (PerfectDisk 8 does not need the SHFOLDER.DLL.)

shgina.dll......(Windows Shell User Logon). Needed to restart your computer from your Desktop. Further, once you delete or move this file from the system32 folder--even if you put it back--you still won't be able to restart from your Desktop.

shimgvw.dll ....(Windows Picture and Fax Viewer). Needed to display saved image files.

SHLWAPI.DLL.....(Shell Light-weight Utility Library). Needed to boot to Windows. Allows applications to access the functionality provided by the operating system shell, as well as change and enhance it.

---------------------------------------

shsvcs.dll......(Windows Shell Services Dll). Main Service file for Shell Hardware Detection.

Shell Hardware Detection allows you the option of selecting what action you wish taken with a type of file on a CD or DVD, (Music files, Pictures, Video files, a Music CD, or a DVD movie), when you place the disc into one of your optical drives. When you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, when checking the Properties of an optical drive, you won't have the AutoPlay tab available. (Where you would normally make these selections.) Everything else will work fine with your optical drives. You just won't have the AutoPlay selections available to you.

If you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in "My Computer," you may not see your optical drives displayed as "DVD Drive" and/or "DVD-RW Drive." They will still be displayed, only now they might be displayed simply as "CD Drive."

Also, if you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in Display Properties under the Appearance tab, you will no longer be able to choose the Windows XP Theme over the Windows Classic Theme.

---------------------------------------

SHUTDOWN.EXE....(Remote Shutdown Tool). Allows shutdowns and restarts on local or remote PCs. I need this file to create a reboot computer shortcut in my Quick Launch.

SMSS.EXE........(Windows NT Session Manager). Needed to boot to Windows. Used to establish the Windows XP environment during bootup.

SNAPAPI.DLL.....(Acronis Snapshot Dynamic Link Library). Installed by Acronis True Image.

SNDVOL32.EXE....(Volume Control). A GUI (Graphical User Interface) volume application.

stdole2.tlb.....(Microsoft OLE 3.50 for Windows NT™ and Windows 95™ Operating Systems). After deleting the stdole2.tlb and rebooting your system, you may be unable to launch the Search Assistant. Placing the file back in the system32 folder immediately corrects this issue, without having to reboot. When you delete one or both the stdole2.tlb or the stdole32.tlb from the system32 folder, when installing a program that uses InstallShield, you may receive the following error message: The install Shield engine "ikernel.exe" could not be launched -Error loading type library /dll. This issue may also occur if the stdole.tlb is missing from the C:\WINDOWS\system folder. (See PART 5.)

stdole32.tlb....(Microsoft OLE 2.1 for Windows NT™ Operating System). When you delete one or both the stdole32.tlb or the stdole2.tlb from the system32 folder, when installing a program that uses InstallShield, you may receive the following error message: The install Shield engine "ikernel.exe" could not be launched -Error loading type library /dll. This issue may also occur if the stdole.tlb is missing from the C:\WINDOWS\system folder. (See PART 5.)

storprop.dll....(Property Pages for Storage Devices). Needed to view Advanced Settings tab in Primary IDE Channel and Secondary IDE Channel under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers in Device Manager.

SVCHOST.EXE.....(Generic Host Process for Win32 Services). Needed to boot to Windows.

SXS.DLL.........(Fusion 2.5). Needed to boot to Windows.

sysdm.cpl.......(System Applet for the Control Panel). System Properties Control Panel applet.

syssetup.dll....(Windows NT System Setup). Needed to display Properties button in Control Panel > Keyboard > Hardware without receiving an error.

TAPI32.DLL......(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony API Client DLL). TAPI32.DLL is needed by streaming media on many sites.

TASKMGR.EXE.....(Task Manager). The Task Manager application.

themeui.dll.....(Windows Theme API). Needed by Display Properties.

timedate.cpl....(Time Date Control Panel Applet). Date and Time Properties Control Panel applet.

ULIB.DLL........(File Utilities Support DLL). Part of CHKDSK.

umpnpmgr.dll....(User-mode Plug-and-Play Service). Needed to boot to Windows.

untfs.dll.......(NTFS Utility DLL). Part of CHKDSK.

url.dll.........(Internet Shortcut Shell Extension DLL). Displays default "e" icon for Internet Shortcuts and the one displayed in your Explorer Toolbar Address Bar.

urlmon.dll .....(OLE32 Extensions for Win32). Essential to Internet Explorer.

usbui.dll.......(USB UI Dll). Needed to display Advanced tab in USB Universal Host Controller Properties, and Power tab in USB Root Hub Properties in Device Manager.

user32.dll......(Windows XP USER API Client DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

userenv.dll.....(Userenv). Needed to boot to Windows.

USERINIT.EXE....(User Initialization). Needed to boot to Windows. Used to establish the operating environment for a user after logon.

usp10.dll.......(Uniscribe Unicode script processor). You cannot enter System Properties without the usp10.dll or the imm32.dll present.

UXTHEME.DLL.....(Microsoft UxTheme Library). Needed to boot to Windows. Main Service file for Themes.

vbscript.dll....(Microsoft ® VBScript). Needed by some Websites with streaming media. Also needed by Yahoo Chat.

vdmdbg.dll......(VDMDBG.DLL). Needed to access Task Manager.

VERSION.DLL.....(Version Checking and File Installation Libraries). Needed to boot to Windows.

WATCHDOG.SYS....(Watchdog Driver). Needed to boot to Windows.

WDMAUD.DRV......(WDM Audio driver mapper). Needed by Windows Media Player. Also needed to hear sound in Windows Pinball Game.

---------------------------------------

webcheck.dll....(Web Site Monitor). Needed by Microsoft Update. You will need the webcheck.dll to install the new Microsoft Update software.

The C:\WINDOWS\Offline Web Pages folder stores downloaded Webpages for offline availability. By default, within the folder is the Web Document, "My Current Home Page". When you click on it, you will be taken to your Home Page. The URL you will then see in your Explorer address bar should read "about:Home". When you right-click on "My Current Home Page" and select Properties, you will see the options for Offline Synchronization.

When you remove the webcheck.dll, the options in Properties will no longer be available, and you will not be able to get to "about:Home". The "My Current Home Page" will become a desktop.ini. The Offline Web Pages folder itself will, after a time, lose its default icon, becoming a plain, manila folder, as any other. Or, it could lose its folder appearance entirely, and become a bland, file icon, like that of an .NLS file.

Additional Note: With the arrival of Internet Explorer 7, in addition to the webcheck.dll, you will need in place the "webcheck.dll.mui" in the C:\WINDOWS\system32\en-US folder in order to open "My Current Home Page Properties," and to be able to get to "about:Home".

---------------------------------------

WIN32K.SYS......(Multi-User Win32 Driver). Needed to boot to Windows.

WINHTTP.DLL.....(Windows HTTP Services). Needed by Microsoft Update. Uncovered by Level, one of our forum members: The winhttp.dll is also needed to open Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Control Panel.

WININET.DLL.....(Internet Extensions for Win32). Needed to boot to Windows. Internet Explorer file.

WINLOGON.EXE....(Windows NT Logon Application). Needed to boot to Windows. Windows logon manager. Handles the login and logout procedures.

WINMM.DLL.......(MCI API DLL). Needed by Windows Media Player.

---------------------------------

WINSCARD.DLL....(Microsoft Smart Card API). Needed by Microsoft Update.

You need both the WINSCARD.DLL and the WLNOTIFY.DLL for these two functions: (Uncovered by one of our forum members, XiRoX.)

1.) When you right-click on a shortcut and select Properties from the context menu, "Find Target" is one of the buttons you will see in the opening dialog box. When clicked, the folder where the target file is located will open.

2.) When searching with your Search Assistant, should you right-click on a file displayed in the results panel, and then select "Open Containing Folder" from the context menu, the folder where the file is located will open.

So, you set your file-removal program to take out Microsoft Update. ...Oops!

I've said it countless times throughout this guide, many files have more than one purpose on a system. That is what makes deleting files with precision so difficult...and so important. And that is why removing whole components with file-removal programs is something I choose not to do.

---------------------------------

WINSPOOL.DRV....(Windows Spooler Driver). Important: If in PART 5 you chose to delete the system folder and its files (C:\WINDOWS\system), at least keep the copy of the WINSPOOL.DRV that is in the system32 folder, or you may not be able to reboot to Windows. Just be sure to keep one of them.

WINSRV.DLL......(Windows Server DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

WINSTA.DLL......(Winstation Library). Needed to boot to Windows.

WINTRUST.DLL....(Microsoft Trust Verification APIs). .Needed to boot to Windows.

WLDAP32.DLL.....(Win32 LDAP API DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

WLNOTIFY.DLL....(Common DLL to receive Winlogon notifications). Needed by Microsoft Update. (See WINSCARD.DLL above.)

wmadmod.dll.....(Windows Media Audio Decoder). Needed by Windows Media Player to play .WMA music files.

wmadmoe.dll.....(Windows Media Audio Encoder/Transcoder). Needed by Windows Media Player ripping process.

WMASF.DLL.......(Windows Media ASF DLL). Needed by Windows Media Player.

WMI.DLL.........(WMI DC and DP functionality). Needed to access Device Manager. Also needed to open Network Connections from Control Panel. And needed to enter Computer Management without first receiving an error.

wmnetmgr.dll....(Windows Media Network Plugin Manager DLL). Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers.

WMP.DLL.........(Windows Media Player Core). Needed to open Windows Media Player.

wmpdxm.dll......(Windows Media 6.4 Player Shim). Needed by too many Websites with streaming media to not keep this file installed on my system. The wmpdxm.dll and the msdxm.ocx (a DirectX file) work together. The wmpdxm.dll is also needed to play media files with Media Player 6.4 (mplayer2.exe).

wmpeffects.dll..(Windows Media Player Effects). Needed for visual effects while playing music with Windows Media Player 11.

WMPLOC.DLL......(Windows Media Player). Needed to open Windows Media Player.

wmpps.dll.......(Windows Media Player Proxy Stub Dll). Needed to rip music CDs using Windows Media Player 11 with file-name information intact, such as the name of the artist, album, song title. Without the wmpps.dll file present, the file-name information it will read and write as "01 Unknown Artist Track 1". Also needed to burn .WMA files to a CD using WMP11.

wmpshell.dll....(Windows Media Player Launcher). Without the wmpshell.dll present WMP cannot remember that it's supposed to open your media files. The Open With dialog box will open instead, asking you to choose a program you want to use to open the file. Even if you put a tick in "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file," WMP will not remember, and you'll have to do it all over again the next time you click to open a media file.

WMVCORE.DLL.....(Windows Media Playback/Authoring DLL). Needed to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers.

WMVDECOD.dll....(Windows Media Video Decoder). Needed to watch MSNBC videos online, and to watch Yahoo Movie Trailers with Windows Media Player 11 installed on your system.

wpa.dbl.........Windows Product Activation (WPA). Needed to boot to Windows.

WS2_32.DLL......(Windows Socket 2.0 32-Bit DLL). Needed to boot to Windows.

WS2HELP.DLL.....(Windows Socket 2.0 Helper for Windows NT). Needed to boot to Windows.

WSHTCPIP.DLL....(Windows Sockets Helper DLL). Essential to Internet Explorer

WSOCK32.DLL.....(Windows Socket 32-Bit DLL). Needed for Internet Connectivity. Winsock (short for Windows Sockets) is a specification that defines how Windows network software should access network services, especially TCP/IP.

WTSAPI32.DLL....(Windows Terminal Server SDK APIs). Needed both to view the Automatic Updates tab in System Properties, and by Microsoft Update. Also needed to enter System Properties by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Properties without receiving this error: This application has failed to start because WTSAPI32.DLL was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this. However, System Properties will open after clicking OK on the error message even without this file present.

wuaucpl.cpl.....(Automatic Updates Control Panel). Automatic Updates Control Panel applet. Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuapi.dll.mui....(Windows Update Client API). Needed by Microsoft Update.

WUAUCLT.EXE.....(Windows Update). An auto-update client. Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuauclt1.exe....(Windows Update AutoUpdate Client). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuaucpl.cpl.....(Automatic Updates Control Panel applet). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuaucpl.cpl.mui...(Automatic Updates Control Panel). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuaueng.dll.....(Windows Update AutoUpdate Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuaueng.dll.mui...(Windows Update Agent). Needed by Microsoft Update.

WUAUENG1.DLL....(Windows Update AutoUpdate Engine). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wuauserv.dll....(Windows Update AutoUpdate Service). Needed by Microsoft Update. Main Service file for Automatic Updates.

WUCLTUI.DLL.....(Windows Update Client UI Plugin). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wucltui.dll.mui...(Windows Update Client UI Plugin). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wupdmgr.exe.....(Windows Update Manager for NT). Needed by Microsoft Update.

WUPS.DLL........(Windows Update client proxy stub). Needed by Microsoft Update.

wups2.dll.......(Windows Update client proxy stub 2). Needed by Microsoft Update.

WUWEB.DLL.......(Windows Update Web Control). Needed by Microsoft Update.

xmllite.dll.....(Microsoft XmlLite Library). Needed by Internet Explorer 7 Toolbar. (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

xpsp1res.dll....(Service Pack 1 Messages). Needed to open Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel.

XPSP2RES.DLL....(Service Pack 2 Messages). Needed to boot to Windows.

zipfldr.dll ......(Compressed (zipped) Folders). Needed to package files in Compressed (zipped) form.

Thanks go out to Fred Langa for his acknowledgment of Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide in The LangaList.

Bold,

Awesome job on the "Slimming Down XP" article. I especially like the fact that your penchant for deleting files is tempered by the idea that (1) the OS should still work as required and (2) that there be zero errors in the Event Viewer. Like you, I can't stand errors in the Event Viewer; makes me feel dirty! And any schmuck can delete files willy-nilly, but it takes real talent, thought, and patience to do it the way you did. I can only imagine how long all the trial and error must have taken. Years, I'd bet.

Anyway, just wanted to drop a note letting you know that your efforts are appreciated.

Ugly Genius

From Gizmo's Top Picks, Ian Richards' Support Alert Newsletter:

If you want to slim down your version of Windows, I suggest you read Bold_Fortune's "Complete Guide to Slimming Down Windows XP" first. It will not only tell you what to do, but also alert you to the pitfalls you need to avoid. Highly recommended.


Why I Don't Use Programs Like XPLite and nLite

Sure, programs can be written that will remove some applications and their specifics. Many programmers use the "inf file method". That is to say, if files are listed within the .inf file for a certain Windows component, all you have to do is remove those particular files, and wallah! component gone.

Deleting whole components, however, oftentimes also removes some files that are necessary to an individual's use of a computer.

Users put their computers to many different uses. And all have very different needs from another.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what I'm talking about.

You decide you no longer want Windows Media Player on your system.

You set your file removal program to delete all files associated with WMP. ...Which would mean you also won't be needing the codecs installed for WMP. So you set the program to also delete all WMP codecs.

But you're also a big fan of Yahoo Chat.

Only now, you can't get Yahoo Chat to work properly. You want to talk with your friends in Voice, but you no longer have the ability...because along with all the other WMP codecs, you've deleted the specific codecs that allow this function.

So now we're talking about a program that would have to have a setting to delete Windows Media Player and all its codecs, while keeping only the codecs needed by Yahoo Chat.

There are many other variables that would also need to be written into the program. It would have to take into consideration all of the many individual users who all put their computers to all very different uses.

You don't play games on the Internet.

Then you won't be needing all the DirectX files. Unless you decide you like Windows Media Player after all. Then you're going to need to keep nine specific DirectX files on your system.

In this instance, you would need have incorporated into your file removal program a special setting that would single out and keep the specific DirectX files needed for WMP, while deleting the other ninety-six DirectX files that you won't be needing, because you don't play games on the Internet.

You elect to remove DirectX with your file-removal program.

You don't play games on the Internet. You could care less if Windows Media Player needs nine specific DirectX files. Because you never use it anyway, and you had the program remove WMP too.

Then you make yourself a nice TV dinner. Grab a bottle of pop from the refrigerator. And make yourself comfortable in front of your computer. It's movie time!

You pop in a DVD. Up springs NVDVD Player. Only it's telling you, "Sorry, you don't seem to have the proper files installed on your system."

You see, NVDVD Player needs seven specific DirectX files to work.

So you decide to re-install DirectX so you can watch your movie.

And now you've defeated your purpose (Remember your purpose?) to remove all unnecessary files from your system. ...Because now you have ninety-eight DirectX files installed on your system that you really don't need.

File removal programs give you a choice: keep an entire Windows component and all its associated files, or remove the component completely, and lose functionality elsewhere.

You set your program to remove the Computer Management and Disk Management.

(The only reason I personally would have for accessing Computer Management would be to utilize Disk Management. The only reason I would have for utilizing Disk Management would be to format a drive. I do that with XP's installation disc during the installation process. The only utilities I need in Computer Management are the Services and Event Viewers, and I can access both from my Start Menu.)

