When we install Windows, the installation wizard itself is responsible for extracting and copying all the files that make up the operating system to the hard disk. Each file and each folder has its own utility. For example, within “Users” we will find everything related to users, in “Program files” the directories of all programs, and in “Windows” everything that forms the operating system. However, there are folders that are much more important than others when using the operating system, and one of them is System32.
System32 is one of the system folders that take up the most space on the hard drive. In a clean installation of Windows 10, this folder can occupy about 4 GB , has more than 15,000 files and more than 1,300 folders, depending on the version and edition of the operating system. This can lead to confusion among users of the operating system without knowledge, thinking that it is useless or that it is a virus, especially considering the large number of hoaxes that circulate about it. There are even memes that talk about it.
System32 is not a virus, it is Windows
One of the most widespread hoaxes throughout the network, since the 2000s, is that the System32 folder is a virus . This hoax was created so that users with no computer experience were afraid and therefore directly deleted the folder or part of its content.
Other hoaxes derived from it said that deleting this folder improved the performance of the operating system, and even that it solved many errors or enabled new functions, such as 5G (one of the last hoaxes).
System32 is not a virus. Inside this folder is more than 95% of the operating system. If we modify its content, or delete the folder, our computer will stop booting. What’s more, the slightest change even in the permissions of this directory will already start generating blue screenshots when starting Windows.
What’s inside System32
Inside this folder we will find everything necessary for Windows to start and for it to work normally. For example, the first thing we will find will be DLL files , that is, libraries with parts of code necessary for Windows and many of the programs to start and work. We will also find essential EXE programs for the correct operation of the equipment.
For example, the task manager, file explorer, and winlogon.exe are located here. And all these programs, in addition, depend on the DLL libraries that we just mentioned.
Within System32 we can also find all the computer drivers, necessary for the operating system to interact with the PC hardware.
What to do if you remove System32
As the contents of this folder are removed, the instability of the system increases . The moment we remove any key Windows component, we will see a blue screen with a critical error and then the PC will not be able to reboot.
Windows 10 has functions that, when the boot fails, will allow us to repair it to try to get it working again or restore it to a previous state. However, chances are, having literally removed Windows, your computer won’t work again. All we can do is install Windows 10 from scratch .
Nor will it be useful to copy the System32 directory from another PC to the new one, since although theory we will be solving the problem, we will continue with permission and driver problems. The only way to correct the problem is to install Windows 10 from scratch.
What to do if we have a virus in this folder
It is difficult for a virus to sneak into System32 because Windows, especially Windows 10, has a very controlled folder. Only the user SYSTEM, controlled by TrustedInstaller , has control over this directory. And we remember that this super administrator account is not available to everyone. Therefore, a virus would have a difficult time sneaking into said folder, unless it is through a vulnerability.
However, suppose that a virus manages to sneak into this folder and copy itself there. We must not (and cannot) modify anything to remove it. We must trust a good antivirus (such as Windows Defender, Kaspersky or Malwarebytes) to analyze the system, detect the threat and eliminate it without endangering our PC.
How to remove System32 in Windows
It certainly doesn’t make sense. We know exactly what will happen if we remove System32 from the operating system. However, there are people who still do not believe that the computer will stop working and think that it is a virus or that it will go faster.
For all those who want to delete this directory, they can do it, although it is not easy. To do this, the first thing we will do is change the permissions of the folder so that the Administrators have permission to it, and then, we will open a CMD window with Administrator permissions and execute the following command:
rd /s /q "C:WindowsSystem32"
Pressing Enter will begin to delete all the contents of that directory. When it is done, if the computer continues to work with luck, we will restart the computer. And we will be able to see that, indeed, this does not start again.
System32 is a critical system folder , a directory that we should not modify without knowing very well what we are doing, but that we should never delete .
