Post #70,084
12/20/02 9:59:16 AM
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Win98 Disk space recovery -- c:\\windows\\options\\cabs
I'm trying to recover disk space on a Win98 box, and am finding about 248 MB worth of files under C:\\Windows\\Options\\cabs (well, truthfully: /mnt/windows/windows/options/cabs, but you get mydrift). The vast bulk of these files (3777) are over a year old. I'm suspecting they're temporary files from SW installs / updates. \r\n\r\n Can they be safely deleted? \r\n\r\n There are also a slew of *.rar files directly under C:\\ which I suspect can be tossed as well. \r\n\r\n TIA \r\n --\r\n
Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]\r\n
[link|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/]\r\n
What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?\r\n
[link|http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/|TWikIWETHEY] -- an experiment in collective intelligence. Stupidity. Whatever.\r\n
\r\n
Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.\r\n[link|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html]\r\n
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Post #70,090
12/20/02 10:22:41 AM
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Define "safely"
IIRC the cab files are referenced when you make system changes. Dll updates, drivers, certain settings and app installs, PNP crap, etc. As long as you have the original Win98 install CD you should be safe.
Why should we ask our military to die for cheap oil when the rest of us aren't even being asked to get better mileage?
-[link|http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=14107|Molly Ivins]
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Post #70,093
12/20/02 10:28:54 AM
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They *are* the original install CD
Any changes you make to your windows configuration are likely to need something from here. But as has already been said, if you have real install media you won't need this. Many "recovery disks" point to locations in the CAB files. BTW there is a CAB file viewer utility out there. Lets you scan what's actually in them.
===
Microsoft offers them the one thing most business people will pay any price for - the ability to say "we had no choice - everyone's doing it that way." -- [link|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=38978|Andrew Grygus]
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Post #70,109
12/20/02 11:56:13 AM
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Would recommend finding it elsewhere.
Though the prior answers are correct...the box will run without them...but you will quickly find out how freakin annoying windows can be if you get rid of the preload cabs.
You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! Laurie Anderson
[link|mailto:bepatient@aol.com|BePatient]
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Post #70,116
12/20/02 12:39:02 PM
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Re: Win98 Disk space recovery -- c:\\windows\\options\\cabs
Yes, but if something triggers "Building device database" you'll have to manually type in \\windows and \\windows\\system as Windows tries to reinstall already installed files.
IOW, if you anticipate no more hardware changes, you'll be OK. I'd copy \\windows\\options\\cabs\\*.* to a CDROM root and then redirect to R:\\ (your CDROM drive letter) when necessary.
-drl
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Post #70,121
12/20/02 1:19:59 PM
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They can be handy if Win98 starts to act up
I've encoutered several instances of failing Win 98 installations where those cabs saved the day. Setup refused to run from the CD but did run from the options directory.
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Post #70,223
12/21/02 9:28:38 AM
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Not recommended, they make P&P less of an irritant
When you have to add another driver, Windows, in its infinite stupidity, has to reload the same support files that are already loaded. The %windir%\\Options\\cabs lets you avoid the "insert your distribution cd" business.
If you have any intention of adding *ANY* new hardware to the system, either leave the install cabs there, or be really sure that you know where the installation cd is kept.
Keep in mind that the easiest way of fixing munged network drivers is to delete them and scan for new hardware, letting the system reinstall the driver properly. This requires the install cabs.
I think that the .rar files may be an archive format that I haven't seen in a long time. They would likely be from some kind of an app. I don't think they are used by the OS. I could easily be wrong about this. You might check the registry to see what program is associated with the rar file type before deleteing them.
YAN .02
Hugh
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Post #70,224
12/21/02 9:33:00 AM
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Where RAR comes from:
[link|http://www.rarlab.com/|http://www.rarlab.com/]
Peter
[link|http://www.debian.org|Shill For Hire]
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
[link|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org|Blog]
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Post #71,208
12/28/02 3:05:38 AM
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Resolution: Those c:\\ *.RAR files: Klez
Started poking around the Windows partition from Linux. Whole mess of pretty randomly named files under c:\\Program Files, either 10240 or 19270 bytes in size. Got suspicious and ran a Klez disinfectant. 18,388 files scanned, 534 deleted, 165 repaired (most of which I'll delete by hand anyhow). Major case of the Klez. Makes me wonder what else is on here. --\r\n
Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]\r\n
[link|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/]\r\n
What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?\r\n
[link|http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/|TWikIWETHEY] -- an experiment in collective intelligence. Stupidity. Whatever.\r\n
\r\n
Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.\r\n[link|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html]\r\n
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