Your program takes out these files:

capesnpn.dll....Microsoft Certificate Template Management Extension
certmgr.dll.....Certificate MMC (Microsoft Management Console) Snap-In Tool
certmgr.msc.....
compmgmt.msc....Computer Management Console
diskmgmt.msc....Disk Management Console
DISKPART.EXE....
DmAdmin.exe.....Local Disk Manager Administrative Service
dmconfig.dll....Logical Disk Manager Configuration Library
dmdlgs.dll......Disk Management Snap-in Dialogs
dmdskmgr.dll....Disk Management Snap-in Support Library
dmdskres.dll....Disk Management Snap-in Resources
dmintf.dll......Disk Management DCOM Interface Stub
dmocx.dll.......TreeView OCX
DMREMOTE.EXE....Logical Disk Manager
DmServer.dll....Logical Disk Manager service dll
dmutil.dll......Logical Disk Manager Utility Library
dmview.ocx......Disk Management Snap-in
fsmgmt.msc......Microsoft Common Console Document (Shared Folders)
localsec.dll....Local Users and Groups MMC Snapin
lusrmgr.msc.....Microsoft Common Console Document
mmcshext.dll....MMC Shell Extension DLL
mycomput.dll....Computer Management
ntmsapi.dll.....Removable Storage Public Interfaces
ntmsmgr.dll.....Removable Storage Service
osuninst.dll....Uninstall Interface
sendcmsg.dll....Send Console Message
smlogcfg.dll....Performance Logs and Alerts Snap-in

Oops! Now you can't get into your Device Manager, because Device Manager is dependent upon the dmocx.dll.

See what I mean? There are just too many variables involved. It is impossible to have a file removal program remove whole components without disrupting an individual's use of a computer. Many times, while removing components, these programs remove along with them files that also have other uses.

"Aha!" you say. "nLite has an 'additional files to keep' box. Why not use this nLite feature to keep all the files you don't want it to remove along with certain whole components?"

With some 1,800 individual system32 files alone, a person would have quite a few decisions to make. You would really need to know your stuff to setup that program effectively.

And it is not always just about the choices we make about which files to keep or delete. It is also about which registry entries should be intact after the installation.

Some files we delete should never be UnRegistered...meaning their registry entries, or at least some of them, should never be removed. The files themselves can be removed, but UnRegister them, and you've got problems.

If certain files are removed before the installation, their registry entries are not delivered to the registry. Would it not follow, that if some of their registry entries are needed, they would not be present?

Some people refuse to look at this, or choose to ignore it. I personally believe it is one of the reasons programs that remove files pre-installation are doomed to forever leave the individual user with post-installation problems.

Take for example my favorite (or at least one of the more interesting) .OCX files, the daxctle.ocx.

This one .OCX file is attached to 11,741 Registry Keys and 12,864 Values under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface...and every one of them will be removed by UnRegistering it.

11,741 Registry Keys and 12,864 Values That's a lot. ...No, that's really a lot. And those numbers show up after I have run registry cleaners. I have seen it associated with as many as 13,583 Registry Keys before any registry cleaner was used.

It's not so much I need the daxctle.ocx on my system, I don't. But UnRegistering it removes registry entries that belong additionally to other files that I do need on my system. I can delete the daxctle.ocx, no problem. But UnRegister it, and Windows Media Player will not play...anything.

Here are a few other examples of files I delete, but I do not UnRegister.

initpki.dll.....(Microsoft Trust Installation and Setup). Contains functions that support encryption. Should I UnRegister this file, I experience a few problems with Internet Explorer displaying certain items on Webpages, and also some problems entering certain Websites. I can delete the initpki.dll and no such problems will occur...just so long as I do not UnRegister it.

mssip32.dll.....(MSSIP32 Forwarder DLL). Should I UnRegister this file, Microsoft Update will not function. I can delete the mssip32.dll and Microsoft Update will still function...just so long as I do not UnRegister it.

softpub.dll.....(Softpub Forwarder DLL). Contains functions that support encryption. Should I UnRegister this file, I experience a few problems with Internet Explorer displaying certain items on Webpages, and also some problems entering certain Websites. I can delete the softpub.dll and no such problems will occur...just so long as I do not UnRegister it.

---------------------------------------

Many people have asked for my personal batch files. I have declined to release them to the general public.

I will however help you get started making your own batch files. You can then add any individual files you want to them. Which individual files you choose to remove from your system will be entirely up to you.

I have incorporated a failsafe feature into my batch files.

Files and folders will be moved and saved (Not deleted permanently. Later that will be up to you.) to a backup folder on C:\. The backup folder is simply named "Backup".

Within the Backup folder, you will find the files and folders you removed, in smart placement. Their order of appearance will be identical to how XP's files and folders appear on your C Drive.

When you remove files and folders from the WINDOWS and system32 directories, in the Backup folder you will first see a WINDOWS folder. Within the WINDOWS folder you will see the individual files and subfolders you removed, including the system32 folder. And within the system32 folder you will see its individual files and subfolders you removed. The same applies to the Documents and Settings and the Program Files directories.

I created this smart placement so you would always know exactly where these files and folders came from should you decide to replace any to their original locations.

Note: Be sure to temporarily delete the Backup folder filled with files and subfolders before using any registry
cleaners. The registry cleaners will more than likely correct the files paths to the Backup folder, rather than remove their paths.

This batch file I designed with individual system32 files in mind.

Copy and Paste between the lines to Notepad. Save as "any name you choose.bat" Then insert your file choices where I have mine.


I designed this particular batch file below a little differently, with the inf folder files in mind. As with the system32 batch file above, it will "move and save" (not delete) files to a Backup folder on C:\.

This one, however, will move all files in the inf folder (C:\WINDOWS\inf), and will instantaneously return the inf files you choose to keep to the inf folder. All this takes place so fast you'll think the files you chose to keep never moved at all.


---------------------------------------

One very important step before we set about deleting files together.

Create a full system backup image using a good backup program like Acronis or Ghost.

This backup image should be of a full install of XP. It should include all of your programs, drivers, setting changes, and tweaks applied...everything you normally do to make your Windows experience an enjoyable one.

So now, when you set about deleting files, you'll always have a the perfect safeguard. And you should never have to say on a forum, "I deleted this, and now that doesn't work!"

Well, revert back to your backup image, and don't delete that anymore.

---------------------------------------

This registry tweak helps me easily UnRegister DLL and OCX Files I remove.

It puts two entries into the right-click context menu: "Register" and "UnRegister" when you highlight and right-click on a single DLL or OCX File, or when you highlight and right-click on multiple DLL and OCX Files.

It really makes Registering and UnRegistering DLL and OCX Files very easy. Plus it gives me the ability to UnRegister multiples (even hundreds) of these files at once.


I normally do not use any registry cleaners, or UnRegister any DLL and OCX files, for a very long time after I have Slimmed Down my installation. I want to be certain everything is A-OK first.

---------------------------------------

One final word before we get started. What you will find in this Guide are the "possibilities" of which files and folders can be removed from a Windows XP Installation, while maintaining stability and keeping functionality in Microsoft's operating system.

The "possibilities" of what can be removed. That is very important to keep in mind before proceeding from here.

I could not expect anyone other than myself to remove everything listed in the guide. It would be practically impossible for anyone to duplicate what I do without running into problems.

Yes, I delete every file and every folder you will see listed....but my computing needs are different from yours. My system is different from yours. The programs I have installed are different from yours.

Which files and folders to remove from your own Windows XP Installation, you will have to make these choices for yourself. I have given you as much information about these files and folders as I could, given the limitations of my knowledge and understanding of their uses and functions.

---------------------------------------

Now let's remove some files.


Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide PART 1

TEMP and Junk Files


There are a lot of very good TEMP and Junk File Cleaners out there. I use two: IE Privacy Keeper and CCleaner. I think they are both great. TEMP and Junk File Cleaners will remove most TEMP and Junk Files. There are some TEMP and Junk Files they do may miss, though.

This is a list of TEMP and Junk Files I delete on my own because my TEMP and Junk File Cleaners miss them:

*.bak Files...Backup Files

---------------------------------------

*.chk Files...Lost Cluster Log Files

NOTE: If the edb.chk is deleted from the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs folder, you will need to reboot your computer before your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website...otherwise, the Microsoft Update Website will not function. The same holds true for the edb.log located in this folder. Further note: the edb.chk can be deleted only after your system settles in from after rebooting, or after a time from a visit to the Microsoft Update Website.

---------------------------------------

*.cnt Files

*.diz Files
*.doc Files

---------------------------------------

*.edb Files...Exchange Server store (a database)

This system *.edb file can usually be deleted after a reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\tmp.edb

These system *.edb files can be deleted only after your system settles in from after rebooting, or after a time from a visit to the Microsoft Update Website:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\tmp.edb

---------------------------------------

*.gid Files......Windows Help Index Files

*.lic Files

---------------------------------------

*.log Files

I delete all *.log files I find. However, these system *.log files cannot be deleted:

C:\WINDOWS\WindowsUpdate.log. (The WindowsUpdate.log can only be deleted if the Automatic Updates Service is stopped.)

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\NTUSER.DAT.LOG

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat.LOG

C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\ntuser.dat.LOG

C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat.LOG

C:\WINDOWS\Debug\PASSWD.LOG

---------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

If you look through the ReportingEvents.log in Notepad you will notice time-stamped, Microsoft Update installation information, which can date back quite awhile. Normally the ReportingEvents.log cannot be deleted, nor can its text be altered.

However, something interesting about the ReportingEvents.log file was discovered by nataliecv one of our forum members.

"If you go into Services and STOP Automatic Updates Service for a moment, ReportingEvents.log CAN be deleted. A fresh copy of the ReportingEvents.log will be created upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website, and it starts anew. NOTE: Do not forget to restart the Automatic Updates."

---------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\default.log
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SAM.LOG
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\SECURITY.LOG
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system.LOG

These system *.log files can usually be deleted after a reboot:

C:\WINDOWS\Sti_Trace.log
C:\WINDOWS\wiadebug.log
C:\WINDOWS\wiaservc.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edb.log
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edbtmp.log

These system *.log files can be deleted only after your system settles in from after rebooting, or upon a visit to the Microsoft Update Website:

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edbtmp.log

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edb.log

NOTE: If the edb.log is deleted from the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs folder, you will need to reboot your computer before your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website...otherwise, the Microsoft Update Website will not function. The same holds true for the edb.chk located in this folder. Further note: the edb.log can be deleted only after your system settles in from after rebooting, or after a time from a visit to the Microsoft Update Website.


I DO NOT DELETE any INSTALL.LOG or UNINSTALL.LOG files. Without them I cannot uninstall certain programs.

---------------------------------------

*.old Files....Backup Files

*.query Files

*.sav Files....Backup Files

---------------------------------------

*.txt Files

I delete all *.txt files I find. However, these system *.txt files cannot be deleted:

C:\WINDOWS\SchedLgU.Txt. (The SchedLgU.Txt can only be deleted if the Task Scheduler Service is stopped.)

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\WebSetup\wuident.cab\wuident.txt (The "wuident.txt" can only be deleted if the Automatic Updates Service is stopped.)

I DO NOT DELETE these program *.txt files:

C:\Program Files\RAXCO\PerfectDisk\Readme.txt because PerfectDisk 6 will not operate without its "Readme.txt" or "Register.txt" files. (PerfectDisk 8 does not include this file.)

C:\Program Files\RAXCO\PerfectDisk\Register.txt because PerfectDisk 6 will not operate without its "Register.txt" or "Readme.txt" files. (PerfectDisk 8 does not include this file.)

You yourself might want to take a look in any program's folder to consider which, if any, *.txt files just might be important to them.

Additional Note: Windows Genuine Advantage installs the WGAErrLog.txt to the C:\WINDOWS\Temp folder. Should you delete this file, be sure to reboot your system, so that a new WGAErrLog.txt can be created. Otherwise, Microsoft Update may not work for you.

---------------------------------------

Make Your Own TEMP and Junk File Cleaner

You can make your own TEMP and Junk File cleaner using Search Assistant.

In Notepad, make a list of TEMP and Junk File extensions you would like to remove.

Like so:

*.bak, *.chk, *.cnt, *.diz, *.doc, *.edb, *.gid, *.lic, *.gid, *.log, *.old, *.query, *.sav, *.txt

Copy and Paste your list into the search box of Search Assistant.

Be sure that under Search Options you have checked "Advanced Options."

Under Advanced Options check "Search system folders," "Search hidden
files and folders," and, "Search Subfolders."

Now run your search by clicking on Search Now.

Now, at the top of the Search Assistant, select File then Save Search.

Next time you want to search for those particular TEMP and Junk files, just click on your new search file.

Search Assistant will automatically popup, and your ready. Just click Search Now.

---------------------------------------

Here's an extensive list of TEMP and Junk Files I compiled. You may find it useful.

*.~* ......Temporary Files
*.~mp......

*.^* ......Temporary Files
*.^........Temporary Files

*.---......Setup Temporary Files

*.__.......Temporary Files
*__ofidx*.*...Microsoft Find Fast Indexer File

*._dd......Lost Cluster Files
*._detmp...Temporary Files

*.&db......Temporary Files (dBASE IV)

*.?$?......Temporary Files(st Reader)
*.?~?......Temporary Files
*.??$......Temporary Files

*.$$$......MS-DOS Temporary Files

*.!!!......

*.000......sequential file in split Zip archive?
*.001......sequential file in split Zip archive?
*.002......sequential file in split Zip archive?

*.1st......(system.1st is a Windows diagnostic file)

*.b~k......Backup File, some text editors
*.bak......Backup Files
*.bk.......Backup File
*.bk?......Potential junk
*.bmk......
*.bsc......Visual Studios Temp File

*.cam......
*.cb.......
*.chk......Lost Cluster Log Files
*.cln......
*.cnt......
*.cpy......Backup Files

*.da1......
*.da2......
*.db$......Temporary Files (dBASE)
*.diz......
*.dmp......Potential junk
*.doc......

*.edb......Exchange Server store (a database)
*.err......Error File

*.fic......Potential junk
*.fix......
*.fnd......Find Result Files
*.ftg......Word List File of *.HLP
*.fts......Word List File of *.HLP

*.gid......Windows Help Index Files

*.ign......
*.ilc .....Borland Temporary File
*.ild .....Borland Temporary File
*.ilf .....Borland Temporary File
*.ilk......Visual Studios Temp File
*.ils......Borland Temporary File
*.ink......

*.lgc......
*.lge......
*.lhx......
*.lic......
*.license.txt...Potential junk
*.log......
*.log.txt...Log Files Windows diagnostic files

*.mp.......Temporary Files
*.MS.......Microsoft Product Backup Files

*.nav......Backup Files
*.new......
*.nu3......Symantec Backup File

*.old......Backup Files
*.out......

*.par......
*.pch......Visual Studios Temp File
*.pvt......
*.prv......Backup Files (bootlog.prv: Windows diagnostic file)

*.query....

*.res......Visual Studios Temp File

*.sav......Backup File
*.sdi......Archive Content File
*.sik......Potential junk
*.spc......Temporary Files (WordPerfect for Windows)
*.syd......Backup Files

*.tds......Borland Temporary File
*.temp.....Temporary Files
*.tmp......Temporary Files
*.txt Files

*.umb......

*.wbk......Word Backup Files


*modemlog.txt...Windows Modem Log File

*install*.txt...Potential junk

*order*.txt...Potential junk

*whatsnew*.txt...Potential junk


0*.nch....Temporary Files created by MS Outlook Express

ABEND.LOG...Novell Abend Log
anti-vir.dat...Created by F-Prot Anti-Virus

chklist.*...Lost Cluster Files

eula.txt...Microsoft end-user license agreement

file_id.diz...Description of Shareware

ghosterr.txt...Norton Ghost Error File

iebak.dat...Internet Explorer Junk File

modemdet.txt...Windows Diagnostic File
mscreate.dir...Setup Temporary File
msoe.txt...Readme for Microsoft Outlook™ Express
mssecure.xml...Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer File

readme.txt...Potential junk

pq_debug.txt...PowerQuest PartitionInfo file
pspbrwse.jbf...Paint Shop Folder Image Information Cache File

suhdlog.dat...Windows diagnostic File
system.st...Windows diagnostic File

twain???.mtx...TWAIN Temporary File

ws_ftp.log...WS_FTP Temporary File

Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide PART 2

Disabled Services


See Windows XP Services Companion for detailed descriptions about these Services that space restrictions will not allow me to present here in PART 2.

16 Services remain displayed in my Services window. Any Service no longer displayed has been disabled and its associated files deleted.

10 Services are set to Automatic:

Automatic Updates
DCOM Server Process Launcher
DHCP Client
Event Log
Plug and Play
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Shell Hardware Detection
Themes
User Profile Hive Cleanup...(This Service I installed to help me with faster shutdowns. It really works too!)
Windows Audio

6 Services are set to Manual:

Acronis Scheduler2 Service
Background Intelligent Transfer
Cryptographics Services
PDEngine......Belongs to PerfectDisk.
PDScheduler...Belongs to PerfectDisk 6. PerfectDisk 8 does not install this Service. PerfectDisk 8 installs PDAgent Service.
Windows Installer

62 Services are Disabled:

When I disable a Service and delete its associated files, I do not just delete its one main file generally considered to be the Service itself. I delete all files that could be considered associated with the Service either directly or indirectly. However, should I find I need a particular file from a given group of Service files for another purpose, I will not delete that particular file. Always keep in mind, many files have more than one purpose on a system, and that is what makes deleting files with precision so difficult...and so important.

Alerter Service

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

alrsvc.dll.....(Alerter Service DLL). <---(Main Service File)

----------------------------------------

Application Layer Gateway Service

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\System32:

ALG.EXE.........(Application Layer Gateway Service). <---(Main Service File)

----------------------------------------

Application Management

Not installed on XP Home Edition. The main Service file would be the appmgmts.dll, and it should be located in C:\WINDOWS\system32.

