Where are they on your HD? Right click on the folders and the Properties will tell you where they came from and when.

If you downloaded an update then more than likely they are from the update.

DA

The i386 folder holds the files used to install, repair, modify, update and rebuild Windows. Though these files are also located on your Windows installation CD (if you have one), I recommend you not delete anything located here. Deleting these files wonÂt recover much room, and the convenience of having the files there save a lot of time for us techie-types. (The contents of the i386 folder can commonly be found in the folder at C:\Windows\Options\Cabs. This Windows "cabs" folder is essentially the same as the i386 folder.)

Should I just leave it there? This came up on my extra hard drive (drive D) after the update....when I go to properties, that's all it tells me...when it was created.

Okay...I just thought it was strange that these things appear on that particular hard drive...

Not every pc has an i386 folder, so those folders came with the update leave them there.

the i386 folder is basically your windows operating system copy so whatever you do don't mess with it, should you ever need it you want it available!
If you mean by the update you did that .NET update then it will definitely have added quite a few items it was a large download. It added various new processes also to taskmanager, there is a discussion of that on the .Net update thread here.
I would definitely just leave it alone.

What is the i386 folder?
Quote:
"The i386 folder contains a complete copy of your Windows installation files. In fact, if you look on your original Windows install CD, you will find the exact same i386 folder on it. So why should you keep it on your hard drive, too?

The answer is that whenever you connect a piece of hardware to your computer, it will search for the correct driver to "talk" to the hardware. For instance, if you connect a new mouse, Windows will search for the files it needs to communicate with the mouse. These files are in the i386 folder. Most times, it will search in there automatically, find the correct files, and just work - all without any intervention from you.

However, if you delete the i386 folder, your PC won't know where the needed files are. So it will pop-up a box asking you for your Windows CD. Every time. Trust us - it gets annoying. Not only will you have to keep your Windows CD nearby anytime you use your computer, but you will also have to make sure that it never gets scratched or damaged - if it does, you are out of luck.

Keeping the i386 folder on your hard drive frees you from worrying about the CD. Keep the CD in a safe place, and only bring it out if Windows suffers a catastrophic failure. You won't have that extra space on your hard drive, but you'll be much happier in the long run." end quote

you can easily google i386 folder and find much info on that .

But...shouldn't this be a hidden folder? This turned up on my extra hard drive...I have hard drive C and hard drive D partitioned by E

Do you have 2 physical hard drives, or 3 partitions C, D , E on one drive.

What is the model # of this HP.

Two physical hard drives....

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
System Model HP Compaq dc7700p Convertible Minitower
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2128 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard 786E1 v01.05, 8/30/2006
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Total Physical Memory 2,049.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.24 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB

Nice, lets find out why it went to the d drive, and if there hidden normally,

Might take a bit.

okay :o)

Is this your computer in the link below it says it has an 80GB Hard drive,

Open my computer again put your mouse over each drive and a window will pop up It will tell you how big each is an amount of free space on each, lets see what it adds up to.

Unless you installed a drive I think it's one hard drive, but I could wrong.

Here is a link that might be useful: spiceworks

Those folders from what I learned are not normally hidden, one reason for the update to install on "D" Drive/Partition would be if the "C" Drive/partition was full or nearing full, then the windows update would look for another Drive/Partition to install on.

(C)
Free Space: 196.6 GB
Total Size: 224 GB

(D)
Free Space: 224 GB
Total Size: 232 GB

So...I probably should just let well enough alone and not worry about where that folder is?????

Always leave well enough alone.

That's a correct thought MB, when in doubt punt.

DA