Can I delete This?

[Eddie]

I have four folders and a couple files on a T42 that I don't recognize, in the root directory (C:\)

These are:
- IBMWORK (folder)
- SUPPORT (folder)
- SYSPREP (folder)
- VALUEADD (folder)
- TAILFILE.TXT (file - which IS NOT a text file)
- SYSLEVEL.IBM (file)

These all seem to be related to IBM. I have temporarily renamed them to see if the system complains about not finding something, but it doesn't complain ... the system boots fine, and all functions (including thinkpad config) and anything else I could think of to test related to IBM seems to work fine too.

Anybody know what these are for? Can I delete them?

-E

[USSS]

Why do you want to delete these files?

With the exception of "TAILFILE.TXT", which I've never seen before, the files/folders are all part of the original software manifest installed on most T-series ThinkPads.

I'd be concerned about the TAILFILE.TXT, though. If it has a .txt extension, yet is NOT a text file, it may be masquerading as something a little more sinister. Scan it with your AV. It may be a VBS script file associated with a logging tool.

Be very careful about renaming files in the root directory. You may not be able to boot your system next time.

If you decide to delete these files/folders, be sure to back them up to external media.

[Eddie]

The neat thing about renaming is that you can effectively remove something from sight of whatever may be looking for it, without doing any real damage. So if it is needed, and the system won't work right without it, all I have to do is rename it back. In the mean time, I've learned whether or not its needed.

To restore the names of files in the case where the system won't even boot, all you need is another bootable media with a system that can handle NTFS format. I have a CD that I can use for this purpose.

In the case at hand, nothing failed, so I (sort-of) proved that I don't need this stuff for normal system operation. I appreciate that IBM put it there, and that its part of the system manifest and all, but if its not actually needed, I’d like to reclaim the harddrive space. I'm not foolhardy though, which is why I'm posting here first, to see if anyone can advise what this stuff is for, and if there’s a good reason to hold on to it.

[USSS]

Search the forum, as there are several threads that address this topic. Moderator Christopher Wolf has responded on this in the past...search for his posts.

I didn't know whether you had backups in place, Eddie, which is why I suggested being cautious. The files/folders you listed consume less than 2 GB on my machine, FWIW. One thing you can safely do is to remove the installer files left in place by System Update and Software Installer, which will free up some HDD space.

See this thread for instructions:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32386

[christopher_wolf]

You can get rid of the VALUEADD directory as it just contains a bunch of value added programs that you might, possibly, at some point come close to using...maybe.

The only other directories that I would clean out would contain the updates that either SI or SU2 has downloaded and expanded. Usually that is the DRIVERS directory or the IBMWORK directory.

[PanEuropean]

Perhaps be a little careful about deleting some of those folders that you don't think you need. I remember that I tossed a whole bunch of folders - VALUEADD amongst them - from my previous ThinkPad, and when I later did a clean Windows install (not an install from the recovery partition), I discovered that I didn't have the original full version of some applications that ship with the computer such as the DVD viewer, Record Now, etc.

The updated versions of these programs that are available from IBM won't install unless there is an original version there first. So, perhaps burn the contents of what you plan to toss onto a CD before you toss it, and write a note on the face of the CD so that you can find those things later if it turns out you need them.

[Eddie]

Of the four folders, 98% of the space used is in the folder IBMWORK. So I really don't need to worry about the others.

From the sound of the name, IBMWORK would seem to be a scratch area like C:\Windows\Temp, and thus, could be removed entirely. I hate to make this assumption though without knowing for sure …

Also, Does anyone know if this stuff is all on the 7-CD Product Recovery Disk Set? If so, does that mean I could delete the whole lot without concern?

I’m also curious (since I’m short on harddrive space) what I would loose if I erased all the files in the Recovery Partition, and started using the d-drive space for data … I mean, assuming I can recover, if necessary, from the Product Recovery Disks. Does the recovery partition give me some capability the CDs don’t? Is there anything in that partition that actually NEEDS to be there (for the bios bootstrap for example)?

[christopher_wolf]

All of that is on the 7-CD set that you made; which is a catch-all should your system tank on you. It will restore everything to the state it was when you got your Thinkpad from the factory.

You might, or might not depending on your settings, see a folder called RRUbackups...that is really the only thing that should absolutely not be touched as far as the RnR backups on the HPA go.

What kind of files do you see in the IBMWORk directory?

[Eddie]

Okay, so I've done some poking around, and this is what I've determined...

The AUTOEXEC.BAT file on C-Drive uses lots of stuff in the IBMWORK directory. Since I can't follow (without a lot more poking) exactly what is going on, I have to assume that one thing calls another in succession, and that therefore most of it is needed -- else why would it be there?

As well as I can figure out this is all stuff for recovery. So if I'm willing to forgo the more convenient form of recovery, and rely on the 7-CD set, I believe I can reclaim the whole lot, including the D-Drive.

So here's the question: I haven't ever had to recover using the Recovery Partition, so I don't know how it works ... does it also wipe the whole system (just like recovering from the 7-CD set)? or is it more benign, just fixing the OS files, and leaving all the rest? If it is more benign, then it would be worth keeping, and it puts me out of luck to reclaim this space. But if its the same deal, then I might as well rely on the CDs, and reclaim the space!

Can you advise?

-E

[Talon88]

:::

Straght Answer.
Both Recovery Partition or 7 CD
can recover your IBM NB to the
New "Factory State"

:::