----------------------------------------

Clipbook

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

CLIPBRD.EXE.....(Windows NT ClipBook Viewer). Used to view the contents of the object or data currently copied into memory (also known as the Clipboard).

CLIPSRV.EXE.....(Windows NT DDE Server). The network dynamic data exchange (DDE) clipboard service used by Clipboard Viewer to access objects or data copied into memory. <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

COM+ Event System & COM+ System Application

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

catsrv.dll......
catsrvps.dll....
catsrvut.dll....
clbcatex.dll....
clbcatq.dll.....
colbact.dll.....
comaddin.dll....
comrepl.dll.....

COMRES.DLL......One of the files needed to access the Windows Optional Components Wizard. See PART 6 under C:\WINDOWS\system32\Setup.

comsnap.dll.....
comsvcs.dll.....
comuid.dll......
DCOMCNFG.EXE....(DCOM Configuration). Used to display and configure DCOM settings and configuration.

DLLHOST.EXE.....(COM Surrogate). The COM+ process manager. <---Main Service File for MS Software Shadow Copy Provider

DLLHST3G.EXE....(COM Surrogate). A COM+ process component.
emptyregdb.dat..
es.dll..........<---(Main Service File)
mfcsubs.dll.....<---Needed by System Restore to create a Restore Point.
mtxex.dll.......
mtxlegih.dll....
stclient.dll....
txflog.dll......Simple Kernel-mode File-based Log

Delete the Com folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Com

I personally delete the Com folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Computer Browser

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

browser.dll.....(Computer Browser Service DLL). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

dfsshlex.dll....Distributed File System shell extension
trkwks.dll......(Distributed Link Tracking Client).<---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Distributed Transaction Coordinator

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

MSDTC.EXE.......(MS DTC console program). The console for the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). <---(Main Service File)

msdtclog.dll....MS DTC log manager DLL
msdtcprf.h......
msdtcprf.ini....
msdtcprx.dll....MS DTC OLE Transactions interface proxy DLL
msdtctm.dll.....MS DTC transaction manager DLL
msdtcuiu.dll....MS DTC administrative component DLL
mtxclu.dll......MS DTC amd MTS clustering support DLL
xolehlp.dll.....MS DTC helper APIs DLL

Delete the MsDtc folder and all its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsDtc

I personally delete the MsDtc folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

DNS Client

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

dnsrslvr.dll....(DNS Caching Resolver Service). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Error Reporting Service

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

DUMPREP.EXE.....(Windows Error Reporting Dump Reporting Tool). A dump reporting tool.
ersvc.dll.......(Windows Error Reporting Service). <---(Main Service File)
faultrep.dll....Windows Error Reporting

---------------------------------------

Fast User Switching Compatibility

Using Fast User Switching, multiple user accounts can log on to a computer simultaneously. Users can switch sessions without closing Windows, programs, and so forth.

User Accounts allows you to create separate accounts for each person that will be using the computer. This allows each user to have their own document folders and settings such as the wallpaper, Start Menu, visual style, and so forth. You can create and configure user accounts with the User Accounts tool in Control Panel.

MSHTA.EXE.......(HTML Application Host). The application used to run an HTML Application (HTA) file. You will need this file in order to access User Accounts from the Control Panel. I personally delete the MSHTA.EXE in PART 9 under Internet Explorer Files I Delete.

nusrmgr.cpl.....(Windows User Manager). Control Panel applet for User Accounts.

---------------------------------

shsvcs.dll......(Windows Shell Services Dll). I DO NOT delete the shsvcs.dll. The shsvcs.dll is the Main Service File for Shell Hardware Detection.

Shell Hardware Detection allows you the option of selecting what action you wish taken with a type of file on a CD or DVD, (Music files, Pictures, Video files, a Music CD, or a DVD movie), when you place the disc into one of your optical drives. When you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, when checking the Properties of an optical drive, you won't have the AutoPlay tab available. (Where you would normally make these selections.) Everything else will work fine with your optical drives. You just won't have the AutoPlay selections available to you.

If you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in "My Computer," you may not see your optical drives displayed as "DVD Drive" and/or "DVD-RW Drive." They will still be displayed, only now they might be displayed simply as "CD Drive."

Also, if you disable Shell Hardware Detection, or delete the shsvcs.dll, in Display Properties under the Appearance tab, you will no longer be able to choose the Windows XP Theme over the Windows Classic Theme.

---------------------------------------

Help and Support (See also Remote Desktop Help Session Manager below.)

HelpSvc.exe.....(Microsoft Help Center Service). <---(Main Service File). Located in C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries.

---------------------------------------

Http SSL

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

w3ssl.dll.......(SSL service for HTTP). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Human Interface Device Access

I do not have the associated file, HidServ.dll, installed on my system.

---------------------------------------

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service

Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI). Your computer cannot burn audio CDs using Windows Media Player without the IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service. However, third-party burning programs such as Nero still can.

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

IMAPI.EXE.......(CD-Burning COM Service). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Indexing Service

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ciadmin.dll.....CI Administration (MMC)
ciadv.msc.......
cic.dll.........CIC - MMC controls for Taskpad

CIDAEMON.EXE....(Content Index Filter Daemon). Process that determines which files will be indexed on the hard disk for faster search queries.

ciodm.dll.......Indexing Service Admin Automation Objects

CISVC.EXE.......(Content Index Service). The Content Index engine that performs file indexing to improve performance of resource searches. <---(Main Service File)

idq.dll.........Indexing Service ISAPI Extension
infosoft.dll....Wordbreaker and stemmer dll
ixsso.dll.......Indexing Service Server-side Object
LangWrbk.dll....English wordbreaker
mimefilt.dll....Microsoft ® IMimeFilter Persistent Handler DLL
nlhtml.dll......Net Library HTML filter
offfilt.dll.....OffFilt

query.dll.......(Content Index Utility DLL). The query.dll is needed to see Indexing Service in Computer Management under Services and Applications.

webhits.dll.....Indexing Service Webhits

Then delete these Indexing Service Language Resources Files (different languages files) from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

noise.chs.......
noise.cht.......
noise.dat ......Neutral
noise.deu.......Deutsch (German)
noise.eng.......English_UK
noise.enu.......English_US
noise.esn.......Spanish
noise.fra.......French
noise.ita.......Italian
noise.nld.......Dutch
noise.sve.......Swedish
noise.tha.......

wbcache.deu.....Deutsch (German)
wbcache.enu.....English_US
wbcache.esn.....Spanish
wbcache.fra.....French
wbcache.ita.....Italian
wbcache.nld.....Dutch
wbcache.sve.....Swedish

wbdbase.deu.....Deutsch (German)
wbdbase.enu.....English_US
wbdbase.esn.....Spanish
wbdbase.fra.....French
wbdbase.ita.....Italian
wbdbase.nld.....Dutch
wbdbase.sve.....Swedish

---------------------------------------

IPSEC Services (See PART 9 under Active Directories Service.)

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is integrated with the Active Directory Service.

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

oakley.dll......(Oakley Key Manager). Reported by mhc one of our forum members: The oakley.dll is associated with the IP Security (IPSEC) service and implements key encryption/decryption. You need this file if you enable the IPSEC service.

polstore.dll....(Policy Storage dll). IPsec uses a module called the IPsec Policy Store (polstore.dll) so that the IPsec Policy Agent and the IPsec Policy Management MMC snap-in can use one module to access all three supported policy storage locations: local, remote computer, and Active Directory.

---------------------------------------

Local Disk Manager and Local Disk Manager Administrative Service

I personally delete these two files in PART 9 under Computer Management and Disk Management along with other related files.

DmServer.dll....(Logical Disk Manager service dll) <---Main Service File for Local Disk Manager
DmAdmin.exe....(Local Disk Manager Administrative Service). <---Main Service File for Local Disk Manager Administrative Service

---------------------------------------

Messenger

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

msgsvc.dll......(NT Messenger Service). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

MS Software Shadow Copy Provider

DLLHOST.EXE.....(COM Surrogate). The COM+ process manager. <---(Main Service File) I personally delete the DLLHOST.EXE along with other COM+ Event System & COM+ System Application files listed above.

---------------------------------------

Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (See also C:\Program Files\Netmeeting in PART 4.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ils.dll.........User Location Services Component Module
mnmdd.dll.......Application Sharing Display Driver

MNMSRVC.EXE.....(NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing). Allows authorized users to remotely access your desktop. <---(Main Service File)

msconf.dll......Conferencing Utility Dll
msg723.acm......Microsoft G.723.1 CODEC for MSACM
msh261.drv......Microsoft H.261 ICM Driver
msh263.drv......Microsoft H.263 ICM Driver
nmevtmsg.dll....NetMeeting Event Logging DLL
nmmkcert.dll....NetMeeting Event Logging DLL

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

mnmdd.sys.......Frame buffer simulator

Delete the Netmeeting folder and its contents here: C:\Program Files\Netmeeting

I personally delete the Netmeeting folder and its contents in PART 4 along with other Program Files folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Network Connections

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

HNETCFG.DLL.....Home Networking Configuration Manager
hnetmon.dll.....Home Networking Monitor DLL

hnetwiz.dll.....(Network Setup Wizard). The Network Setup Wizard. You will not be able to access the Network Setup Wizard in the Control Panel without this file.

ncpa.cpl........(Network Connections Control-Panel Stub). This file appears to be an older version of the netsetup.cpl.
ncxpnt.dll......Network Setup Wizard Support DLL

NETCFGX.DLL.....(Network Configuration Objects). Needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel. Also, without the NETCFGX.DLL present, in Device Manager when you open the Properties of your Network Card and click on the Power Management tab you will receive this Device Installer Error before it opens: Windows could not load the installer for Net. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance. The Power Management tab will however open after clicking OK on the error.

netid.dll.......(System Control Panel Applet; Network ID Page). Along with the CREDUI.DLL, the netid.dll is needed to see Computer Name tab in System Properties.

NETMAN.DLL......(Network Connections Manager). <---(Main Service File) Needed to open Network Connections in Control Panel.

netplwiz.dll....(Map Network Drives/Network Places Wizard). In My Network Places, this is the Add Network Place Wizard. This wizard helps you sign up for a service that offers online storage space. You can use this space to store, organize, and share your documents and pictures using only a Web browser and Internet Connection. You can also use this wizard to create a shortcut to a Website, an FTP site, or other network location.

netsetup.cpl....(Network Setup Wizard Control Panel Applet). Deleting the netsetup.cpl will remove both the Network Setup Wizard and the Wireless Network Setup Wizard applets from the Control Panel. As such, it can also be considered part of Wireless Zero Configuration.

NETSHELL.DLL....(Network Connections Shell). In Internet Properties under the Connections tab the netshell.dll and the credui.dll are needed to access the New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard is accessed through the "Setup" button.

stobject.dll....(Systray shell service object). In Control Panel in Network Connections, the stobject.dll is necessary to view Local Area Connection Status inside the Local Area Connection applet. It is also necessary to display the Network Status icon in your System Tray. (Thanks go to jan tanjo one of our forum members for figuring that one out.) I would like to add that the stobject.dll is also necessary to display the Volume icon in your System Tray.

To remove Network Connections shortcut from the Control Panel navigate to this location in the registry...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\

Delete this key...
{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}

---------------------------------------

Network DDE and Network DDE DSDM

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

DDESHARE.EXE....(DDE Share Manager). Displays the active DDE shares and enables property editing for these shares.

NDDEAPIR.EXE....(NDDEAPI - Server Side). The server-side application programming interface (API) for the Network DDE Agent.

nddenb32.dll....Network DDE NetBIOS Interface
NETDDE.EXE......(Network DDE - DDE Communication). A background network DDE provider. <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Network Location Awareness (NLA)

I disable Network Location Awareness (NLA), but I DO NOT delete its Main Service File, Mswsock.dll (Microsoft Windows Sockets 2.0 Service Provider), because it is essential to Internet Explorer.

---------------------------------------

Network Provisioning Service

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

xmlprov.dll.....(Network Provisioning Service). <---(Main Service File)
xmlprovi.dll....Network Provisioning Service Client API

---------------------------------------

NVIDIA Display Driver Service

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

nvsvc32.exe.....(NVIDIA Driver Helper Service). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Performance Logs and Alerts

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

DISKPERF.EXE....(Network DDE - DDE Communication). Used to switch performance counters for the disk subsystem on and off.

loadperf.dll.....(Load & Unload Performance Counters). One of the files needed to access Windows Optional Components Wizard. See PART 6 under C:\WINDOWS\system32\Setup. Those of you who use the VMWare program will need the loadperf.dll for its installation.

LODCTR.EXE......(Load PerfMon Counters). Used to add new counters to Performance Monitor.
logman.exe......Performance Log Utility

PDH.DLL.........(Windows Performance Data Helper DLL). Needed to install Windows Media Player 11. After which it can be deleted.
perfc009.dat....
perfci.h........
perfci.ini......
perfctrs.dll....Performance Counters
perfd009.dat....
perfdisk.dll....Windows Disk Performance Objects DLL
perffilt.h......
perffilt.ini....
perfh009.dat....
perfi009.dat....
perfmon.exe.....Performance Monitor Command Line Shell

perfmon.msc.....Microsoft Common Console Document (System Performance Monitor). I delete this file, and in Control Panel/Administration Tools I delete its shortcut, "Performance".

perfnet.dll.....Windows Network Service Performance Objects DLL
perfos.dll......Windows System Performance Objects DLL
perfproc.dll....Windows System Process Performance Objects DLL
PerfStringBackup.INI...
perfwci.h.......
perfwci.ini.....
prflbmsg.dll....Perflib Event Messages
pschdcnt.h......
pschdprf.dll....Microsoft® Windows™ PSched Performance Monitor
pschdprf.ini....
rsvpperf.dll....Microsoft® Windows™ RSVP Performance Monitor

SMLOGSVC.EXE....(Performance Logs and Alerts Service). An application that allows statistics to be monitored and collected on local and remote PCs. <---(Main Service File)

sysmon.ocx......System Monitor Control
UNLODCTR.EXE....(Unload PerfMon Counters). Used to unload Performance Monitor counters.

---------------------------------------

Portable Media Serial Number Service (Also see PART 9 under Windows Portable Media Devices.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

MsPMSNSv.dll....(Microsoft Media Device Service Provider). <---(Main Service File)
MsPMSP.dll......(Microsoft Media Device Service Provider).
MSSCP.dll.......(Windows Media Secure Content Provider).

MSWMDM.dll......(Windows Media Device Manager Core). <--NOTE: Needed by Windows Media Player burning process. I personally delete the MSWMDM.dll in PART 9 along with the other Windows Media Player files I delete.

WMDMLOG.dll.....(Windows Media Device Manager Logger).

WMDMPS.dll......(Windows Media Device Manager Proxy Stub). <--NOTE: Needed by Windows Media Player burning process. I personally delete the WMDMPS.dll in PART 9 along with the other Windows Media Player files I delete.

---------------------------------------

Print Spooler

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

bidispl.dll.....Bidispl DLL
compstui.dll....Common Property Sheet User Interface DLL
cnbjmon.dll.....Language Monitor for Cannon Bubble-Jet Printer

fontsub.dll....(Font Subsetting DLL). Helps with creating a subset (partial) version of a specified TrueType font, typically in order to pass it to a printer.

htui.dll........Common halftone Color Adjustment Dialogs
icm32.dll.......Microsoft Color Management Module (CMM)

icmui.dll.......(Microsoft Color Matching System User Interface DLL). Combined with the mscms.dll the icmui.dll displays the "Color Management" tab in Display Properties > Settings tab > Advanced.

inetpp.dll......Internet Print Provider DLL
inetppui.dll....Internet Print Client DLL
localspl.dll....Local Spooler DLL
lprhelp.dll.....LPR Print Monitor
lprmonui.dll....LPR Print Monitor UI

mscms.dll.......(Microsoft Color Matching System DLL). Combined with the icmui.dll the mscms.dll displays the "Color Management" tab in Display Properties > Settings tab > Advanced.

msw3prt.dll.....ISAPI dll for Web Printing
ntprint.dll.....Spooler Setup DLL
pcl.sep.........Printer language support
photowiz.dll....Photo Printing Wizard

pjlmon.dll.....(PJL Language monitor). PJL stands for Printer Job Language. If a language monitor is associated with a printer during the printer's installation, the language monitor receives the printer's data stream from the spooler's print processor. The language monitor modifies the data stream and passes it to the printer's port monitor.

PRINT.EXE.......(Print Utility). A command-line print utility used to send print jobs to a port.
printui.dll.....Print UI DLL
pscript.sep.....Printer language support
pubprn.vbs......This script publishes all the shared printers on a given server.
spoolss.dll.....Spooler SubSystem DLL

SPOOLSV.EXE.....(Spooler SubSystem App. Print Spooler Service). The spooler service for the print subsystem. <---(Main Service File)

sysprint.sep...
sysprtj.sep....
usbmon.dll......Standard Dynamic Printing Port Monitor DLL
win32spl.dll....32-bit Spooler API DLL
winspool.exe....(Windows 16-bit WOW Pseudo Printer Driver (loaded as WINSPOOL.DRV)

WINSPOOL.DRV....(Windows Spooler Driver). Important: If in PART 5 you chose to delete the system folder and its files (C:\WINDOWS\system), at least keep the copy of the WINSPOOL.DRV that is in the system32 folder, or you may not be able to reboot to Windows. Just be sure to keep one of them.

wpnpinst.exe....Support exe for Internet Printing

Delete the spool folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool

I personally delete the spool folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Protected Storage

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

psbase.dll......Protected Storage default provider
pstorec.dll.....(Protected Storage COM interfaces). <---(Main Service File)
pstorsvc.dll....Protected storage server

---------------------------------------

QoS RSVP

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

qosname.dll.....Microsoft Windows GetQosByName Service Provider

RSVP.EXE........(Resource Reservation Protocol. QoS RSVP Service.). A protocol that sets up a reserved pathway with a specific quality of service for a set of data packets. <---(Main Service File)

rsvp.ini........
rsvpcnts.h......
rsvpmsg.dll.....RSVP Messages DLL
rsvpsp.dll......Microsoft Windows Rsvp 1.0 Service Provider

---------------------------------------

Remote Access Auto Connection Manager (Dial-Up Networking Common Libraries). See also Connection Manager in PART 9.

