Definition

orphan file

Part of the Personal computing glossary:

On a computer's hard drive, an orphan file is a support file (such as a DLL file) that no longer serves a purpose because the "parent" application it is associated with has been moved or uninstalled. Orphan files can be deleted manually if the user is confident that the file is not being used by any other application.

Next Steps

Capacity planning: Reclaim orphaned storage
This tip takes a look at how to maximize your s...
(SearchStorage.com.au)
Capacity planning: Reclaim orphaned storage
This tip takes a look at how to maximize your s...
(SearchStorage.com)

This was last updated in January 2006

Contributor(s): Ann Petty

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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Glossaries

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Dig Deeper

Capacity planning: Reclaim orphaned storage

This tip takes a look at how to maximize your storage capacity utilization by finding orphaned data and storage that can in turn be re-allocated for another productive use. (SearchStorage.com.au)
Capacity planning: Reclaim orphaned storage

This tip takes a look at how to maximize your storage capacity utilization by finding orphaned data and storage that can in turn be re-allocated for another productive use. (SearchStorage.com)
Deletes All Orphaned Response Documents

(SearchDomino.com)

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