# Deleting Zip and .exe files

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 25, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663 "2000-11-25T17:27:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663/1 "2000-11-25T17:27:36Z")

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I have a fairly large collection of Zip files (“My ZIP Files” folder) which is consuming lots of my hard disk space. They include things like the installer and ‘shell’ for RealPlayer, the .exe file for Netscape, the .exe. file for Quick Time, etc.

Can I delete these files without jeopardizing other stuff on my system, especially the actual working programs for RealPlayer, Netscape, etc.?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663/2 "2000-11-25T17:35:36Z")

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If you’ve extracted the programs themselves out into their own separate folders, then no, there’s no problem in deleting .zip files. It’s only if you’ve haven’t extracted them that you’ll lose the programs.

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663/3 "2000-11-25T17:38:21Z")

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Excellent. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deleting-zip-and-exe-files/42663/4 "2000-11-25T21:44:46Z")

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Make sure that they are, in fact, ZIP files and not some other type of compressed file using the ZIP icon through it’s association with the unzipping program. I would keep the CAB files around so that installation of certain hardware and software can use them instead of having to put in the CD everytime…