Deleting System 32 Files

[renohol]

As the post explains, I'm a noob, I downloaded the free RTCW pack a while back including PUNKBUSTER, I soon realized that I didn't care much for the game so I uninstalled it but in my Task Manager in the processes section I notice PnkBstrA.exe & PnkBstrB.exe.

I assume this is the remains of Punkbuster so I ran a search and found the files in Windows/system32. Is it safe to just right click "boxes", they are not shaped like folders, and delete them or will this desroy my poor old computer messing around in the System32 folder?

 

[Speedo]

Don't mess around in System32 unless you know what you're doing; it makes the baby Jesus cry.

If you don't want them running on startup go to Start>Run, enter msconfig, go to the startup tab, find Punkbuster and disable it. Or, check Add/Remove Programs to see if you can just uninstall it.

 

[renohol]

thanks for the help but Punkbuster doesn't show up under the startup tab or Add/Remove Programs...tinker with system32 time?...anyone?

 

[Jerrymander]

Delete C:\.

Deleted them at your own risk. Can you reinstall windows if it crashes? Also, I think windows has some noob friendly thing where it says 'cannot delete system file, needed for operation'. Hurr, linux doesn't, found that out the hard way.

 

[renohol]

thanks for your help guys, I actually ended up finding a piece of soft ware that deleted them made by the guys who made Punkbuster...thanks again and tokez

 

[GenMarshall]

Dont! Whatever you do, DONT TOUCH IT!!!!


(Unless you want to reformat your HD and reinstal windows)

 

[GVBN]

They aren't system files. You could have just deleted them

 

[GoodGame]

Maybe pick up this and have it automate processes like that for you.
http://www.tune-up.com/products/tuneup-utilities/

 

[Shadylookin]

Delete C:\.

Deleted them at your own risk. Can you reinstall windows if it crashes? Also, I think windows has some noob friendly thing where it says 'cannot delete system file, needed for operation'. Hurr, linux doesn't, found that out the hard way.

rm -f is not a toy it's serious business

when you run as root you have unlimited power even the power to destroy yourself . It's actually better that way imo because then bad programs can't trick the operating system into thinking it can't be deleted.

Anyway when deleting system 32 files I've found that as long as you make a copy if you mess it up you should be able to boot into safemode and put the files back. I think windows vista even has a self repair feature.

 

[Mise]

When you run as root you disable 99% of the security benefit of Linux over Windows in a desktop environment...

 

[Jerrymander]

When you run as root you disable 99% of the security benefit of Linux over Windows in a desktop environment...

... if you're a complete moron.

 

[Mise]

... if you're a complete moron.

I'm not sure what you mean by that.

 

[Shadylookin]

... if you're a complete moron.

No sane individual runs as root unless they have to be, in fact it's pretty popular for distros to disable the root account by default these days.

When it's so easy to mistype and when root will glady do whatever you or a program asks running as root is considered a no no unless you absolutely must.

 

[scy12]

delete them and if necessary reinstall windows.