common files? driver issue? auto-updater???

[thezul]

hellow..

spc:
winXP pro. sp2
2.6 ghz procerr
256 RAM



Q1: I wanna ask u sumthin. when we get into Program Files>Common Files, is everythin in it important n needed by windows?? n how bout if I delete some files in 'common files'?


Q2: few days ago, i connected to internet, while i wus surfing, suddenly an installer wus automatically installed in 'common files' the prog named 'updater' n its application named 'wupdater.exe'. every time when I boot up my comp, it would run automatically. when I logged off, it lagged for a while to end up 'wupdater.exe'. after I got abit dizzy of it, I deleted it juz like that. wil this probably effect the OS ?


Q3: i'd installed a driver of an old scanner (flatbed scanner). while installation process wus in progrss, it didnt pass the XP logo test, and asked me to stop the installation, but I resisted to use the driver anyway. when i booted up my PC another time, I got a msg that stated 'new hardware found' even I've disconnected the scanner. then I went to control panel to eliminate this driver's files by removing them. but the result wus that i didn't successfully remove the driver altogether, some of the files were still probably sticked in it. I realised all these when i got into 'device manager' n found 'unknown device' with an xclamation mark beside it. could you plzz help me to solve this case?

[snowmonkey]

A1- Not everything in Common file is needed, MS Office and Install Shield and Symantec (any virus related stuff have to stay), Java, Adobe, ODBC, System (If you have MS Office), Microsoft shared have to stay ,, the rest can go.


A2-'wupdater.exe' is a Internet Explorer Optimizer pest,, and it is a pain in a a$$, so use what ever software you can find to get right of it,, I would suggest Spy Sweeper:
http://www.spysweeper.com/download.html

A3- When a hardware manufacturer provide you the software then go ahead and install it and don't worry about MS logo thing,, when you get that waring it means, that Microsoft did not digitally signed the driver that all , it would not have any Bering on functionality of the driver, furthermore, if you would have said Yes keep going to Logo warning then on reboot your driver would have been installed properly, so you know what to do now.


cheers

[thezul]

okay.. anyway thnx 4 those answers.. erm but I gota simple doubt... 'how bout if I delete 'wupdater.exe'?? will this trouble me 4 the future?