Can I delete these files safely?

CuppaTea · 10 January 2013 at 8:55PM

My laptop has started to become quite slow, so i thought i'd investigate the programs on it and see if I can delete any to make its start up quicker.

I noticed I have Microsoft Service pack 2 which is rarely used, the last occasion was 2011. Below that is Microsoft Service pack 3 which is frequently used. Am I right to assume Pack 3 has superceded pack 2 which is no longer in use and I can delete all the service pack 2 files?

I also have Microsoft.Net Framework 2.0 service pack 2 and Microsoft.Net Framework 3.0 service pack 2, again these are rarely used but don't know what they are for.

Please can you help.

I try to keep my laptop as clean as possible to make it efficient but sometimes somthing running in the background really slows things up if not to a halt and its driving me bonkers.

DH used to deal with all this stuff as its his job, but he's no longer here and i have no idea.

Thanks for reading.

closed · 10 January 2013 at 9:02PM

files don't slow machines, running software does - follow step 1 completely

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

.net framework may be required for another piece of software you have installed to work, unfortunately it's a continually updated bloated monster that keeps windows update busy

CuppaTea · 10 January 2013 at 9:17PM

Thanks a lot, i'll take a look at it, much appreciated.

John_Gray · 10 January 2013 at 9:35PM

Don't even think of trying to uninstall Service Pack 2, or Service Pack 1, for that matter. You wouldn't be allowed to, I would hope.

SP3 contains all the updates of SP2, and quite a number more. There will be very few entirely new files, and even fewer (if any) made redundant by applying SP3.

Think of it like deckchairs on the Titanic. For each service pack, some chairs are painted a different colour and perhaps moved around a bit. All the deckchairs are still needed, and none can be thrown overboard!

googler · 10 January 2013 at 9:43PM

What are you trying to achieve? To make it 'start up' quicker, to run quicker in general, or merely to release some space on the HDD?

Enterprise_1701C · 10 January 2013 at 9:44PM

Before you do anything else, please make sure you set a System Restore Point so that if you cause problems you at least have a good chance of getting back to where you started.