What is Panther directory?

StevenGallagher, 

A lighthearted reply to you - if it behaves like a virus, can't we call it that? 

Windows 10 is still in its baby stages. The three programs, Edge+Cortana+Bing (I call them the three sisters), all work together to coordinate one thing - and that is keyword preferences. They access EVERYTHING you do online. They even sync your cell phone information, so all of your SMS texts and messaging and even emails are accessed. 

This is all to "improve user experience", but never once addresses the fact that some people love to explore different perspectives on many things. In the name of user experience, the programs actually pigeonhole people into categories. This is the sort of thing that happens when statistics get out of control. 

WX does not take outliers into consideration. 

If you don't believe WX references all of your activity, read the disclaimers, tos and agreements you must accept in order to use WX. Most people won't read it because it's rather boring. And extensive. 

Now, just because it behaves like spyware, tracking your activity and interests, it doesn't mean there is a person eating potato chips and drinking energy drinks while watching you like a hawk.

No, the "three sisters" are merely searching for keywords, and it's done electronically. 

You will gain the attention of human reviewers if you use wording that raises red flags (whatever those words are). 

This all sounds insidious on one level, but it seriously is not meant to cause harm. 

Why is this being done? To condense it all down to one main purpose, it is done in order for revenue to be gained from using "streamlined" advertising. Corporate America is the driving force. 

If you do not want to participate, you can stop communicating with anyone online. You never know who is using WX, and therefore, your activity albeit vicariously. 

To answer the original question (I believe it was from Opdyke?) - What is Panther? And do I need it? 

My answer (though not the best answer) is that Panther has a multiple purpose and I haven't been able to make a clear and decisive evaluation of exactly what it does.

You may end up needing it at some point, but don't fret if you've deleted it. I have a feeling it will find its way back to you. 

What did I do? I took ownership and compressed the puppy. 

How to take ownership - (you may have to do it the tedious way, and do this multiple times for individual subfiles when you use this technique to control other folders in your system, such as GWX when you decide you don't want to utilize the 'upgrade' because it killed your computer the time you tried it, and went through hell to get your computer back to a usable condition) 

Right click - properties - security - advanced - owner (it should currently be 'system') - edit - select the owner from the list (you might have to edit and add a user, select locations and choose from there) - apply - OK. 

Then go back to properties - security - select user - edit - allow full control - apply - yes, OK. 

Now to compress it - properties - general - click the box for read only until a check-mark appears - advanced - select 'folder is ready for archiving', 'allow contents indexed', and 'compress' - OK - apply - select folder, subfolders and files - OK. 

Now, when you look in C - you will find the folder and all of its contents lit up in blue. 

I've discovered that this method is FAR superior to deleting stuff when I'm not sure about the exact nature of the thing. And some things - like GWX - will regenerate itself, so deleting it turns into a lesson in futility. 

Now you don't have to worry about it, because it will still be used, but in a compressed state, and if you really want to take extra control, you can change permissions to all other users to a read-only status. 

Sorry for the book, but when I see a topic that has a question being answered by an entity that has a lack of expertise in the English language... it just makes me angry.

oh my God!

how many times did this poor person ask if they were going to NEED IT AGAIN?

you all need to learn active listening and reading comprehension, you never seem to understand the basics of the question.

come on Microsoft, stop allowing the call centers you contract, to outsource.

ummm Ganesh,

they asked if THEY WOULD NEED IT AGAIN. AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN.

you never answered their question.