ntuser.dat File removal?

Topic

New Reply

I have ntuser.dat files all through my Windows 7 Pro 64bit system. They go back as far as 2011.  Is there a way to remove them such that the 2020 files remain? I am assuming they are the latest files reflecting the system as of today.

The same question refers to the desktop.ini files that are spread all over back to 2000.

Reply | Quote

Replies

If you want to keep using Windows 7, I strongly recommend you do a re-install to get a clean start. It will enable you to produce a backup copy of the system in its final state which enables easy re-install without the hassle of activation and an install process. If your hard drive is old, replace it first. Follow the procedure I posted here and you will have a very good system indeed:
https://www.askwoody.com/2019/canadian-tech-how-to-rebuild-a-win7-system-with-minimal-snooping/

I consider a laptop hard drive old if it is over 5 years. A desktop 8 years.

CT

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

Reply | Quote

If you won’t want to go to the trouble of reinstalling, open Control Panel\Folder options. On the View tab, check the box “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).”
Click “Apply” and “OK”

Reply | Quote

That would hide them, but would not gain any space on my SSD.

Reply | Quote

How much space do they take up?

Reply | Quote

I have no way of total them as they are spread out across my folders.

Is there a utility that would total them by c: ?

Reply | Quote

Well, just look at the size of a few of them and make a guess.
On my computer, a desktop.ini file is 282 bytes. and my ntuser.dat is 3840KB. It would take an awful lot of them to be significant. An awful lot.

Reply | Quote

ChuckR wrote:

I have no way of total them as they are spread out across my folders.

Is there a utility that would total them by c: ?

Try the portable Everything.

Reply | Quote

ChuckR wrote:

I have no way of total them as they are spread out across my folders.

Is there a utility that would total them by c: ?

Yes, there is a way.

Run search for ntuser.dat in windows explorer. Mark all, right-click for properties.

Reply | Quote

ntuser.dat files have information about your registry. It might be wise to leave them alone.

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender

Reply | Quote