topic Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install? in Installation & Licensing Forum

OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 20:30:59 GMT

Hello,

I have recently installed Autocad 2010 and Revit 2010. The files on the initial install seemed to have extracted to C:\autodesk folder. Do I need to keep this folder for any reason, or is it ok to remove after install?

Thanks!

Bob

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

DouglasLauritsen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:52:32 GMT

C:\autodesk is the default location for the extracting of the files contained in the self-extracting archive that you downloaded. Consider the folder contained here for your specific product (C:\Autodesk\AutoCAD_2010_English_Win_32bit_SLD) as your "media." You could delete these if you wish as you can re-download the archive at a later date. However, we recommend that you backup or store the downloaded archives. Then copy the "media" to a backup location or a network share. You do not need to re-extract the archive for every install. For your example the installer for AutoCAD 2010 can be started by double-clicking on C:\Autodesk\ AutoCAD_2010_English_Win_32bit_SLD\Setup.exe.

An alternative is to set up the network share and point the extraction to this location before clicking the Install button in the self-extracting archive utility.

Douglas Lauritsen, Autodesk Product Support
We appreciate your quick feedback on this forum!

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:55:31 GMT

The question was only half-asked. The reply was therefore only half answered. Here are more specific questions asked in regards to Revit and Autocad 2012: If the folder C:/Autodesk and its contents are deleted from the hard drive, will this hamper any function of existing Autodesk installations? Will it hamper the uninstall of Autodesk applications later? On my laptop, does this folder serve any function other than to take up space? Why does Autocad's installer not remove this folder the way most other application installers remove their uncompressed install staging documents after installation is complete?

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

TravisNave — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:26:26 GMT

It will not hamper usage if you delete it, however I would recommend that you archive this to a backup drive or a DVD. The reason is that this is your extracted media. It doesn't delete afterwards because it is the equivelent of your DVD or USB media and exists so that you do not have to download the program again in the future. WIth the size of hard drives now, it doesn't really take up that much space in the grand scheme of things.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:05:00 GMT

Thanks!

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:54:22 GMT

still the question is not answered by auto desk support executive..

i need to free up space of my hard drive and this has taken almost 1.5G of space.

does clearing / deleting will hamper the functionality of the program??

and i have the downloaded zip installer - so later i can use the same to install.. do i need this C:\autodesk to be compressed ?? i dont think so??

please reply.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

TravisNave — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:04:10 GMT

It was answered quite clearly. You do not need the installation files once the application has been installed. You should save them in the event of a reinstall so that you don't need to download them again. Otherwise, you can archive them elsewhere to save space.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:27:13 GMT

thanks a lot for the quick reply.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 04:16:40 GMT

I have a limited space SSD for drive C:.

Is there anything that I can do to move or reduce the size of the Autodesk folder under C:\ProgramData ?

With 5.84 GB is orders of magnitude larger than anything else in that directory.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

SBrumbaugh — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:28:13 GMT

This is not entirely true. When installing service packs, the service pack looks for files in that folder. with out the file the service pack installer throws Error 1603

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

jessglowacki — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 18:20:07 GMT

Actually it has swallowed my hard drive space "in this day and age"! I use 3 128mb ssd for my C: drive for only programs and it is using half the space from these files from all my autodesk programs...I've been wondering what has taken up all my space as I only put programs on my C: drive and have a 1tb drive for files

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

ampster40 — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 20:07:51 GMT

alot of zombie thread resurrections today. The "smaller" ssd drives will experience this issue. I've always gone with what Travis has suggested and never thought twice about deleting or backing up/then removing C:\Autodesk\ to free up hard disk space. And I have never had a problem installing SP's after that but to tell you the truth I never made sure C:\Autodesk\ was present before installing SP's or updates - so it would be nice to know from anybody who knows if that folder location should be present - in regards to the 3rd post back from mine where someone states it should be present...?!?!?

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

ampster40 — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:19:20 GMT

yeap

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

DarrenP — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:46:16 GMT

for some service packs it does look for that folder directory so thats up to you if you want delete or just move it to another location

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 20:42:59 GMT

I think the main reason why they don't want you deleting that Folder is so Autodesk doesn't have us redownloading from them repeatedly (Costly?). That is fine, but there not really clear on getting that out...Akima File Sharing (Person to Person Downloading) and all.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 15:20:57 GMT

Thanks for the quick and clear answer. It helped me too. Our company got a subscription for the entire suite of products related to civil and I found the folder to contain 150 Gigs on a ssd drive that is only 500! So cumulatively, the impact was significant. Glad to know I can archive these! Thanks!

@TravisNave wrote:
It will not hamper usage if you delete it, however I would recommend that you archive this to a backup drive or a DVD. The reason is that this is your extracted media. It doesn't delete afterwards because it is the equivelent of your DVD or USB media and exists so that you do not have to download the program again in the future. WIth the size of hard drives now, it doesn't really take up that much space in the grand scheme of things.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

softautodesc — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:31:29 GMT

No serious developer ever put stuff in C: root? Its a complete fail...

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

caditupyo — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 15:48:21 GMT

Pretty arrogant to say that it only takes up a small amount of space... My folder is 55GB for three products installed. It basically doubles the amount that this gigantic programme takes in filespace. My 200gb drive only has 62GB free after installing autodesk products. I am planning to make an image of this drive, so reducing file space is key.

I wonder if you do a network deployment install, if it does not create these local folders. I will have to test that and see. sounds like they are safe to remove however.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

TravisNave — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:46:53 GMT

Deployments will not create a local folder for installation.

Re: OK to delete C:\autodesk folder after Install?

s.borello — Fri, 19 May 2023 15:46:07 GMT

It takes up GIGS of space.