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

rasadhlp.dll....Remote Access AutoDial Helper
rasauto.dll.....Remote Access AutoDial Manager
RASAUTOU.EXE....(Remote Access Dialer). A program that allows remote dial-up connections between PCs.
raschap.dll.....Remote Access PPP CHAP
rasctrnm.h .....
rasctrs.dll.....Windows NT Remote Access Perfmon Counter dll
rasctrs.ini.....
RASDIAL.EXE.....(Remote Access Client Side Command Line Dial UI). A client-side user interface.
rasmans.dll.....(Remote Access Connection Manager). <---Main Service File for Remote Access Auto Connection Manager.
rasmontr.dll....RAS Monitor DLL
rasmxs.dll......Remote Access Device DLL for modems, PADS and switches
RASPHONE.EXE....(Remote Access Phonebook). The Dial-Up Networking Phonebook application.
rasppp.dll......Remote Access PPP
rasrad.dll......Remote Access Service NT RADIUS client module
rassapi.dll.....Remote Access Admin APIs dll
rasser.dll......Remote Access Media DLL for COM ports
rastapi.dll.....Remote Access TAPI Compliance Layer
rastls.dll......Remote Access PPP EAP-TLS
remotesp.tsp....Microsoft® Windows™ Remote Service Provider

TCMSETUP.EXE....(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Administration Setup). Used to set up the Telephony configuration on a Windows XP client. I personally delete this file while removing Telephony. (See Telephony below.)

Delete the Ras folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ras

I personally delete the Ras folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Remote Access Connection Manager (Terminal Services Remote Assistance Component)

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

sessmgr.exe.....(Microsoft® Remote Desktop Help Session Manager). <---Main Service File for both Remote Access Connection Manager and Remote Desktop Help Session Manager.

---------------------------------------

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (Terminal Services Remote Assistance Component)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

atrace.dll......Async Trace DLL
racpldlg.dll....Microsoft Remote Assistance
rcbdyctl.dll....Microsoft Remote Assistance

RCIMLBY.EXE.....(Microsoft Remote Assistance). A program used to help another user with a computer problem over the network or Internet.

safrcdlg.dll....Microsoft PCHealth Remote Assistance File Open & Save controls
safrdm.dll......Microsoft Help Center Desktop Manager
safrslv.dll.....Microsoft Help Center Session Resolver

sessmgr.exe.....(Microsoft® Remote Desktop Help Session Manager). <---Main Service File for both Remote Access Connection Manager and Remote Desktop Help Session Manager

Delete the contents of the pchealth folder here: C:\WINDOWS\pchealth

The pchealth folder contains files and subfolders to support the Microsoft Help Center Service. These files support all the Windows XP Help services, including features such as Remote Desktop Assistance.

IMPORTANT: Before you do this "move" (not copy) the msconfig.exe from inside the C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries folder to the System32 folder, or you will loose it.

I personally delete the pchealth folder and its contents in PART 5 along with other WINDOWS folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Removable Storage

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ntmsdba.dll.....Removable Storage Manager DB Object APIs
ntmsevt.dll.....Removable Storage Manager Event Logger
ntmsmgr.msc.....Removable Storage Console
ntmsoprq.msc....Removable Storage Console
ntmssvc.dll.....(Removable Storage Manager). <---(Main Service File)

RSM.EXE.........(Removable Storage Manager Command Line Interface). Command-line interface for the Removable Storage Manager.

rsmps.dll.......RSM Proxy Stub
RSMSINK.EXE.....(Removable Storage Sink Layer). Sink layer for the Removable Storage Manager.
RSMUI.EXE.......(Removable Storage UI Layer). A Removable Storage Manager component.

Removable Storage Manager includes three MLL files to interpret supported media labels:

mll_hp.dll......HP Media Label Library
mll_mtf.dll.....MTF (Microsoft Tape Format) Media Label Library
mll_qic.dll.....QIC113 Media Label Library

Delete this folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\NtmsData

I personally delete the NtmsData folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Routing and Remote Access (Dial-up Server for Windows)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

adptif.dll......IPX Interface via WinSock
dgnet.dll.......Dgnet Module

dgrpsetu.dll....(Digi RealPort® Driver Upgrade). Digi is a leading supplier of multi-function adapters for server-based communications systems.

dgsetup.dll.....DGSETUP DLL

---------------------------------

icmp.dll........(ICMP DLL). I do not delete the icmp.dll. It is needed in order to install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. Also needed by TCPOptimizer. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is used when networking. It ensures the integrity of information being sent across a network.

Let's suppose you installed your Windows XP installation using a pre-install file-removal program. Or, suppose even that you setup your system post-install, using a post-install file-removal program. You discover that you cannot install the PCPitStop Utility for computer checkup and diagnostics on the PC Pitstop Website. You uncover the source of your problem, or in file-removal program terms, "which component you need" in order to be able install the PCPitStop Utility. You would probably be told to redo your installation, and this time, leave Routing and Remote Access Service installed. This means that you would be leaving the icmp.dll installed...along with an additional 24 system32 files, and 8 drivers in your drivers folder, which you actually don't need to install the PCPitStop Utility. So you've defeated your purpose to remove all unnecessary files from your Windows XP installation.

File removal programs give you a choice: keep an entire Windows component and all its associated files, or remove the component completely, and lose functionality elsewhere.

---------------------------------

ifmon.dll.......IF Monitor DLL
ipmontr.dll.....IP Router Monitor DLL
ipnathlp.dll....Microsoft NAT Helper Components
ippromon.dll....IP Protocols Monitor DLL
iprtprio.dll....IP Routing Protocol Priority DLL
iprtrmgr.dll....IP Router Manager
ipxmontr.dll....IPX Router Monitor DLL
ipxpromn.dll....IPX Router Monitor DLL
ipxrip.dll......IPX RIP

IPXROUTE.EXE....(NWLink Source Routing Application). A utility used to display and control the IPX routes when using the IPX protocol.

ipxrtmgr.dll....IPX ROUTER MANAGER
ipxsap.dll......SAP Agent DLL
ipxwan.dll......IPXWAN
mprddm.dll......Demand Dial Manager Supervisor
mprdim.dll......(Dynamic Interface Manager). <---(Main Service File)
mprmsg.dll......Multi-Protocol Router Service Messages DLL
mprui.dll.......Multiple Provider
routetab.dll....Microsoft Routing Table DLL
rtipxmib.dll....Microsoft Router IPX MIB subagent
rtm.dll.........Routing Table Manager

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

ipfltdrv.sys....IP FILTER DRIVER
ipinip.sys......IP in IP Encapsulation Driver
ipnat.sys.......IP Network Address Translator
nwlnkflt.sys....NWLINK2 Traffic Filter Driver
nwlnkfwd.sys....NWLINK2 Forwarder Driver
nwlnkipx.sys....NWLINK2 IPX Protocol Driver
nwlnknb.sys.....NWLINK2 IPX Netbios Protocol Driver
nwlnkspx.sys....NWLINK2 SPX Protocol Driver

Delete the ias folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ias

I personally delete the ias folder, its contents, and the individual system32 files that belong to it, in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Secondary Logon

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

RUNAS.EXE.......(Run As Utility). A utility that allows a process to be implemented with a new user ID and password combination. Typically used to run a process or application as an Administrator or other user with higher levels of privileges than the currently logged on user.

sclgntfy.dll....Secondary Logon Service Notification
seclogon.dll....(Secondary Logon Service DLL). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Security Accounts Manager

I disable Security Accounts Manager, but I DO NOT delete these associated files, as they are needed to boot to Windows.

SAMLIB.DLL......(Security Accounts Manager Client). <---(Main Service File)
SAMSRV.DLL......Security Accounts Manager Server

SCESRV.DLL......(Windows Security Configuration Editor Engine). The SCEVSRV.DLL provides core security engine functionality including support for import, configure, analyze, and policy propagation operations.

I do, however, delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

SCECLI.DLL......Windows Security Configuration Editor Client Engine

---------------------------------------

Security Center

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

wscntfy.exe.....Windows Security Center Notification App
wscsvc.dll......(Windows Security Center Service). <---(Main Service File)
wscui.cpl.......Security Center

---------------------------------------

Smart Card

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

scarddlg.dll....SCardDlg - Smart Card Common Dialog
scardssp.dll....Smart Card Base Service Providers
SCARDSVR.EXE....(Smart Card Resource Management Server). Smart Card Server component. <---(Main Service File)
sccbase.dll.....Infineon SICRYPT® Base Smart Card CSP
sccsccp.dll.....Infineon SICRYPT® Smart Card Crypto Provider COM Objects
scredir.dll.....Smart Card Redirection for TS
slbcsp.dll......Schlumberger Smart Card CryptoAPI Library
slbiop.dll......Schlumberger Smart Card Interoperability Library v2
slbrccsp.dll....Schlumberger Smart Card CryptoAPI Resource File

---------------------------------------

SSDP Discovery Service

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ssdpsrv.dll.....(SSDP Service DLL). <---(Main Service File)

I personally delete this file while removing Universal Plug and Play Device Host. See Universal Plug and Play Device Host below.

---------------------------------------

System Event Notification

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

sens.dll........System Event Notification Service (SENS) <---(Main Service File)
sensapi.dll.....SENS Connectivity API DLL
senscfg.dll.....SENS Setup/Setup Tool

---------------------------------------

System Restore Service

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

srclient.dll....SR CLIENT DLL
srrstr.dll......System Restore Restore Operation Library
srsvc.dll.......(System Restore Service). <---(Main Service File)

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

sr.sys..........System Restore Filesystem Filter Driver

Delete the Restore folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore

I personally delete the Restore folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Task Scheduler

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS:

SchedLgU.Txt (The SchedLgU.Txt can only be deleted if the Task Scheduler Service is stopped.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

loghours.dll....Schedule Dialog
mstask.dll......(Task Scheduler interface DLL). This is the Scheduled Task Wizard.
MSTINIT.EXE.....(Task Scheduler Setup). Allows scheduling automated tasks.
schedsvc.dll....(Task Scheduler Engine). <---(Main Service File)

Delete the Tasks folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\Tasks

I personally delete the Tasks folder and its contents in PART 5 along with other WINDOWS folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

To Remove Scheduled Tasks Wizard Shortcut from Control Panel

Go to this location in the registry...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\

Delete this key...
{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

---------------------------------------

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

lmhsvc.dll......(TCPIP NetBios Transport Services DLL). <---(Main Service File)
tcpmib.dll......Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor Helper DLL
tcpmon.dll......Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor DLL
tcpmon.ini......
tcpmonui.dll....Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor UI DLL

I also delete these TCP/IP Command Line Tools from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ARP.EXE.........(TCP/IP Arp Command). The Address Resolution Protocol command-line utility used to manage the ARP cache on TCP/IP systems.

FINGER.EXE......(TCPIP Finger Command). A TCP/IP utility used to obtain information about a user account via a remote system.

FTP.EXE.........(File Transfer Program). A TCP/IP command-line File Transfer Protocol (FTP) utility used to transfer files between the local system and a remote FTP server.

HOSTNAME.EXE....(Hostname APP). A TCP/IP command-line utility that displays the hostname of the current system.

IPCONFIG.EXE....(IP Configuration Utility). A TCP/IP command-line tool that displays the IP configuration for all installed interfaces and can be used to renew and release DHCP leases.

LPQ.EXE.........(TCP/IP Line Printer Queue Command). Displays printer queue information on a printer hosted on a Unix system.

LPR.EXE.........(TCP/IP Line Printer Command.) Prints to a printer hosted on a Unix system.
NBTSTAT.EXE.....(TCP/IP NetBios Information). Displays NetBIOS over TCP/IP statistics.
NETSTAT.EXE.....(TCP/IP Netstat Command). Displays TCP/IP network statistics.

NSLOOKUP.EXE....(nslookup APP). Name Server Lookup. Used to display diagnostic and statistical information from DNS servers.

PATHPING.EXE....(TCP/IP PathPing Command). A command for verifying an IP route that enables the user to specify options to test for along the path.

PING.EXE........(TCP/IP Ping Command). A TCP/IP utility used to test the existence of, or the capability to communicate with, remote systems.

RCP.EXE.........(TCP/IP Remote Copy Command). A TCP/IP utility used to copy files between the current system and a remote RSHD (Remote Shell) server.

REXEC.EXE.......(TCP/IP Remote Exec Command). Used to issue commands on remote systems running the REXEC service.
ROUTE.EXE.......(TCP/IP Route Command). Used to view and edit the local routing table.
RSH.EXE.........(TCP/IP Remote Shell Command). Issues commands on remote systems running the RSH service.
TCPSVCS.EXE.....(TCP/IP Services Application). The TCP Services provider.
TFTP.EXE........(Trivial File Transfer Protocol App). An alternative FTP program for use over User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

TRACERT.EXE.....(TCP/IP Traceroute Command). Used to identify the route between the local system and a remote system on a TCP/IP network.

TRACERT6.EXE....(IPv6 Traceroute Command). A tool to trace the route a packet would take to get from the source host to the destination host.

---------------------------------------

Telephony (See also Phone Dialer in PART 4 under C:\Program Files\Windows NT.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

confmsp.dll.....Microsoft IP Conferencing Media Service Provider
h323.tsp........Microsoft H.323 Telephony Service Provider
h323log.txt.....
h323msp.dll.....Microsoft H.323 Media Service Provider
hidphone.tsp....Microsoft HID Phone TSP
ipconf.tsp......Microsoft Multicast Conference TAPI Service Provider
kmddsp.tsp......TAPI Kernel-Mode Service Provider
ndptsp.tsp......NDIS Proxy TAPI Service Provider
rend.dll........Microsoft Rendezvous Control
sdpblb.dll......Microsoft Sdpblb
tapi3.dll.......Microsoft TAPI3
tapi.dll........Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Server1
tapiperf.dll....Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Performance Monitor
tapisrv.dll.....(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Server). <---(Main Service File)
tapiui.dll......Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony API UI DLL

TCMSETUP.EXE....(Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Administration Setup). Used to set up the Telephony configuration on a Windows XP client.

telephon.cpl....Telephony Control Panel
termmgr.dll.....Microsoft TAPI3 Terminal Manager
umdmxfrm.dll....Unimodem Tranform Module
unimdm.tsp......Unimodem 5 Service Provider
unimdmat.dll....Unimodem Service Provider AT Mini Driver
uniplat.dll.....Unimodem AT Mini Driver Platform Driver for Windows NT

wavemsp.dll.....(Microsoft Wave MSP). The Wave MSP (Wavemsp.dll) fits legacy TSPs written prior to the introduction of MSPs into TAPI 3's MSP-based streaming architecture.

---------------------------------------

Terminal Services (Terminal Services Core)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

cdmodem.dll.....Modem Connection Driver
cfgbkend.dll....Configuration Backend Interface

drprov.dll......(Microsoft Terminal Server Network Provider). Needed to display Microsoft Terminal Services in My Network Places under Entire Network.

icaapi.dll......DLL Interface to TermDD Device Driver
LOGOFF.EXE......(Session Logoff Utility). A utility to terminate a user's session on the PC.
MSG.EXE.........(Message Utility). A utility for sending messages to other users.
mstlsapi.dll....
MSTSC.EXE.......(Remote Desktop Connection). An application that enables a computer to be accessed remotely.
mstscax.dll.....Terminal Services ActiveX Client
perfts.dll......Windows 2000 Terminal Services Performance Objects
QAPPSRV.EXE.....(Query Terminal Server Utility). Identifies terminal servers on the network.

QPROCESS.EXE....(Query Process Utility). Displays processes running on a machine. Can be sorted by username and other criteria.

QWINSTA.EXE.....(Query Session Utility). Displays session information and related statistics, such as connect and flow control settings.

rdchost.dll.....RDSHost Client Module
rdpcfgex.dll....Terminal Server Connection Configuration Extension for the RDP protocol
RDPCLIP.EXE.....(RDP Clip Monitor). A Remote Desktop Protocol component.
rdpdd.dll.......RDP Display Driver
rdpsnd.dll......Terminal Server Multimedia Driver
rdpwsx.dll......RDP Extension DLL
RDSADDIN.EXE....(Remote Desktop Addin). A Remote Desktop Terminal Services session add-in.
RDSHOST.EXE.....(RDSHost Server Module). A Remote Desktop Service module.
REGINI.EXE......(Registry Initializer). A utility to change Registry values from a command line or script.

remotepg.dll....(Remote Sessions CPL Extension). The applet in System Properties for Remote Access will disappear when you remove the remotepg.dll.

