Delete old apps from Windows AppData

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Can I safely delete folders for apps I no longer use or have installed  fro c:\users\….appdata\local

Like Garmin, ESET, GoPro – those apps are long gone!  But their files remain.  Oh actually, I just looked in the ESET folder and there are files in quarantine!! I guess I should delete those, right?

I do not use CClean. I am using super antispyware, defender & soon-to-be-expired malwarebytes premium. Of course, none of those delete unused files and I generally don’t try to clean things up but I’d like to remove these old apps, if it can be done without any impact. thanks! Donna

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If you are certain that no other program had installed them for use Yes; Make sure those quarantined files are cleared by some other scanner just in case ESET made an error in judgement.

Sometimes programs will install tools they need and forget to remove those or you are not informed of required dependencies for active programs, so keep them in the recycle bin for a while until all is still normal afterward.

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dmt_3904 wrote:

Like Garmin, ESET, GoPro – those apps are long gone!  But their files remain.

You should use a proper 3rd party uninstaller (not Windows build-in uninstaller) which will remove folders, registry entries…
Try the free portable Geekuninstaller.
Some software have publishers’ specific uninstallers.

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dmt_3904

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The folders remain because the installer does not place the files there. The program places files there post install and Windows correctly leaves user created data in place.
Some uninstallers remove those folders on the assumption that the user wants this done, but I would make a backup just in case.

cheers, Paul

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dmt_3904

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