c:\Autodesk

[Cybergolem]

As I was downloading Maya 2018, I noticed a folder in the root of my c-drive named Autodesk. Is this a temp folder for the installation process? I'd like to delete it afterward since it's tipping 20GB.

~Cheers

[Anonymous]

Hello and welcome to the community.

This is an important component needed for Maya to run. Maya will automatically choose the most suitable location for this component at installation time. Deleting it will prevent Maya from launching.

If your issue is resolved at any point, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[mspeer]

Hi!

This maybe a temp folder for installation but with 20GB it should contain files for multiple Autodesk products / Maya versions.

Please check the subfolder names.

Also check the program files folder if Maya is installed there.

You may delete installation files if not needed anymore, but keep in mind, that repairing, uninstall and re-install may be easier with the files kept at the folder used for installation.

[Cybergolem]

@Anonymous : Thank you but I thought the necessary digital guts were installed in the Program Files> Autodesk folder... no? It's not uncommon for installations to have a temp folder for doing this, but given the location of this root-based folder, I thought to ask about it. It's taking up a lot of space (if it isn't necessary).

@mspeer : Thanks. This folder does contain Maya, Max and AutoCAD installs and version variants to boot. Btw, I feel you about repairs and such but in all my years of working with computers, a repair has never once worked. Not once! 🙂 ... but I–almost–always give it a try before more invasive measures are taken.

These two answers are in possible conflict with each other so I'm keeping this thread as unsolved for a little while longer with the hopes a tie breaker of sorts wanders in. Thanks to you both.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @Cybergolem,

@mspeer is correct. You can safely remove that directory and continue working with all of your applications, but should anything happen that requires repairs or reinstallation, still having it will greatly speed up the process.

The Autodesk installers for Windows can be thought of as large ZIP files. They extract first then install the file to their necessary location. When you run a repair on an app, it will check that directory for the files it needs.

Cheers,
Mike

[Cybergolem]

Thanks Mike,

It's definitive then. These aren't critical, but helpful, so I'll follow the overwhelming consensus to keep them in place.