RESET.EXE.......(Reset Utility). A Terminal Services reset utility.
RWINSTA.EXE.....(Reset Session Utility). A utility to reset a hardware or software session.
SHADOW.EXE......(Session Utility). A Session Remote Control utility.
termsrv.dll.....(Terminal Server Service). <---(Main Service File)
tsappcmp.dll....Terminal Services Application Compatibility DLL
tscfgwmi.dll....Terminal Server Configuration WMI provider
TSCON.EXE.......(Session Connection Utility). Attaches a user session to a terminal session.
TSCUPGRD.EXE....(Setup Custom Action DLL). The Terminal Services setup component.
tsddd.dll.......Framebuffer Display Driver
TSDISCON.EXE....(Session Disconnect Utility). A Terminal Services utility for disconnecting a session.

TSKILL.EXE......(End Process Utility). A utility to terminate a Terminal Services process on a session-by-session basis or for all sessions.

tslabels.h......
tslabels.ini....

TSSHUTDN.EXE....(System Shutdown Utility). A Terminal Services utility to perform a controlled shutdown of the server. Includes variables for rebooting or powering down the server.

usrlogon.cmd
utildll.dll.....WinStation utility support DLL
winsta.dll......(Winstation Library). <--I DO NOT delete the winsta.dll. It is needed to boot to Windows.

WTSAPI32.DLL....(Windows Terminal Server SDK APIs). <--I DO NOT delete the WTSAPI32.DLL. It is needed both to view the Automatic Updates tab in System Properties, and by Microsoft Update. Also needed to enter System Properties by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Properties without receiving this error: This application has failed to start because WTSAPI32.DLL was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this. However, System Properties will open after clicking OK on the error message even without this file present.

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

rdpcdd.sys......RDP Miniport
rdpdr.sys.......Microsoft RDP Device redirector
rdpwd.sys.......RDP Terminal Stack Driver (US/Canada Only, Not for Export)
tdpipe.sys......Named Pipe Transport Driver
tdtcp.sys.......TCP Transport Driver
termdd.sys......Terminal Server Driver

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem:

tscfgwmi.mfl
tscfgwmi.mof

---------------------------------------

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

apcups.dll......APC Smart Provider
UPS.EXE.........(UPS Service). The Uninterruptible Power Supply Service. <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ssdpsrv.dll.....(SSDP Service DLL). <---Main Service File for SSDP Discovery Service
ssdpapi.dll.....SSDP Client API DLL
udhisapi.dll....UPnP Device Host ISAPI Extension
upnp.dll........Universal Plug and Play API
UPNPCONT.EXE....(UPnP Device Host Container). A Universal Plug and Play component.
upnphost.dll....(UPnP Device Host ISAPI Extension). <---(Main Service File)
upnpui.dll......UPNP Tray Monitor and Folder

Delete the icsxml folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\icsxml

I personally delete the icsxml folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Volume Shadow Copy

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

eventcls.dll....Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service event class
swprv.dll.......Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service software provider

twext.dll.......(Previous Versions property page). When the Shadow Copies of Shared Folders feature is enabled on your server, the Previous Version tab is present on the Properties dialog.

vss_ps.dll......Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service proxy/stub

VSSADMIN.EXE....(Command Line Interface for Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service ). Command-line interface for the Volume Shadow Copy Service.

vssapi.dll......(Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Requestor/Writer Services API DLL). <--IMPORTANT FILE! Without the vssapi.dll present, Security Center, Volume Shadow Copy, Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and Windows Management Instrumentation cannot be turned on. (Thanks go to nataliecv, one of our forum members, for her hard work at uncovering this. And thank you, tempnegro, another one of our forum members, for pushing me into testing this out. I personally do not run any of these Services, and had no way of knowing this.)

VSSVC.EXE.......(Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service). Manages and implements a volume shadow copy for backup purposes. <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

WebClient (See PART 9 under WebFldrs XP how to uninstall WebFldrs XP.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

davclnt.dll.....(Web DAV Client DLL). Needed to display Web Client Network in My Network Places under Entire Network.
webclnt.dll.....(Web DAV Service DLL). <---(Main Service File)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

mrxdav.sys......Windows NT WebDav Minirdr
mrxsmb.sys......Windows NT WebDav Minirdr

---------------------------------------

Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework (Installed along with Windows Media Player 11.)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

WUDFCoinstaller.dll...Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Platform Device Co-Installer

WudfHost.exe..........Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Host Process
WudfPlatform.dll......Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Platform Library

WudfSvc.dll...........(Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Service). <---(Main Service File)
WUDFx.dll.............WDF:UMDF Framework Library

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

WudfPf.sys....Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Platform Driver

WudfRd.sys....Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework Reflector

Delete the LogFiles folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\system32\LogFiles

I personally delete the LogFiles folder and its contents in PART 6 along with other system32 folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

6to4svc.dll.....Service that offers IPv6 connectivity over an IPv4 network.
firewall.cpl....Windows Firewall Control Panel
fwcfg.dll.......(Windows Firewall Configuration Helper). <---(Main Service File)
IPSEC6.EXE......(Ipv6 Security Configuration Utility). A tool for configuring IPv6 security.
ipsecsnp.dll....Internet Protocol Security Policy Management
ipsecsvc.dll....Windows IPSec SPD Server DLL
ipsmsnap.dll....IP Security Monitor Snapin
ipv6mon.dll.....IF Monitor DLL
IPV6.EXE........(Ipv6 Configuration Utility). A tool to install and configure IPv6.
winipsec.dll....Windows IPSec SPD Client DLL
wship6.dll......IPv6 Helper DLL

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

ip6fw.sys.......IPv6 Windows Firewall Driver
tcpip6.sys......IPv6 driver

---------------------------------------

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

camocx.dll......WIA Camera View DLL
fsusd.dll.......File System Camera Devices DLL
sti_ci.dll......Still Image Class Installer
sti.dll.........Still Image Devices client DLL
STIMON.EXE......(Still Image Devices Monitor). Enables a USB still-image device to transfer data.

WIAACMGR.EXE....(Windows Picture Acquisition Wizard). A program that steps you through downloading pictures from a digital device to a file location.

wiadefui.dll....WIA Scanner Default UI
wiadss.dll......WIA TWAIN compatibility layer
wiavusd.dll.....WIA Video Stream device USD
wiascr.dll......WIA Scripting Layer
wiaservc.dll....(Still Image Devices Service). <---(Main Service File)
wiasf.ax........WIA Stream Snapshot Filter
wiashext.dll....Imaging Devices Shell Folder
wiavideo.dll....WIA Video

To Remove Scanners & Cameras Installation Wizard Shortcut from Control Panel

Go to this location in the registry...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\

Delete this key...
{E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD}

---------------------------------------

Windows Management Instrumentation

Important to see PART 6 under C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem (Windows Management Instrumentation).

The main Service File for Windows Management Instrumentation is the wmisvc.dll located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem.

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

cmprops.dll.....WMI Snapins
licwmi.dll......Windows Product Activation Configuration WMI provider

mmfutil.dll.....(WMI Snapin Helpers). The mmfutil.dll together with the servdeps.dll display the Dependencies tab in Services Properties.

servdeps.dll....(WMI Snapins). The servdeps.dll together with the mmfutil.dll display the Dependencies tab in Services Properties.

wmimgmt.msc.....
wmiprop.dll.....WDM Provider Dynamic Property Page CoInstaller

---------------------------------------

Windows Time

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

W32TIME.DLL.....(Windows Time Service). <---(Main Service File) Needed to start Windows Time Service and to successfully synchronize time with an Internet server.

w32tm.exe.......(Windows Time Service Diagnostic Tool). Command-line tool used to diagnose problems occurring with Windows Time.

---------------------------------------

Windows User Mode Driver Framework

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

wdfapi.dll......Windows User Mode Driver Framework API
wdfmgr.exe......(Windows User Mode Driver Manager). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Wireless Zero Configuration

Delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

bthci.dll.......Bluetooth Class Installer (Wireless Company)
bthprops.cpl....Bluetooth Control Panel Applet
bthserv.dll.....Bluetooth Support Service
btpanui.dll.....Bluetooth PAN User Interface
fsquirt.exe.....Belongs to BlueTooth Wireless Company.
irclass.dll.....Infrared Class Coinstaller
irprops.cpl.....Wireless Link Control Panel Applet

netsetup.cpl....(Network Setup Wizard Control Panel Applet). Deleting the netsetup.cpl will remove both the Network Setup Wizard and the Wireless Network Setup Wizard applets from the Control Panel. As such, it can also be considered part of Network Connections. I delete the netsetup.cpl along with Network Connections files above.

wzcdlg.dll......(Wireless Zero Configuration Service UI). Wireless Network Setup Wizard.

WZCSAPI.DLL.....(Wireless Zero Configuration service API). Needed along with the WZCSVC.DLL to open Network Connections and Network Setup Wizard in Control Panel.

WZCSVC.DLL......(Wireless Zero Configuration Service). <---(Main Service File) Needed along with the WZCSAPI.DLL to open Network Connections and Network Setup Wizard in Control Panel.

Delete the Provisioning folder and its contents here: C:\WINDOWS\Provisioning

I personally delete the Provisioning folder and its contents in PART 5 along with other WINDOWS folders. It just keeps things simpler that way.

---------------------------------------

WMI Performance Adapter

Delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem:

wmiapsrv.exe....(WMI Performance Adapter Service). <---(Main Service File)

---------------------------------------

Whether you choose to disable some, or all of the same Services I do, you are bound to start experiencing a few DCOM Errors in the Event Viewer upon first rebooting your machine.

DON'T PANIC! I'm going to fix that for you right now.

Purge the Prefetch folder (C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch) of all its files. You want a new Layout.ini file created. One that doesn't have paths pointing to any of the files you've removed. (That was simple, wasn't it? And here you were in a panic.)

Windows will remake the Layout.ini file anew automatically, after rebooting your system three times, and some up time in an idle state (usually in about twenty to thirty minutes).

Myself, I use a registry file I made to remove the entries. However, there is a neat little app called Service Installer.exe that can eliminate the registry entries for Services you've disabled. Their entries will then no longer be on display in the Services window.

Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide PART 3

Documents and Settings Folders


---------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings

Basically, the Default User profile is as a blueprint that Windows uses to initialize new logins. Whenever a new user logs on for the first time, Windows copies settings from the Default User profile to the newly created user profile.

I completely delete the Default User folder, not just its contents.

The LocalService and NetworkService profiles are automatically created by Windows XP for two new built in user accounts that are used by the Service Control Manager to host services that do not need to run as the local system account.

I completely delete the LocalService folder, not just its contents.

You may or may not be able to completely delete the NetworkService folder and its contents, depending upon your Services configuration and/or your Internet Service Provider.

I personally can't delete the NetworkService folder on my system.

---------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto
I delete the Crypto folder and its subfolders.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson

Dr. Watson is a program error debugger that gathers information about your computer when an error (or user-mode fault) occurs with a program. Technical support groups can use the information that Dr. Watson obtains and logs to diagnose a program error. When an error is detected, Dr. Watson creates a text file (Drwtsn32.log) that can be delivered to support personnel by the method they prefer. You also have the option of creating a crash dump file, which is a binary file that a programmer can load into a debugger.

Drwatson.exe is an older program error debugger that was included with earlier versions of Windows NT. Microsoft recommends that you use Drwtsn32.exe instead of Drwatson.exe in Windows XP.

I delete the Dr Watson folder.

Then I delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

DRWATSON.EXE....(Windows Fault detection utility). A 16-bit GUI application failure-detection and fault-logging utility that watches over the Win16 subsystem.

DRWTSN32.EXE....(DrWatson Postmortem Debugger). A 32-bit GUI application failure-detection and fault-logging utility that watches over the Win32 subsystem and native Windows XP applications.

DWWIN.EXE.......(Microsoft Application Error Reporting). The application used to report errors in Microsoft applications.

The Dr Watson folder will eventually return unless you disable Dr Watson.

Go to this location in the registry...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug

Delete the AeDebug key.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\HTML Help
You can delete the HTML folder. However, the HTML Help folder will return should you open an HTML Help File (.chm extension file).

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Here you can delete any shortcuts you think you will never use in Quick Launch.

I delete the shortcuts I never use, then move the ones I keep to C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch. It just keeps everything together. I keep the Quick Launch folder in case any programs I install look for it when they are installing their files.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Index
I delete the Media Index folder.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
I delete the Media Player folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network
You can the delete the Network folder and its contents. I personally don't.

Inside the Network folder are two subfolders, Connections and Downloader.

The Network folder will be re-generated upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website, along with one of its subfolder, Downloader. The subfolder, Connections, and its contents, will not be re-generated.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures
I delete the avatars.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures
Here you can delete any of the default avatars that you think you will probably never use on your Start Menu.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\nView_Profiles
I delete the nView_Profiles folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM (Also see PART 9 under Windows Media Player Files)
I delete the DRM folder and its contents.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) provides functions relating to Digital Rights.

Per Microsoft: The Windows Media DRM platform enables the secure delivery of protected content for playback on a computer, portable device, or network device.

Then I delete these files that also belong to DRM from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

drmclien.dll...(DRM Client DLL). Needed to play *.wma music files and *.wmv video files with Media Player 6.4

drmstor.dll....DRM Store DLL
drmupgds.exe...(DRM Migrate EXE). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.
drmv2clt.dll...DRMv2 Client DLL

msnetobj.dll...DRM ActiveX Network Object
mssap.dll......DRM

WMDRMdev.dll...Windows Media DRM for Network Devices Registration DLL
WMDRMNet.dll...Windows Media DRM for Network Devices DLL
wmdrmsdk.dll...(Windows Media DRM SDK DLL). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
I delete the Favorites folder.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents)\Shared Music
(Note: When you delete the desktop.ini from the Shared Documents folder, the folder is renamed to simply Documents.)

I delete the Shared Music folder and its contents.

The Shared Music folder contains these subfolders:

My Playlists

Sample Music

Sample Playlists

Sync Playlists

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents)\Shared Pictures
I delete the My Pictures folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents)\Shared Videos
I delete the My Pictures folder and its contents.

---------------------------------

Removing the Subfolders in Shared Documents (or Documents) Permanently

To permanently delete the Shared Music, Shared Pictures, and Shared Video subfolders from C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents), and the My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos subfolders from C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents, first UnRegister the mydocs.dll, and then delete these subfolders.

To UnRegister the mydocs.dll:

Start > Run > type in - "regsvr32 /u mydocs.dll" (without the quotes) and click OK.

Then go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents), and to C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents, and delete their subfolders.

It is very difficult to stop the Shared Music subfolder from returning to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents). But we'll give it a good try...

Go to Windows Media Player Tools > Options > Library tab. Click on Monitor Folders, and then Advanced Options.

You should see these paths listed in the pane:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Documents\My Music
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Documents\My Pictures
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Documents\My Videos

Highlight each path and click the Ignore button.

(The above instructions apply to Window Media Player 11. In Windows Media Player 10 you can highlight these paths and click Remove.)

While in Windows Media Player Options, click Rip Music tab. Under "Rip music to this location" click the Change button. And create your own special folder in a location of your choice. I made a folder called Temporary Downloads on my D Drive.

When done click OK.

Keep this in mind, that if at some point you are playing around under the Privacy tab, and you clear the MUI caches by clicking on the "Clear Caches" button (under History, and to the right of "Clear caches for CDs DVDs and devices), the new designated folder path you created in Windows Media Player could very well disappear, and Windows Media Player could default to the path C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music).

Under the Privacy tab, I take the tick out of "Update music files by retrieving media info from the Internet." I do this to stop album cover art from cropping up on my computer. You may like the album art.

The "Shared Music" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents), is the most difficult folder to keep from returning.

However, you can delete the Value data of a certain registry string. This is to be done in addition to what I have outlined above.

Navigate in the Registry Editor to...

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

In the right panel look for this entry...

My Music REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music

Double click on My Music, and delete the Value data. Don't delete the entire String, just the value data. (You will notice that since you UnRegistered the mydocs.dll, the Value data for My Pictures and My Video have already been removed.)

Now navigate also to here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Look for this entry in the right panel...

CommonMusic REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\My Documents\My Music

Double click on CommonMusic, and delete the Value data. Don't delete the entire String, just the value data.

NOTE: If you use MRU Blaster, the Value Data you just removed will return here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders.

And, the My Music folder in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents will return.

And, the "Rip music to this location" you chose in Windows Media Player Options will revert back to C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music.

Additional NOTE: Using Ad-aware to remove the MRU (Most Recently Used), the Value Data you just removed will return here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders.

And, the Shared Music folder in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents will return.

There is one another part of this tweak that needs some work. I don't have it figured out yet, so if you have any ideas, let me know...

When you rip a music CD, the "Shared Music" folder will return to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents (or Documents) ...no matter what. But this is the only time, as far as I can see.

---------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories (Start Menu shortcuts)

I delete this Start Menu shortcut:

Calculator

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility
I delete the Accessibility folder and its contents.

Then I delete these additional files that belong to Accessibility Options from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

access.cpl......Control Panel DLL
accwiz.exe......(Microsoft Accessibility Wizard). Used to configure the different accessibility options of your system.

mag_hook.dll....Microsoft Magnifier hook library file
magnify.exe.....(Microsoft Magnifier). Magnifies portions of the screen.
msaatext.dll....Active Accessibility text support
msswch.dll......(On-screen keyboard). Used in combination with msswchx.exe.
msswchx.exe.....msswchx (Belongs to On-screen keyboard.)

narrator.exe....(Microsoft Narrator). Converts text to speech.
narrhook.dll....Microsoft Narrator Keyboard and WinEvent hook

osk.exe.........(On-Screen Keyboard). Displays an on-screen keyboard that can be used to enter information with the mouse.

sethc.exe.......Windows NT High Contrast Invocation

---------------------------------

Serial Keys is designed for people who have difficulty using the computer's standard keyboard or mouse. Serial Keys provides support so that alternative input devices can be plugged into the computer's serial port.

