OpenAL Question / help

Keyes · Jun 24, 2014

Hi, I notice that some games install openAL ( a sound API I believe ).

is it okay to remove openAL (via control panel, remove programs) if I uninstall the games that use it? I have removed the games that installed it, but when I go to uninstall openAL it says certain programs are dependant on it so I'm wondering is okay to remove it.

Also, I already seem to have an openal install integrated in my Sound drivers program files, so is it just okay to remove the one added by the games?

Thanks.

Pinhedd · Jun 24, 2014

Keyes :

yes, you can safely remove it if you no longer need it. It's a very small installation though

Keyes · Jun 24, 2014

Pinhedd :

But will it effect the the installation in my Creative folder?

Basically I have programsx86/creative (this is my sound card driver)/OpenAL/oalinst.exe (which i guess is the openal included in my sound card install)

and in programsx98/OpenAL/oalinst.exe (again, but it was installed by a game I have since removed

So im wondering can I remove this, and can it cause damage to my system and affect my Audio (I'm using a USB headset so I'm not sure if it would)

Pinhedd · Jun 24, 2014

Keyes :

Pinhedd :

But will it effect the the installation in my Creative folder?

Basically I have programsx86/creative (this is my sound card driver)/OpenAL/oalinst.exe (which i guess is the openal included in my sound card install)

and in programsx98/OpenAL/oalinst.exe (again, but it was installed by a game I have since removed

So im wondering can I remove this, and can it cause damage to my system and affect my Audio (I'm using a USB headset so I'm not sure if it would)

Those are just the installers. They both install the exact same thing, OpenAL32.dll in System32. This is what you would be removing.

Keyes · Jun 24, 2014

Pinhedd :

Keyes :

Those are just the installers. They both install the exact same thing, OpenAL32.dll in System32. This is what you would be removing.

Is there some way to remove the OpenAL in my programs files and only have the one in my Sound Card folder?

also I have an openal32.dll in my windows/sysWOW64/ is this normal? (it was created the same date as the one in my system32, and on that date was when I installed the game)

Pinhedd · Jun 24, 2014

Keyes :

Pinhedd :

Is there some way to remove the OpenAL in my programs files and only have the one in my Sound Card folder?

also I have an openal32.dll in my windows/sysWOW64/ is this normal? (it was created the same date as the one in my system32, and on that date was when I installed the game)

The installer is less than a megabyte. You're not going to be saving any endangered species by deleting it but you can if you wish.

The folder SysWOW64 is the folder that contains the 32-bit system libraries that are used by 32-bit applications that run on a 64-bit version of Windows. Most of the files in both folders will be named the same, but they are not identical files as they are compiled against separate platforms. Why Microsoft decided to put 64-bit libraries in System32 and 32-bit libraries in SysWOW64 is beyond me, other operating systems take the much more obvious approach.

Keyes · Jun 25, 2014

Pinhedd :

Keyes :

The installer is less than a megabyte. You're not going to be saving any endangered species by deleting it but you can if you wish.

The folder SysWOW64 is the folder that contains the 32-bit system libraries that are used by 32-bit applications that run on a 64-bit version of Windows. Most of the files in both folders will be named the same, but they are not identical files as they are compiled against separate platforms. Why Microsoft decided to put 64-bit libraries in System32 and 32-bit libraries in SysWOW64 is beyond me, other operating systems take the much more obvious approach.

If I uninstall the OpenAL in my programs list will it remove the OpenAl32.dll? or just the folder in my programs files? and if it does can I just run the installer in my creative sound card folder ?

Pinhedd · Jun 25, 2014

Keyes :

Pinhedd :

Keyes :

The installer is less than a megabyte. You're not going to be saving any endangered species by deleting it but you can if you wish.

The folder SysWOW64 is the folder that contains the 32-bit system libraries that are used by 32-bit applications that run on a 64-bit version of Windows. Most of the files in both folders will be named the same, but they are not identical files as they are compiled against separate platforms. Why Microsoft decided to put 64-bit libraries in System32 and 32-bit libraries in SysWOW64 is beyond me, other operating systems take the much more obvious approach.

If I uninstall the OpenAL in my programs list will it remove the OpenAl32.dll? or just the folder in my programs files? and if it does can I just run the installer in my creative sound card folder ?

The uninstaller is configured by the installer at install time. I can't say for sure what it will remove, but it should unregister and delete the dlls and hopefully remove the installer as well.

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