"$NtUninstall" Files?

[Lillly]

I have about 0.5 Gb of files in my C:\Windows directory that are all named
with a '$NtUninstall' prefix and no extension. (For example:
$NtUninstallKB820291).

What are these files? Are they important? Can I safely delete them? I
need space on my small root drive.

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi Lillly,

Those are the files that are required to uninstall the particular Service
Pack or Hotfix that is referenced, by MSKB article number, in the filename.
If you are confident that the update was successful and that you won't
bewanting to uninstall it, then yes, you can safely delete the file.

If you also would like to remove the lines, in Add/Remove Programs in
Control Panel, that relate to each of the updates for which you have deleted
the $NTUninstall file, select the reference to the item and then click on
the Remove button. XP will attempt to locate the uninstall file and, when
the file cannot be found, it will return an "error" message and ask you if
you wish to remove the entry from Add/Remove Programs.



Regards,

 

[Lillly]

Thanks,
That makes sense.

 

[Guest]

I have about 0.5 Gb of files in my C:\Windows directory that are all named
with a '$NtUninstall' prefix and no extension. (For example:
$NtUninstallKB820291).

What are these files? Are they important? Can I safely delete them? I
need space on my small root drive.

These are the uninstall files for Microsoft's updates you have
downloaded,they are there incase you need to uninstall an update because of
problems with it.
If your system is running well and you don't anticipate the need to remove
one you can reclaim the space they are using.See the link below.
http://dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

 

[Patti MacLeod]

You're welcome



Regards,

 

[Guest]

I have this exact same issue; except I can't see these in the Add/Remove
panel. I'm running XP Home with SP2 installed and working to my
satisfaction. I did look at MAP's hotfix utility but see it won't work with
SP2. Is there another way to globally remove these files?

TIA

 

[Guest]

Hi Joyce,

Make sure you have checked "Show Updates" in Add or Remove Programs.

 

[Guest]

Ok. I did that. Now what?

Please feel free to write it out in a-b-c language. This isn't intuitive
for me.

 

[Guest]

Joyce,

Have you already deleted the $NTUninstall file folder?

 

[Guest]

Probably not. I have no recollection of ever seeing one. I tend to not
delete things I don't understand. No file by that name appears on the
Add/Remove page either.

Is it in c:/Windows? I have a TON of these $NtUninstall files in my
Windows folder. All with different alphanumeric characters.

 

[Guest]

Joyce,

If you are satisfied with the way your computeris functioning after
installing SP2, follow this link and it will instruct you on how to safely
remove the hidden Uninstall file folder. If you have any other question(s),
just post back.

http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7265&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight

 

[Guest]

Darrell,
Some of what was in that link you suggested worked and some didn't. I was
able to clean up the restore point files and delete the software distribution
file. It wouldn't let me delete the C:\Windows\$NTServicePackUninstall
file; kept giving me an error message, something about a dll file.

In addition to the C:\Windows\$NTServicePackUninstall folder, I had 85
folders labelled $NtUninstall__________ . They're gone now (deleted).

I seem to have not recovered much in the way of disk space by doing this.
Disk space wasn't the source of my inquiry. We've been troubled by malware
in the past and like to keep the machine free of things we don't need.
Lily's post reminded me of these files on my own machine.

The c:\Windows folder is a lot neater and free of unnecessary clutter! And
I feel better knowing that people like you are out there and willing to spend
time and energy to help. I just discovered the Newsgroups and already I've
learned so much by reading some of the posts!

Thanks so much for your assistance!

 

[Guest]

You're welcome.