In the Control Panel open Accessibility Options. Click on the General tab. Under SerialKey devices, click Settings. Change the Serial port and Baud rate for your SerialKey device as appropriate.

skdll.dll.......Serial Keys
SKEYS.EXE.......(Microsoft® Serial Keys Utility). A system service that adds support for the Serial Keys feature.

---------------------------------

umandlg.dll.....(UManDlg DLL). Cannot open Utility Manager in Accessibility options without umandlg.dll.
utilman.exe.....(UtilMan EXE). An application for configuring tools for disabled people.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications
I delete the Communications folder and its contents. This removes its shortcuts from my desktop. I rarely access them anyway. When I do, I access them through the Control Panel.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment

I delete this Start Menu shortcut:

Sound Recorder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools
I delete the System Tools folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools (Start Menu shortcuts)

I delete these Start Menu shortcuts:

Component Services
Computer Management
Data Sources (ODBC)
Performance

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games (Start Menu shortcuts)

I delete these Start Menu shortcuts:

FreeCell
Hearts
Internet Backgammon
Internet Checkers
Internet Hearts
Internet Reversi
Internet Spades
Minesweeper
Solitaire
Spider Solitaire

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
I delete the Templates folder.

---------------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Help
I delete the Help folder.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Identities
I delete the Identities folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Credentials
You can delete the Credentials folder and its contents. However, the Credentials folder and its contents will be re-generated by Windows immediately upon rebooting. So there's really not much point in deleting it.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\CryptnetUrl
I delete the files in the subfolders of the CryptnetUrlCache: Content and MetaData.

I found the files in Content and MetaData folders to be really interesting. The very first time I deleted all the files within these two folders, what happened really blew my mind.

Using Notepad, I looked in some of the files in these folders. They looked like a record of URL History of some kind.
By the name of their parent folder, CryptnetUrlCache, logically they must be cache-type files.

I deleted all the files within these two folders. Then I cleaned up my system as usual with my Temp File Cleaners, rebooted, and then defragged. Zowie! My browser windows started opening up so much faster. It was simply unbelievable.

I've been told these folders are where XP stores verified and certified Websites security certificates, for such things as SSL (Secure Socket Layers) logins for paying bills, and shopping on Amazon.com.

The reason they seem to slow Internet Explorer is that they are part of the process of validating certificates by checking to make sure they are still valid.

Note: If you choose not to delete these files, it is a good idea anyway to clear the SSL cache every once in awhile:

In the Control Panel, open Internet Options. Click on the Content tab. Under Certificates, click on the Clear SSL button. This will clear the SSL cache. Clearing the SSL cache does not delete the files in the Content and MetaData folders.

Myself, I uncheck "Check for publisher's certificate revocation" in Internet Options > Advanced tab > listed under Security.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Crypto
You can delete the Crypto folder and its contents. However, the Crypto folder and its contents will be re-generated by Windows a short time after rebooting.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\HTML Help
You can delete the HTML Help folder and its contents. However, the HTML Help folder and its contents will return should you open an HTML Help File (.chm extension file).

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Here you can delete any shortcuts you think you will never use in Quick Launch.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\MMC
You can delete the MMC folder and its contents. However, the MMC folder will be re-generated upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Protect
You can delete the Protect folder and its contents. However, the Protect folder and its contents will be re-generated upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
You can delete the SystemCertificates folder and its contents. However, the SystemCertificates folder and its contents will be re-generated upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Favorites
I delete the "MSN.com" and "Radio Station Guide" shortcuts.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Favorites\Links
I delete the Links folder and its contents.

You need to apply this reg tweak to delete the Links folder permanently:



C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Favorites\Microsoft Websites (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the Microsoft Websites folder and its contents.

---------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data

I delete the GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT.

The only thing I can say in with certainty about the GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT, is that it does not exist on a fresh Windows XP installation.

The GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT appears to be a fonts list of some kind. It could possibly be generated when opening an application. Or possibly, it could be dropped onto your computer when entering a Website that has pop-up advertising.

This may or may not be true...

The GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT is related to LinkGrabber 99.

LinkGrabber 99 is an adware program that serves unwanted commercial advertisements to user desktop using various pop-ups, web browser windows or additional toolbars.

Moreover, it is able to track user activity in the Internet, modify default browser settings and gather personal user information. It can be installed along with the ad-supported software or through some unsafe web sites. LinkGrabber 99 alters essential system settings so it could start on every Windows startup and remain active in background.

---------------------------------

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Help
You can delete the Help folder. However, the Help folder will return should you open a Help file (.hlp extension file.)

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
You can delete the CD Burning folder. However, the CD Burning folder will be re-generated by Windows immediately upon rebooting your system.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Credentials
You can delete the Credentials folder and its contents. However, the Credentials folder and its contents will be re-generated by Windows immediately upon rebooting your system.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Feeds (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the Feeds folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Feeds Cache (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the Feeds Cache folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\HelpCtr
You can delete the HelpCtr folder. However, the HelpCtr folder will return should you click on a Help and Support Center link. For example, in Event Viewer, when you double-click on an event or error, and then click on the link displayed in the Event Properties.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Player
You can delete the Media Player folder and its contents. However, the Media Player folder, along with new content, will be re-generated by Windows just as soon as you use Windows Media Player.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Portable Devices (Created by Windows Media Player 11.)
I delete the Portable Devices folder.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Media
I delete the Windows Media folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music
I delete the My Music folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Pictures
I delete the My Pictures folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Videos
I delete the My Videos folder.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\SendTo
Here you can delete any "Send To" items (from the right-click context menu option) that you think you may never use, and even place here instead a few to your own liking.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories (Start Menu shortcuts)

I delete these Start Menu shortcuts:

Program Compatibility Wizard
Synchronize
Tour Windows XP

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility
I delete the Accessibility folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment
I delete the Communications folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools
I delete the System Tools folder and its contents.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Templates
I delete the contents of the Templates folder, but keep the folder, as it will not delete.

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\UserData
You can delete the UserData folder and its contents if you like. However, a new UserData folder and contents will be created upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website.

Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide PART 4

Program Files Folders


C:\Program Files\ComPlus Applications
I delete the ComPlus Applications folder.

The ComPlus Applications folder contains files used by ComPlus applications. If there are no ComPlus applications installed on your XP machine, this folder will be empty. COM+ builds on the Microsoft Component Object Model (COM) integrated services and features, making it easier for developers to create and use software components in any language, using any tool.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Intel

I delete the Intel folder and its contents.

The Intel folder is installed by the Intel Chipset INF Update Utility. It contains a InfInst subfolder, which contains a license.txt, and an overview-of-the-product readme.txt.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer...

The Internet Explorer folder contains the files and executables for Internet Explorer

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard
I delete the Connection Wizard folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS
I delete the PLUGINS folder.

C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\SIGNUP
I delete the SIGNUP folder and its contents.

I delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

icfgnt5.dll....Internet Connection Wizard
icwdial.dll....Internet Connection Wizard Autodialer
icwphbk.dll....Internet Connection Wizard
inetcfg.dll....Internet Connection Wizard Library

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Messenger

I delete the Messenger folder and its contents.

The Messenger folder contains files and executables for Windows Messenger Service.

C:\Program Files\microsoft frontpage
I delete the microsoft frontpage folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Movie Maker
I delete the Movie Maker folder and its contents.

The Movie Maker folder contains the files and executables for the Movie Maker application.

C:\Program Files\MSN
I delete MSN folder and its contents.

The MSN folder contains the files and executables for MSN Explorer, an Internet connectivity tool that combines Web, E-mail services, and Internet setup services.

C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone
I delete the MSN Gaming Zone folder and its contents.

The MSN Gaming folder contains the files and executables for the MSN Gaming Zone.

C:\Program Files\MSXML 4.0
I delete the MSXML 4.0 folder.

It is an empty folder on my system, installed by Microsoft Update MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB936181).

C:\Program Files\Netmeeting (See also Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing in PART 2.)

The Netmeeting folder contains files used by Microsoft NetMeeting.

I delete the Netmeeting folder and its contents.

I delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ils.dll.........User Location Services Component Module

mnmdd.dll.......Application Sharing Display Driver

MNMSRVC.EXE.....(NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing). Allows authorized users to remotely access your desktop. <---(Main Service File)

msconf.dll......Conferencing Utility Dll

msg723.acm......Microsoft G.723.1 CODEC for MSACM
msh261.drv......Microsoft H.261 ICM Driver
msh263.drv......Microsoft H.263 ICM Driver

nmevtmsg.dll....NetMeeting Event Logging DLL
nmmkcert.dll....NetMeeting Event Logging DLL

I delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers:

mnmdd.sys.......Frame buffer simulator

I delete the Netmeeting folder and its contents here in PART 4, while I delete Netmeeting's system32 files in PART 2. It just keeps things simpler removing the Netmeeting folder and its contents here in PART 4 along with the other Program Folders, while removing Netmeeting's system32 files in PART 2 along with the other system32 Services files.

C:\Program Files\Online Services
I delete the Online Service folder and its contents.

The Online Services folder contains files used to establish Internet connectivity. These files enable you to set up Internet access through MSN or to select another available Internet service provider.

C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information
I delete the Uninstall Information folder.

The Uninstall Information folder contains files and information for uninstall services. This folder is always empty on my system.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Connect 2 (Installed by Windows Media Player 11.)
I delete the Windows Media Connect 2 folder an its contents.

If you have a networked digital media player, such as an Xbox 360 or a digital media receiver (DMR), you can use Windows Media Connect to stream music, movies, and even pictures from your computer throughout a home network.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player

I delete these empty subfolders from the Windows Media Player folder:

Icons
Sample Playlists
Visualizations

I delete these individual files:

custsat.dll.....custsat

eula.txt....Windows Media Player eula

migrate.exe.....MLS Migrate DLL
mplayer2.exe....Windows Media Player 6.4.9.1125
msoobci.dll.....Out of Band Component Installer

npdrmv2.dll.....DRM Netscape Network Object
npdrmv2.zip.....
npds.zip........
npdsplay.dll....Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library
npwmsdrm.dll....DRM Store Netscape Plugin

setup_wm.exe....Microsoft Windows Media Configuration Utility

wmdbexport.exe..(MLS Dbexport DLL). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.
wmlaunch.exe....Windows Media Player Launcher
wmpenc.exe......Windows Media Player Encoder Helper
wmpnetwk.exe....(Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.
wmpns.dll.......Windows Media Player Applet Support DLL

wmpnscfg.exe....(Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service Configuration Application). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.

wmpnssci.dll....(Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service Control Interface DLL). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.

wmsetsdk.exe....Microsoft Windows Media Configuration Utility
wmpshare.exe....(Windows Media Player Folder Sharing Executable). Installed by Windows Media Player 11.

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\Skins
Here you can delete any Windows Media Player skins you think you will never use.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Windows NT


Hyperterminal Files

Per Microsoft: Hyperterminal is a program that you can use to connect to other computers, Telnet sites, bulletin board systems (BBSs), online services, and host computers, using either your modem or a null modem cable.

I delete these 2 files from C:\Program Files\Windows NT:

htrn_jis.dll....HyperTerminal Applet Library
hypertrm.exe....HyperTerminal Applet

Then I delete these 2 files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

hticons.dll.....HyperTerminal Applet Library
hypertrm.dll....HyperTerminal Applet Library


Phone Dialer (See also Telephony in PART 2.)

Phone Dialer allows you to make voice calls, video calls, and conference video calls from your personal computer.

I delete this file from C:\Program Files\Windows NT:

dialer.exe......TAPI 3.0 Dialer and IP Multicast Conference Viewer

Then I delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

avmeter.dll.....Metering Controls
avtapi.dll......TAPI 3.0 Dialer and IP Multicast Conference Viewer
avwav.dll.......Wave Manipulation Component

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories

I delete these individual files from the Accessories folder:

mswrd6.wpc
mswrd8.wpc
write.wpc

C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Pinball

I delete this one file from the Pinball folder:

table.bmp......

C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate
I delete the WindowsUpdate folder.

This WindowsUpdate folder once belonged to Windows Update before SP2. Now it is no longer used by Windows Update. Instead Windows Update now uses C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution.

C:\Program Files\xerox
I delete the xerox folder and its contents.

The xerox folder contains files used by Xerox applications. By default this folder is empty.

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Common Files...

The Common Files folder contains files shared with the Microsoft applications.


Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC)

Per Microsoft: The MDAC 2.5 stack can be broadly categorized into the ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), OLE DB, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), Remote Data Services (RDS), Microsoft Jet, and Microsoft Visual FoxPro® components. These components are highly dependent on one another. For example, ADO components are nonfunctional without the ODBC core, OLE DB core, and the back-end database's OLE DB provider or ODBC driver.

Here's just a little more information:

OBDC Database drivers. ODBC is a programming interface that enables applications to access data in database management systems that use Structured Query Language (SQL) as a data access standard. Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) is an Application Programming Interface (API) that allows a programmer to abstract a program from a database. When writing code to interact with a database, you usually have to add code that talks to a particular database using a proprietary language. If you want your program to talk to an Access, Fox and Oracle databases you have to code your program with three different database languages.

The Structured Query Language (SQL) is a computer language for accessing and manipulating databases. The version of SQL created by Microsoft is called Jet SQL and it is the database engine behind Microsoft's Access. Jet SQL is not designed to manage a database. It is used to retrieve information from a database. Jet SQL, by itself, cannot create a database and cannot manage security. This is where the Microsoft Data Access Object (DAO) enters the scene. DAO contains libraries which are designed to manage databases. You can use Jet SQL without DAO, but you are limiting your options to handle the data. With DAO you can create a database and manage security. The value of Jet SQL (and DAO) is that it allows the developer to add databases to an active Website.

If you open mdac.inf in Notepad and scan through it you can see how these folders and their files tie together.


The MDAC 2.5 Stack and Its Components

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DAO
I delete the DAO folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\MSSoap
I delete the MSSoap folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\ODBC
I delete ODBC folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\ado
I delete the ado folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\msadc
I delete the msadc folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB
I delete Ole DB folder and its contents.


Then I delete these files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:


The MDAC 2.5 ODBC Stack files

ds16gt.dll......Microsoft ODBC Driver Setup Generic Thunk
ds32gt.dll......Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Setup Generic Thunk

mtxdm.dll.......

odbc16gt.dll....Microsoft ODBC Driver Generic Thunk

ODBC32.DLL......(Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager). <--I DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. It is needed to boot to Windows

odbc32gt.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Generic Thunk
odbcad32.exe....Microsoft Data Access - "ODBC Administrator
odbcconf.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Configuration Program
odbcconf.exe....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Configuration Program
odbcconf.rsp....RSP File
odbccp32.cpl....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Control Panel
odbccp32.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Installer
odbccr32.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Cursor Library

ODBCINT.DLL.....(Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Resources). <--I DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. It is needed to boot to Windows

odbccu32.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Cursor Library
odbcp32r.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager Resources
odbctrac.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager Trace


The MDAC 2.5 SQL Server ODBC and OLE DB Stack files


SQL Server ODBC

12520437.cpx....Code page translator
12520850.cpx....Code page translator

cliconf.chm.....Compiled HTML Help file
cliconfg.dll....SQL Client Configuration Utility DLL
cliconfg.exe....SQL Client Configuration Utility EXE
cliconfg.rll....SQL Client Configuration Utility Resource DLL

ODBCBCP.DLL.....(Microsoft BCP for ODBC). Needed to install Windows Media Player 11. After which, it can be deleted. Also, Without this file you will receive an error when opening Computer Management. However, Computer Management will eventually open after you click OK on the error message.

sqlsodbc.chm....Compiled HTML Help file
sqlsrv32.dll....Microsoft SQL Server ODBC Driver
sqlsrv32.rll....Microsoft SQL Server ODBC Driver
sqlunirl.dll....String Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components
sqlwid.dll......Unicode Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components
sqlwoa.dll......Unicode/ANSI Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components


SQL Server OLE DB

dbmsrpcn.dll....ConnectTo RPC Net Library
DBnetlib.dll....Winsock Oriented Net DLL for SQL Clients
dbnmpntw.dll....Named Pipes Net DLL for SQL Clients

instcat.sql....Installs catalog stored procedures on the Microsoft SQL Server.


