Removing Folders in C:\

[james2008]

I'm creating a recovery image of my T60's system drive, and I'm trying to eliminate everything that doesn't need to be in it. I'm wondering if it's safe to delete or move the following folders from C:\. I'm running Windows XP Professional.

C:\swtools (contains several application setup files, including PC-Doctor, and WinDVD)

C:\IBMWORK (empty)

C:\RPKTools (contains several .bat files and an RPKDriverInst.log)

C:\Drivers (contains 600MB of extracted driver files).

[Mike Blake]

Someone here somewhere gave what I thought was good advice about deleting the SWTOOLS and DRIVERS directories: copy them onto a CD just in case, and then delete them. You'll probably never need the files on that CD, but better to be safe than sorry. I don't trust that RPKTOOLS directory, after Googling the name.

[james2008]

Thanks, Mike. I'll definitely back up the SWTools and DRIVERS directories before deleting them.

About RPKTools - I doubt it's something malicious, although I'm now concerned about it too.

I think it's something that came with the computer - the folder's date modified is the same as SWTools' date modified. It seems to have something to do with driver installation. One of the batch files starts device manager and C:\windows\setupapi.log, which logs driver installations.

Also, I think the batch files and log file are in too obvious a place to be malware, especially named as they are - one is called "AddRegistryEntry.bat."

[mike81]

Just came across this thread on a search for something. RPKTools is a legit folder created by a program which is used in imaging computers. My guess is that your RPKTools folder includes an rpkdriverinst.exe, rpkhal.exe, rpkrestore.exe, getdevicelist.exe? If so, it is fine. You can keep or delete it, it is mostly useless without the original server the image was deployed on. Hope that helps.

[RealBlackStuff]

I find it more than suspicious when someone (mike81) out of the blue "happens to come across this thread", signs up and then tries to defend that junk!
None of the programs that he/she mentions even exist!

You should remove that rpktools from your laptop pronto!
That's hacking and cracking related junk! And there are an awful lot of registration changes going on, more than 10 already just for 2010!
And it's in the company of quite a lot of unsavory pr0n-websites.
See also http://www.robtex.com/dns/rpktools.com.html#shared

It's even possible that your laptop/PC has been invaded and you are now part of a bot-net!
Maybe I'm paranoid, but I would wipe that HD completely (DoD-style) and start from scratch.

As an aside RPK is the company that makes Kalashnikov machine guns.

[rkawakami]

RBS and others... "mike81" appears to be a legitimate user after checking into his registration information. RPK seems to refer to "Microsoft’s Refurbisher Preinstallation Kit" in this context, which is indeed a way to re-image a computer.

[RealBlackStuff]

If that's the case, my sincere apologies to Mike81.

[Mike Blake]

RPK seems to refer to "Microsoft’s Refurbisher Preinstallation Kit"
in this context, which is indeed a way to re-image a computer.

Indeed, sounds like a rare case of MS doing some good:
http://www.microsoft.com/environment/ou ... shers.aspx
...even if ultimately in their own self-interest.

Certainly makes sense some of the old Thinkpads we folks here acquire might have gone through the process described on the page and have the RPK files.

[mike81]

LOL doing another search brought me back to this thread.

Yes it is a program that is made available to Microsoft Authorized Refurbishers and Microsoft Registered Refurbishers only. Microsoft allows for PCs to be refurbished and have Windows 7 and Microsoft Office Licenses put on computers at a significantly discounted rate for Not for profits and Charitable Organizations. I work with the program, as that is how I know about it.