Resetting my PC by deleting system32?

[nilsdomstad03]

Hey, I need some advice. My PC can't factory reset, and it won't open some programs, like Epic games launcher. I've had this problem for a couple of weeks, and I have tried everything. I can't stand this. Is deleting the system32 folder an effective way to reset my PC?

 

[USAFRet]

Hey, I need some advice. My PC can't factory reset, and it won't open some programs, like Epic games launcher. I've had this problem for a couple of weeks, and I have tried everything. I can't stand this. Is deleting the system32 folder an effective way to reset my PC?

That is an effective way to cause you to do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything.
If you delete that, your system will no longer work. Period.

I don't know where you read that, or who told you that was a good idea. But never ever listen to that person again.
Not for anything.

 

[Rafael Mestdag]

If I were you I'd simply reinstall Windows over and then use Disk Cleanup to delete the old one. Don't forget to grab all your save games in your user folder and also in the ProgramData folder in your OS root beforehand.

 

[USAFRet]

If I were you I'd simply reinstall Windows over and then use Disk Cleanup to delete the old one. Don't forget to grab all your save games in your user folder and also in the ProgramData folder in your OS root beforehand.

It would be helpful if we discovered what the actual problem was, before recommending a course of action.

It is probably the OS, but let's find out first.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes. I would not recommend overhauling the engine before doing a compression test. It may simply be a fouled spark plug, per se.

 

[Darkbreeze]

That is an effective way to cause you to do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything.
If you delete that, your system will no longer work. Period.

I don't know where you read that, or who told you that was a good idea. But never ever listen to that person again.
Not for anything.

This is funny as hell, but 100% true. It's a VERY, VERY bad idea. You WILL be losing everything on that drive if you do that, with no realistic chance of recovering any of it without a lengthy process that would involve the use of another, functional system. Deleting system32 is not part of ANY legitimate advice regarding the solution of ANY kind of Windows problems. As USAFRet said, ever.

 

[Rafael Mestdag]

That is an effective way to cause you to do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything.
If you delete that, your system will no longer work. Period.

I don't know where you read that, or who told you that was a good idea. But never ever listen to that person again.
Not for anything.

This is funny as hell, but 100% true. It's a VERY, VERY bad idea. You WILL be losing everything on that drive if you do that, with no realistic chance of recovering any of it without a lengthy process that would involve the use of another, functional system. Deleting system32 is not part of ANY legitimate advice regarding the solution of ANY kind of Windows problems. As USAFRet said, ever.

Though I'm no specialist I don't think there is a single folder or file in a Windows installation apart from the contents of the Temp folder you can actually delete without effing it all up.

 

[USAFRet]

Though I'm no specialist I don't think there is a single folder or file in a Windows installation apart from the contents of the Temp folder you can actually delete without effing it all up.

Sure there is. Lots of trivial stuff. I'm not going to disclose that here, though.
But deleting the /system32/ folder WILL kill the OS.

If you go to the Doc with a hangnail, he's not going to recommend cutting off your leg with a chainsaw.

 

[Rafael Mestdag]

Have you tried a restore point? Try restoring your OS back to whenever you weren't having the trouble.