The MDAC 2.5 Oracle ODBC and OLE DB Stack

mscpx32r.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Code Page Translator Resources
mscpxl32.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Code Page Translator
msdadiag.dll....Microsoft Data Access - Built-In Diagnostics
msdart.dll......Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Runtime Routines
msdatsrc.tlb....Microsoft Data Access - Data Source Interfaces
msorc32r.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver for Oracle Resources
msorcl32.dll....Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver for Oracle
mtxoci.dll......Microsoft database support DLL for Oracle


The MDAC 2.5 Microsoft Jet Stack files


Jet

expsrv.dll.....Visual Basic for Applications Runtime - Expression Service

msexch40.dll....Microsoft Jet Exchange Isam
msexcl40.dll....Microsoft Jet Excel Isam
msjet40.dll.....Microsoft Jet Engine Library
msjint40.dll....Microsoft Jet Database Engine International DLL
msjter40.dll....Microsoft Jet Database Engine Error DLL
msjtes40.dll....Microsoft Jet Expression Service
msltus40.dll....Microsoft Jet Lotus 1-2-3 Isam
mspbde40.dll....Microsoft Jet Paradox Isam
msrd2x40.dll....Microsoft ® Red ISAM
msrd3x40.dll....Microsoft ® Red ISAM
msrepl40.dll....Microsoft Replication Library
mstext40.dll....Microsoft Jet Text Isam
mswdat10.dll....Microsoft Jet Sort Tables
mswstr10.dll....Microsoft Jet Sort Library
msxbde40.dll....Microsoft Jet xBASE Isam

vbajet32.dll...Visual Basic for Applications Development Environment - Expression Service Loader


Jet ODBC

odbcji32.dll....Microsoft ODBC Desktop Driver Pack 3.5
odbcjt32.dll....Microsoft ODBC Desktop Driver Pack 3.5
oddbse32.dll....ODBC (3.0) driver for DBase
odexl32.dll.....ODBC (3.0) driver for Excel
odfox32.dll.....ODBC (3.0) driver for FoxPro
odpdx32.dll.....ODBC (3.0) driver for Paradox
odtext32.dll....ODBC (3.0) driver for text files

msjetoledb40.dll...Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Jet


The MDAC 2.5 Visual FoxPro Stack file


Visual FoxPro

vfpodbc.dll.....vfpodbc

---------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services
I delete Services folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\SpeechEngines
I delete the SpeechEngines folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System

The system folder and its files belong to Outlook Express. I personally use Outlook Express so I keep the system folder and its contents intact.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo
I delete the MSInfo folder and its contents.

This is the System Information Utility.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Speech
I delete the Speech folder and its contents.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationary
Here you can delete any stationary you think you will never use with your E-mails.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\TextConv
I delete the TextConv folder and its contents.

Microsoft Word 97 supports conversion to and from a number of non-Word file formats, including word processor, spreadsheet, and database files. Word interprets some non-Word formats by using built-in converters and other formats through the use of external converter files or ODBC drivers.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Triedit
I delete the Triedit folder and its contents.

The Microsoft Dynamic HTML (DHTML) Editing Component allows Web authors and application developers to add HTML editing capabilities to their Websites and applications. The editing component uses Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) technology to make editing services such as basic HTML formatting, tables, undo and redo, find, and absolute positioning readily available.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Folders
I delete the Web Folders folder and its contents.

Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide PART 5

WINDOWS Folders


Individual Files I remove from C:\WINDOWS:

Any *.bak files

Any *.bmp files

Any *.log files

The "WindowsUpdate.log" can only be deleted if the Automatic Updates Service is stopped.

Any *.old files

Any *.tmp files

Any *.txt files

The "SchedLgU.Txt" can only be deleted if the Task Scheduler Service is stopped.

_default........(Shortcut to MS-DOS Program). An invalid 16-bit program in XP.

bootstat.dat....

clock.avi.......

control.ini.....A zero-length file.

desktop.ini.....

hh.exe..........(Microsoft® HTML Help Executable). Part of Microsoft's HTML Help (.chm) format. One of three files needed to open *.chm help files. Also need to open *.chm help files are the hhctrl.ocx and the itss.dll, both located in the system32 folder.

msdfmap.ini.....

ODBCINST.INI....

system.ini......(For 16-bit app support). XP doesn't use this. However, it usually returns after awhile anyway, so I just leave it alone.

TASKMAN.EXE.....Task Manager

---------------------------------------

TWAIN, a programming interface that lets a graphics application, such as an image editing program or desktop publishing program, activate a scanner, frame grabber or other image-capturing device.

twain.dll......Twain Source Manager (Image Acquisition Interface).

twain_32.dll...Twain_32 Source Manager (Image Acquisition Interface).

A thunk typically occurs when a 16-bit application is running in a 32-bit address space, and its 16-bit segmented address must be converted into a full 32-bit flat address. On the other hand, if a 32-bit program calls a 16-bit DLL, then the thunk is in the opposite direction: from 32 bit to 16 bit.

twunk_16.exe....(Twain_32.dll Client's 16-Bit Thunking Server). Allows 16-bit DOS applications to make 32-bit calls.

twunk_32.exe....(Twain.dll Client's 32-Bit Thunking Server). Allows 32-bit DOS applications to make 16-bit calls.

---------------------------------------

vb.ini..........
vbaddin.ini.....
vmmreg32.dll....Windows VMM Registry Library

win.ini.........(For 16-bit app support). XP just ignores it anyway.
WINHELP.EXE.....(Windows Help Engine application file). A 16-bit Windows Help reader.

winhlp32.exe....(Microsoft® Help). When you click on the question mark in the upper corner of a dialog box (such as in System Properties or Display Properties) your cursor changes to a question mark. Then when you click on something in the dialog box that you have a question about, a .hlp file tooltip comes into view. The WINHLP32.EXE displays these .hlp file tooltips. Since I usually remove any .hlp files from my system, I have no need for this function, so I remove WINHLP32.EXE.

WMSysPr9.prx....From what I can gather when I open this file in Notepad, it appears to belong to Windows Streaming Media for a Dial-up Connection.

WORDPAD.INI.....Only the WORDPAD.INI usually returns.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\$hf_mig$
I delete the $hf_mig$ folder and its contents.

Per Microsoft: When a security update, critical update, update, update rollup, driver, or feature pack installs GDR (General Distribution Releases) version files, the hotfix files are also copied to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder. This supports migration to the appropriate files if you later install a hotfix or service pack that includes earlier versions of these files. For example, consider the following scenario:

1. You apply a security update that installs a GDR version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 and copies a hotfix version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder.

2. You apply a hotfix that includes a hotfix version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.0000.
In this scenario the hotfix installation in step 2 installs the hotfix version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.1000) from the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder instead of the hotfix version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.0000) from the hotfix package.

C:\WINDOWS\$MSI31Uninstall_KB893803v2$
I delete the $NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$ folder and its contents.

Windows Installer 3.1 uninstall files.

The Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 is the application installation and configuration service for Windows.

C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$ and C:\WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$ (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)

I delete both these folders and their contents.

These folders each contain necessary files for the uninstallation of Internet Explorer 7. You can uninstall IE7 through the Add/Remove Programs window, but these folders and their contents must be present in order to do so.

These folders and their contents have absolutely nothing to do with Internet Explorer 7 being in good working order. If you are certain you won't need to uninstall IE7, then by all means, delete these folders and their contents.

C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$
I delete all the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders and their contents.

These $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders contain the uninstall files for the Windows Updates.

They have nothing to do with the Updates being in good working order on your system. If you are certain that you won't need to uninstall any of these Updates, by all means, delete these folders.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\addins
I delete the addins folder.

ActiveX controls (.ocx) files.

The addins folder is always empty on my system.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\AppPatch

The AppPatch folder contains the Program Compatibility Engine, which allows Windows to modify how individual applications run, forcing poorly-programmed or older applications to run satisfactorily under XP. The AppPatch folder contains certain application compatibility .dlls and Appfix packages.

You can delete the AppPatch folder and its contents if you want. However, you may start receiving Application Popup Errors when opening certain applications. Your applications should still function properly (under most circumstances) after these Application Popup Errors appear.

Personally, I will not delete any file or folder from my system that will cause errors. I really dislike seeing error messages on my system.

I've found that if I keep these 3 files in the AppPatch folder, while deleting the other 7 files, I won't receive any Application Popup Errors when opening certain programs:

ACGENRAL.DLL....Windows Compatibility DLL

DRVMAIN.SDB.....

SYSMAIN.SDB.....

Note: A recent Windows Security Update (KB920213) installs an additional file to the AppPatch folder, acadproc.dll. I also delete this new file. The apph_sp.sdb is one of the files in the AppPatch folder I normally delete. It is re-installed with the same Security Update. I delete it again.

Then I delete these individual files from C:\WINDOWS\system32:

ahui.exe........(Application Compatibility UI). Program Compatibility Engine.

APPHELP.DLL.....(Application Compatibility Client Library). The Windows Media Player 11 installation may deliver the message that the APPHELP.DLL cannot be found. The installation will proceed without it after clicking OK on the message. You may also receive the same message upon your first reboot after installing WMP11.

compatUI.dll....(CompatUI Module). Help Center Interface for Application Compatibility Engine.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Config
I delete the Config folder.

The Config folder contains configuration .idf files used by the MIDI sound system. Depending on system configuration, this folder might be empty.

C:\WINDOWS\Connection Wizard
I delete the Connections Wizard folder.

The Connection Wizard folder contains files used for establishing Internet connectivity. It can be an empty folder.

C:\WINDOWS\Cursors
Here you can delete any cursors and animated cursors you think you will never use.

The Cursors folder contains static and animated cursor files. You can use these files by configuring the Mouse applet in the Control Panel.

C:\WINDOWS\Debug

Log files

I delete the Usermode subfolder.
I delete the WPD subfolder and its contents.

The Debug folder contains .log files that can be used to debug network connectivity and other setup functions.

C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Installations
I delete the Download Installations folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files
I delete the contents of the Download Installations folder.

The Downloaded Program Files folder contains ActiveX controls and Java applets that have been downloaded from the Internet.

Alternatively, you can view and delete these ActiveX controls or Java applets by going into Internet Properties. Under the "General" tab, under "Temporary Internet files," click on the "Settings" button. Then under "Temporary Internet files folder," in the window that opens up, click on "View Objects."

C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386
I delete the drivers.cab and the sp2.cab.

The Driver Cache folder contains a platform subdirectory and a copy of the driver.cab file so that new devices can be easily installed without needing the Windows XP CD. Might contain sp1.cab or sp2.cab if installing an integrated copy of the operating system (Slipstreamed CD).

Sometimes Windows updates will replace earlier versions of files contained in these cabs with newer versions. Placing them in the i386 folder, not in the cabs themselves.

You're not going to have these newer versions of files on your Installation CD. For that reason, you may want to consider keeping these newer versions of individual files, and deleting only drivers.cab and sp2.cab.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Fonts


Fonts with .FON Extensions

Many FON extension fonts (The red "A" fonts) are hidden. Do a search for *.fon in Search Assistant. In Search Assistant, be sure that under "More Advanced Options" you have "Search for hidden files and folders" selected. About 138 of these Fonts should show up.

I move the great majority of these fonts (124 to be exact) to another location with a batch file I created. If you do not wish to go through the tedious and time-comsuming process of creating a batch file which singles out and moves over a hundred fonts, here is a neat little trick for you.

Highlight these specific Fonts for a U.S. installation...

Important Note: European installations will need to keep these two additional fonts: app850.fon and vga850.fon. (In US systems, the corresponding fonts are dosapp.fon and vgaoem.fon.)

cga40woa.fon
cga80woa.fon

coure.fon

dosapp.fon

ega40woa.fon
ega80woa.fon

modern.fon

roman.fon

serife.fon
sserife.fon

symbole.fon

vgafix.fon
vgaoem.fon
vgasys.fon

At the top of Search Assistant click on "Edit". Then select "Invert Selection". Now you can delete all the other 123 unnecessary Fonts all at once, because they will now be the ones highlighted, and the fonts you want to keep won't be.


Fonts with .TTF Extensions

Here is a list of the remaining *.ttf Fonts I have in C:\WINDOWS\Fonts.

Many TTF extension fonts (The blue-green "O" fonts) are hidden. Do a search for *.ttf in Search Assistant. In Search Assistant, be sure that under "More Advanced Options" you have "Search for hidden files and folders" selected.

Highlight these specific Fonts...

arial.ttf
arialbd.ttf
arialbi.ttf
ariali.ttf

framd.ttf
framdit.ttf

lucon.ttf

marlett.ttf

micross.ttf

tahoma.ttf
tahomabd.ttf

times.ttf
timesbd.ttf
timesi.ttf

trebuc.ttf
trebucbd.ttf

verdana.ttf
verdanab.ttf
verdanai.ttf
verdanaz.ttf

At the top of Search Assistant click on "Edit". Then select "Invert Selection". Now you can delete all the other unnecessary Fonts all at once, because they will now be the ones highlighted, and the fonts you want to keep won't be.

A Good Practice: If some of the Fonts you have selected will not delete from within the Search Assistant, don't delete them. There are, of course, other ways of deleting them. You could go directly into the Fonts folder and delete them. Or you could go into Safemode and delete them. That's up to you. Myself, if I can't delete a particular Font from within the Search Assistant, I don't.

After I delete all of the above fonts, I delete this file from C:\WINDOWS\system32 and reboot my system:

FNTCACHE.DAT...Font Cache.

Windows then builds a fresh FNTCACHE.DAT.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Help
You can delete all the individual help files in the Help folder. It just depends on how interested you are in their subject matter.

The Help folder contains the help files used by the Windows XP Help system and all its native utilities.

C:\WINDOWS\Help\nvcpl (Installed by NVIDIA Driver Update.)
I delete the nvcpl folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\Help\Tours
I delete Tours folder and its contents.

Then I delete this file that belongs to it in C:\WINDOWS\system32:

tourstart.exe

C:\WINDOWS\ie7 (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the ie7 folder and its contents.

The ie7 folder contains the necessary files for uninstalling of Internet Explorer 7. You can uninstall IE7 through the Add/Remove Programs window, but the ie7 folder and its contents must be present in order to do so.

This folder and its contents has absolutely nothing to do with Internet Explorer 7 being in good working order. If you are certain you won't need to uninstall IE7, then by all means delete the ie7 folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\ie7updates (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the ie7 folder and its contents.

The ie7updates folder contains the files Microsoft downloads to your system to be able to then draw upon during the IE7 installation.

C:\WINDOWS\ie8 (Installed by Internet Explorer 8.)
I delete the ie8 folder and its contents.

The ie8 folder contains the necessary files for uninstalling Internet Explorer 8. You can uninstall IE8 through the Add/Remove Programs window, but the ie8 folder and its contents must be present in order to do so.

This folder and its contents has absolutely nothing to do with Internet Explorer 8 being in good working order. If you are certain you won't need to uninstall IE8, then by all means delete the ie8 folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\ime (See also PART 6 under C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME. It is also used when an IME is installed.)
I delete the ime folder and its contents.

The ime folder contains files to support Input Method Editors. An Input Method Editor (IME) allows computer users to enter complex characters and symbols (such as Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan and Korean characters), using a standard keyboard.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\inf

The inf folder contains the .INF (system information) files used to install software components and hardware drivers.

Some people will tell you that it is okay to delete the entire contents of the inf folder. I totally disagree with this. INF files aren't just about installing software components or hardware drivers.

Just to be able to get into the Windows Component Wizard, your system will need these 36 .INF files present:

accessor.inf

certclas.inf
communic.inf
comnt5.inf

dtcnt5.inf

fp40ext.inf
fxsocm.inf

games.inf

ieaccess.inf
igames.inf
iis.inf
ims.inf

layout.inf

msmsgs.inf
msnmsn.inf
multimed.inf

netbeac.inf
netiprip.inf
netlpd.inf
netoc.inf
netsnmp.inf
nettpsmp.inf
netupnp.inf

oeaccess.inf
optional.inf

p2p.inf
pinball.inf

rootau.inf

setupqry.inf
startoc.inf
sysoc.inf

tsoc.inf

wbemoc.inf
wbemsnmp.inf
wmaccess.inf
wmpocm.inf


Here's an example using Microsoft Update.

These .INF files are needed by Microsoft Update:

drvindex.inf

machine.inf

branches.inf.....<-- When you delete the branches.inf, another is created when you download and install a Windows update.


Here's an example using the Acronis True Image program.

Acronis True Image needs these .INF files present in C:\WINDOWS\inf for you to utilize all its functions:

certclas.inf

disk.inf
drvindex.inf

layout.inf

volume.inf


And generally, updates for Windows Media Player require this file to be present:

unregmp2.exe.....Microsoft Windows Media Player Setup Utility


Here's what I do.

I delete all the .PNF files in the inf folder.

PNF files, are cache-type files that help making the opening of some applications quicker and more responsive.

These are files when deleted will re-create themselves should its corresponding .inf file by the same name be called upon.

Per Rob Elder: "It's a "pre-compiled" version of the ASCII .INF file that gets created when the Setup first processes a particular .INF file. It's done to speed up searches of the .INF files (as you've noticed there are LOTS of those on the system in Windows 2000/XP); if the dates of the .INF and .PNF files compare favorably (.PNF is later than .INF) the corresponding .PNF file will be used (if present)."

Then, after giving it some time (30 days or more), I see that no corresponding .PNF files are re-created alongside the .INF files of the same name, (That would mean my system isn't using those particular .INF files.), I will then go ahead and delete the unused .INF files.


In the meantime, however, here's a trick I picked up from NeoMayhem on our old Slimming Down Windows XP thread that we had going on at Neowin:

Do a search for mdm*.* and delete all the *.inf files that comes up.

There were 181 mdm*.* files in my inf folder.

These are all modem drivers, and it is very unlikely you will ever need them. You either have a modem already installed, or if you don't, and decide to add one later, it will come with its own set of drivers.

C:\WINDOWS\inf\IEM (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the IEM folder and its contents.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Installer

You can delete the contents on the Installer folder if you like, but keep in mind, Windows Installer uses the information within .MSI files that are provided with some applications, and installs, repairs, or removes software using this information.

