folder names

[Guest]

Hoping someone can help me. I have just found a heap of folders in Windows
Explorer in my c drive in the Windows folder. They are all $NtUninstallKB and
a 6 digit number and they are all in blue type.
What are these please ( thinking they are windows updates of some kind) and
why are they in blue.
Help please !

 

[Gordon]

$NtUninstallKB

Searching Google using "$NtUninstallKB" - 546 results in 0.11 secs....
That will tell you all you need to know.....

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),

Hoping someone can help me. I have just found a heap of
folders in Windows Explorer in my c drive in the Windows
folder. They are all $NtUninstallKB and a 6 digit number and
they are all in blue type.
What are these please ( thinking they are windows updates of
some kind) and why are they in blue.
Help please !

Those folders contain the files used to uninstall updates to
Windows XP. The names of the folders appear in blue because
Windows has compressed the folder to save hard drive space.

Keep in mind that if you delete any of these folders you will
not be able to uninstall the associated update. You should not
delete the $hf_mig$ folder since Windows uses that folder when
future updates are applied.

For an automated method of deleting the uninstall folders take
a look at this site:

Removes Hotfix Backup files and the Add/Remove Programs
Registry entries
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the information.
Can I safely remove the updates using the add/remove program option?

 

[Nepatsfan]

First off, the term "safely" only applies after you've backed
up any data that you cannot afford to lose and you've run
System Restore to create an up-to-date restore point. While the
chances of something going wrong while uninstalling an update
are slight, there's always a possibility.

You can uninstall any update as long as the associated
$NtUninstallKBXXXXXX$ folder is present in C:\Windows. Go to
Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs. Make sure that the
"Show Updates" box is checked.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering uninstalling any
of these updates? Are you having a problem with a specific
update?

Good luck

Nepatsfan

(e-mail address removed),

 

[gls858]

First off, the term "safely" only applies after you've backed
up any data that you cannot afford to lose and you've run
System Restore to create an up-to-date restore point. While the
chances of something going wrong while uninstalling an update
are slight, there's always a possibility.

You can uninstall any update as long as the associated
$NtUninstallKBXXXXXX$ folder is present in C:\Windows. Go to
Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs. Make sure that the
"Show Updates" box is checked.

Just out of curiosity, why are you considering uninstalling any
of these updates? Are you having a problem with a specific
update?

Good luck

Nepatsfan

(e-mail address removed),

I thing the OP just wants to delete the uninstall files not
remove the updates.

gls858

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Raylen,

They are backup files for a WindowsUpdate (hotfix) and yes you can delete
them as long as you do not plan to uninstall any of the Windows Update
files. You will also find a listing for each under Add & Remove in the
Control Panel. Once you have deleted the backup, you can select the hotfix
for removal. You will get an error message followed by an option to remove
the listing. You can automate this task using a tool from the Utilties
section of www.dougknox.com

The backups are there for hotfixes that are uninstallable. This is an option
only for some updates, and it is there in case the update causes issues for
you (so you can uninstall it if necessary). If you don't plan on
uninstalling it and want to conserve drive space, there is nothing wrong
with removing them. I keep each backup for about a month before removing it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Nepatsfan]

I thing the OP just wants to delete the uninstall files not
remove the updates.

gls858

You're probably right. When I saw "remove the updates" in the
follow up question I didn't take into account the possibility
that the OP viewed the uninstall folders to be the actual
updates. Also, I now see how the phrase "using the add/remove
program option" could be a reference to the link I posted in my
first response.

Hopefully, the OP will see the response from Rick Rogers.

Nepatsfan