One day you might click on the name of a program in Add/Remove Programs, because you want to modify it, or repair it, or uninstall it. And if it's one of those applications that uses an .MSI file, you're not going to be able to modify it, or repair it, or uninstall it.

C:\WINDOWS\java
You can delete the java folder and its contents if you want. Microsoft's (Java) Virtual Machine is no longer installed by default after SP2.

The java folder contains two empty subfolders, Classes and TrustLib.

If you choose to manually install (as I do sometimes) the old Microsoft (Java) Virtual Machine instead of Sun Java, the java folder and these subfolders will be recreated by the installation. (Along with another subfolder, Packages.)

If you choose to instead install Sun Java, the Sun Java installation will create its own folders and subfolders it will need.

C:\WINDOWS\lastgood
I delete the lastgood folder and it's contents.

The lastgood folder is a backup folder. The lastgood folder is generated after you install, uninstall or update, various drivers and programs and such. It will contain backup files in various subfolders that match the names of the folders they came from.
Usually the lastgood folder and its contents will delete on its own after rebooting, but every once in awhile it doesn't.

C:\WINDOWS\Media
Here I delete most of the sounds Windows makes.

The Media folder contains .wav files used by XP. Like the sound you hear when Windows starts up, or when you empty your Recycle bin.

C:\WINDOWS\msagent
I delete the msagent folder and its contents.

Microsoft Agent files (Microsoft Agent is a set of programmable software services that support the presentation of interactive animated characters within the Microsoft Windows interface.)

C:\WINDOWS\msapps
I delete the msapps folder and its contents.

Files that support backward compatibility in applications.

C:\WINDOWS\msdownld.tmp
I delete the msdownld.tmp folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\mui
I delete the mui folder.

MUI (Multilingual-User Interface) Packs give companies flexibility in making language options available to users.

C:\WINDOWS\network diagnostic (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the network diagnostic folder and its contents.

The Network Diagnostics for Windows XP tool analyzes information about your network connectivity to help you troubleshoot network-related problems with your computer. Typically you will do this along with a support professional, either on the phone or over the internet.

C:\WINDOWS\nview
I delete the nview folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\Offline Web Pages
I delete the Offline Web Pages folder and its contents.

Stores downloaded Webpages for offline availability.

C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS
I delete the OPTIONS folder and its contents.

These are the cab files for my Fast Ethernet NIC Driver Setup Utility.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\pchealth (See also Help and Support and Remote Desktop Help Session Manager in PART 2.)
I delete all the contents in the pchealth folder, but I keep the folder.

The pchealth folder contains files and subfolders to support the Microsoft Help Center Service. These files support all the Windows XP Help services, including features such as Remote Desktop Assistance.

IMPORTANT: Before you do this "move" (not copy) the msconfig.exe from inside the C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries folder to the System32 folder, or you will loose it.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\PeerNet
I delete the PeerNet folder and its contents.

Per Microsoft: The optional Windows Peer-to-Peer networking component provides a framework for peer-to-peer programs to communicate directly between computers over Network Address Translation (NAT) devices and over the Internet.

C:\WINDOWS\PIF
I delete the PIF folder and its contents.

Program information files (PIFs) for MS-DOS-based programs.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch

Data files related to enhancing the speed at which applications start.

You can delete the Prefetch folder and its contents and turn off Prefetch despite what you may have read to the contrary. I doubt if you will notice much difference in your system's performance if you do. But read on, I'll show you something.

Should you do decide to delete the Prefetch folder and its contents, to turn off Prefetch, change the Prefetch registry setting to "0" here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

Dword value = EnablePrefetcher

0 = Disable
1 = App launch prefetch
2 = Boot Prefetch
3 = Both (recommended)

Here's what I discovered about Prefetch:

I keep two Windows XP backup images stored: my Slimmed Installation, and a Full Installation. The Full Installation I have stored for testing purposes and comparisons. I keep this Full Installation up-to-date the same as I do my Slimmed Installation.

Each installation is identical to the other. Each has the same programs installed. Each has the same settings and tweaks applied. Each is kept up-to-date with the latest drivers and Microsoft High-Priority Updates. Everything I install on one, I install on the other. Every change I make to one, I make to the other.

There are only two exceptions to this:

1). Services settings

2). Files removed

My Service settings on the Full Installation are setup a bit differently than those of my Slimmed Installation. Most of the Services I remove in my Slimmed Installation, are merely Disabled in my Full Installation. A few others I keep set to Automatic, if only to prevent errors from cropping up in my Event Viewer. A few more I set to Automatic because they'll just start up anyway if I leave them on Manual.

These are the only files I remove from the Full Installation:
Perfectly Safe To Remove Files and Folders

To figure out everything I have deleted on my Slimmed Installation... Well, you'd pretty much have to read the entire guide.
However, I can show you which Services I have enabled, disabled, and deleted on my Slimmed Installation:
PART 2: Disabled Services

On each installation, my reboot time is a consistent 31 seconds (given an occasional 32-second reboot on each). I have always kept a curious check on this.

I use PerfectDisk Defragmenter on both installations to manage my boot files, and I have always had Prefetch enabled (set to "3" in the registry) on both installations.

I cannot run BootVis on my Slimmed Installation, because I have COM+ disabled, and all it's associated files deleted.

I can run BootVis on my Full Installation, as COM+ is enabled, and none of its files have been deleted.

Now that we have those reference points established, let me show you the results.

With my Full Installation, (reboot time being a consistent 31 seconds), when I run BootVis, my consistent reboot time remains at 31 seconds.

If I then set my Prefetch to "0" in the registry (disabled), my reboot time gains 2 seconds; making it 33 seconds.

However, when I then keep that "0" setting, purge the Prefetch folder of all it's files, and defragment using PerfectDisk, my reboot time drops 1 second to 32 seconds.

So I gained 1 second on my reboot time on my Full Installation by doing this.

As I said, I cannot run BootVis on my Slimmed Installation.

When I disable Prefetch on my Slimmed Installation, my 31 second reboot time gains 1 second, making it 32 seconds.

However, leaving Prefetch disabled, and purging the Prefetch folder of its contents, and then defragmenting using PerfectDisk, my reboot time reverts once again to its 31 seconds.

By having the Prefetch disabled and the Prefetch folder purged of all its files on my Slimmed Installation, there is absolutely no difference in my reboot times. On the other hand, should I do the same for my Full Installation, it adds 1 second to my reboot time.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Profiles
I delete the Profiles folder and its contents.

Seemingly useless folder created by Adobe Reader.

C:\WINDOWS\Provisioning (See also Wireless Zero Configuration in PART 2.)
I delete the Provisioning folder and its contents.

Schemas for creating wireless profiles.

C:\WINDOWS\pss
I delete the pss folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\Registration
I delete the Registration folder and its contents.

The Registration folder contains files that support COM+ applications. COM+ catalog files are .clb files and are located in the Registration folder. COM+ is designed to simplify the creation and use of software components. You manage COM+ using the Component Services in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

C:\WINDOWS\RegisteredPackages
I delete the RegisteredPackages folder and its contents.

The RegisteredPackages folder contains installation files. They look like Windows Media Player installation files.

C:\WINDOWS\repair
I delete the repair folder and its contents.

Registry backup files (These files are updated if you use NTBackup and choose to back up system state files.)

Per Rob Elder: "There are backup copies of the hive files in the repair directory. But if you are not running MSBackup, they are from the day that the operating system was installed. If you're using MSBackup then they are from the date of the last backup."

C:\WINDOWS\Resources
Contains files to support the user's shell interface. (Themes.)

Windows will not let you delete the C:\WINDOWS\Resources folder.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

You can delete the Themes folder and its contents if you want, but read on first...

Once you have your system setup for using a particular "Luna Style" theme, you can actually delete most of the Themes folder contents.

Contained in the Themes folder are the Luna subfolder, the Luna.theme, and the Windows Classic.theme.

The Luna subfolder contains the Shell subfolder and the luna.msstyles.

The Shell subfolder contains these subfolders: Metallic, Homestead and NormalColor. Each of these three subfolders contains its own shellstyle.dll. Much of the internal colors and file bitmaps are contained in the shellstyle.dll. The shellstyle.dll is also used for the visual-style effects in task windows, such as in the Add or Remove Programs panel.

The luna.msstyles does not contain all the information for the Windows XP style Theme (Luna Theme). However, you do need the luna.msstyles if you want to use a Luna Theme.

Here's where it gets tricky. There is also a shellstyle.dll in the system32 folder (C:\WINDOWS\system32).

You can delete the shellstyle.dll from the system32 folder, as long as you keep the Themes folder, its Luna subfolder, and the one Shell subfolder of the particular "Luna Style" theme you are using (Metallic, Homestead or NormalColor), along with its shellstyle.dll.

Let me show you...

Let's assume you have seleted and are using Metallic (Silver Color Scheme) for your Luna Theme.

Delete these files and subfolders:

In C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes

Delete the Luna.theme
Delete Windows Classic.theme

In C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes\Luna\Shell

Delete the Homestead folder and its shellstyle.dll.
Delete the NormalColor and it shellstyle.dll.

And then you can delete the shellstyle.dll in C:\WINDOWS\system32.

To see the visual-style of the Add or Remove Programs panel, you must keep either the shellstyle.dll that is in the system32 folder, or the shellstyle.dll of the particular Luna Theme you are using. More importantly, without at least one of these shellstyle.dll presence, you will be unable to enter the Add or Remove Programs panel.

If you choose to use the Windows Classic Theme, you can fully delete the Themes folder and all its contents.

But if you choose to use the Windows Classic theme, and delete the Themes folder and its contents, you will still need the shellstyle.dll that is in the system32 folder in order to gain access to the Add or Remove Programs panel.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\security
I delete the security folder and it's contents.

The security folder contains subfolders and files related to security. Includes log files that define the default security applied during setup and templates for assigning new security privileges.

C:\WINDOWS\setupupd
I delete the setupupd folder and its contents.

Dynamic Update storage location.

C:\WINDOWS\ShellNew
I delete the ShellNew folder.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution

Contains Microsoft Updates installation source files and folders downloaded by Microsoft Update.

You can delete the SoftwareDistribution folder and its entire contents if you first stop the Automatic Updates Service. Upon your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website, the Automatic Updates Service will restart itself automatically, (assuming that you merely "stopped" the Service, and not "disabled" it), and the SoftwareDistribution folder and all its contents will be rebuilt.

Over a period of time, the "DataStore" and "Download" subfolders can build up with old source files and folders from previously installed Microsoft Updates, with log files reflecting your visits to the site, and with log files created by the Automatic Update Service.

Periodically, I like to delete the contents of the "DataStore" and "Download" subfolders...with the except of these two files from the "DataStore" subfolder: the edb.chk and the edb.log. If these two files are deleted, you will need to reboot your computer before your next visit to the Microsoft Update Website...otherwise, the Microsoft Update Website will not function. In addition, these two files can be deleted only after your system settles in from after rebooting, or after a time from a visit to the Microsoft Update Website...while the Automatic Updates Service is running, that is.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\srchasst
I delete the srchasst folder and its contents.

The srchasst folder contains files and subfolders for the Search Companion. I like the way Search Companion performs without these XP updates. (Even though the little puppy is kind of cute.)

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\system

The system folder contains 16-bit versions of protected and real mode drivers and .dll files used by applications. These files are provided for backward-compatibility with older applications. All but two of these backward-compatibility files have duplicates in the system32 folder.

You can delete the system folder and its contents. However, some older applications you install might look for some of the files in the system folder.

These files have duplicates in the system32 folder:

AVICAP.DLL......AVI Capture DLL
AVIFILE.DLL.....Microsoft AVI File support library
COMMDLG.DLL.....Common Dialogs libraries
KEYBOARD.DRV....WOW Keyboard Driver Module
LZEXPAND.DLL....Windows file expansion library
MCIAVI.DRV......MCI driver for AVI
MCISEQ.DRV......MCI driver for MIDI sequencer
MCIWAVE.DRV.....MCI driver for waveform audio
MMSYSTEM.DLL....System APIs for Multimedia
MMTASK.TSK......Multimedia background task support module
MOUSE.DRV.......WOW MOUSE Driver Module
MSVIDEO.DLL.....Microsoft Video for Windows DLL
OLECLI.DLL......Object Linking and Embedding Client Library
OLESVR.DLL......Object Linking and Embedding Server Library
SHELL.DLL.......Windows Shell library
SOUND.DRV.......WOW SOUND Driver Module
SYSTEM.DRV......Windows System Driver core component
TAPI.DLL........Microsoft® Windows™ Telephony Server1
TIMER.DRV.......Timer driver for PC compatibles
VER.DLL.........Version Checking and File Installation Libraries
VGA.DRV.........WOW Display Driver Module
WFWNET.DRV......Windows for Workgroups network driver

WINSPOOL.DRV...(Windows Spooler Driver). Important: If you choose to delete the system folder and its files, at least keep the copy of the WINSPOOL.DRV that is in the system32 folder, or you may not be able to reboot to Windows. Just be sure to keep one of them.

These two files do not have duplicates in the system32 folder:

setup.inf.......
stdole.tlb.....OLE 2.1 16/32 Interoperability Type Library

If you want, you can move "setup.inf" and "stdole.tlb" to the system32 folder, and then delete the system folder and its files. This way your system would still have copies of these backward-compatibility files.

Important Note: Should you choose to delete these files from both the system and the system32 folders, you may start receiving Application Errors similar to these when you go to restart or shutdown your computer:

Application popup: svhost.eve - Application Error: 0x7755d002 referenced memory at 0x00000004. The memory could not be read.

Application popup: <application name> - Application Error: The instruction at "<memory location>" referenced memory at "<memory location>". The memory could not be "written".

If this begins happening, try replacing the system folder and all its files.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\Tasks
You can delete the Tasks folder and its contents, the Add Scheduled Task file (Scheduled Task Wizard), but if you have Task Scheduler Service running, the folder and its contents will be re-created upon your next reboot. I personally delete the Tasks folder and its contents because I have Task Scheduler Service disabled on my system. (See PART 2 under Task Scheduler.)

C:\WINDOWS\Temp
I delete any files I ever find in the Temp folder.

Note: It's a good idea to delete these files after a reboot. Some programs you install may use temporary installation files they place here to complete their installation upon the rebooting.

Additional Note: Windows Genuine Advantage installs the WGAErrLog.txt to the Temp folder. Should you delete this file, be sure to reboot your system, so that a new WGAErrLog.txt can be created. Otherwise, Microsoft Update may not work for you.

C:\WINDOWS\twain_32
I delete the twain_32 folder and its contents because I don't have a scanner.

The twain_32 folder contains files to support Twain technology, enabling a scanner document to be inserted into a file.

C:\WINDOWS\WBEM (Installed by Internet Explorer 7.)
I delete the WBEM folder and its contents.

C:\WINDOWS\Web
I delete the Web folder and its contents.

The Web folder contains files and subfolders to support Internet printing and document access.

---------------------------------------

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS

The WinSxS folder stores the shared components of side-by-side applications. These can be multiple versions of the same application or the same assembly.

Microsoft keeps changing the rules with the WinSxS folder, constantly coming up with updates for it, new files, new subfolders. Programs sometimes install their own files and subfolders to it. It gets all very confusing.

Rather than go into great length and detail, suffice it to say that this is what I do with the WinSxS folder...and it has stayed this way since I first began removing files and subfolders from the WinSxS folder many years ago.

First I delete every .cat file in the Manifests subfolder, and in all the individual subfolders within the Policies subfolder.

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS

I keep these subfolders and their contents, and delete all others:

x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2982_x-ww_ac3f9c03

x86_Microsoft.Windows.GdiPlus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.0.2600.2180_x-ww_522f9f82

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\InstallTemp

I delete the InstallTemp folder.

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Manifests

I kept these files, and delete all others:

x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2982_x-ww_ac3f9c03.Manifest

x86_Microsoft.Windows.GdiPlus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.0.2600.2180_x-ww_522f9f82.Manifest

x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_x-ww_468466a7.Manifest

x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.RtcDll_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_x-ww_d6bd8b95.Manifest

x86_Microsoft.Windows.Networking.RtcRes_6595b64144ccf1df_5.2.2.3_en_16a24bc0.Man
fest

x86_Microsoft.Windows.SystemCompatible_6595b64144ccf1df_5.1.2600.2000_x-ww_bcc9a281.Manifest

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Policies

I kept these subfolders and their contents, and delete all others:

x86_policy.1.0.Microsoft.Windows.GdiPlus_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_4e8510ac

x86_policy.5.1.Microsoft.Windows.SystemCompatible_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_a0111510

x86_policy.5.2.Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Dxmrtp_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_362e60dd

x86_policy.5.2.Microsoft.Windows.Networking.Rtcdll_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_c7b7206f

x86_policy.6.0.Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_x-ww_5ddad775


NOTE: Nero 8 needs these:

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS

x86_Microsoft.VC80.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.762_x-ww_6b128700.manifest

x86_Microsoft.VC80.MFC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.762_x-ww_3bf8fa05.manifest

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Manifests

x86_Microsoft.VC80.CRT_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.762_x-ww_6b128700.manifest

x86_Microsoft.VC80.MFC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.762_x-ww_3bf8fa05.manifest


Nero 8 will send errors to the Event Viewer without these. However, Nero 8 will function without them.

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Manifests

x86_Microsoft.VC80.MFCLOC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.762_x-ww_91481303.manifest

C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\Policies

x86_policy.8.0.Microsoft.VC80.MFCLOC_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_x-ww_caeee150