removing uninstall folders help please?

[Toby]

Hello,
I have just updated XP with the latest security updates etc and
noticed that a lot of space is wasted in uninstall folders and stuff which I
probably will not. nor have ever removed. Is there a safe way of removing
these to free up space please?

mtia

#
T.

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I have just updated XP with the latest security updates etc and
noticed that a lot of space is wasted in uninstall folders and stuff which I
probably will not. nor have ever removed. Is there a safe way of removing
these to free up space please?

To remove uninstall information for Windows Updates:
1. Open the Explorer and navigate to the WINDOWS folder. Find the
folders named $NTUNINSTALLKBxxxxxx$ (sometimes KB is replaced by Q in
the name). Delete the folders for the patches which you do no longer
need. The x stands for the patch number.
2. Delete the KBxxxxxx.LOG and Qxxxxxx.LOG files with the same number
from the WINDOWS folder as well.
3. In the Control Panel > Add and remove Programs double-click the
uninstall entries for the same patches and let Windows remove the
entries.
Also you can remove the C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$ folder to
remove uninstall information for the latest Service Pack. And see "How
to Remove the Windows XP Uninstallation Files"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308008).

 

[Toby]

To remove uninstall information for Windows Updates:
1. Open the Explorer and navigate to the WINDOWS folder. Find the
folders named $NTUNINSTALLKBxxxxxx$ (sometimes KB is replaced by Q in
the name). Delete the folders for the patches which you do no longer
need. The x stands for the patch number.
2. Delete the KBxxxxxx.LOG and Qxxxxxx.LOG files with the same number
from the WINDOWS folder as well.
3. In the Control Panel > Add and remove Programs double-click the
uninstall entries for the same patches and let Windows remove the
entries.
Also you can remove the C:\WINDOWS\$NTSERVICEPACKUNINSTALL$ folder to
remove uninstall information for the latest Service Pack. And see "How
to Remove the Windows XP Uninstallation Files"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308008).

Thank you for your quick reply, but please clarify, wouldn't that also
remove the patches? I want to remove the no longer needed uninstall info,
not the actual patches.

#
T.

 

[Stan Brown]

Thank you for your quick reply, but please clarify, wouldn't that also
remove the patches? I want to remove the no longer needed uninstall info,
not the actual patches.

The instructions as given will do what you want.

They remove the ability to uninstall the patches; they don't remove
the patches.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Done in the order that Thorsten has listed, all this will do is remove the
backup folder for uninstalling the update. It will not remove the patch
itself. If you want a more automated method. MVP Doug Knox has a tool on his
site under WinXP Utilities (www.dougknox.com) that will do all the work for
you.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Sam]

I too have a lot of backup uninstall folders and so appreciate the
information. There is also a folder under windows, named $hf_mig$ and is
38 mb in size. This folder appears to have eight KB security subfolders
(example kb834707) and with each of these sub folders having a very light
yellow icon color. Can this folder be deleted also?? Thanks, Sam


)

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I too have a lot of backup uninstall folders and so appreciate the
information. There is also a folder under windows, named $hf_mig$ and is
38 mb in size. This folder appears to have eight KB security subfolders
(example kb834707) and with each of these sub folders having a very light
yellow icon color. Can this folder be deleted also?? Thanks, Sam

You should not delete it. This is for to handle file updates via the
Windows Update. See "Description of the contents of Windows XP Service
Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 software update packages"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=824994).

 

[Sam]

Many thanks for the information. Have a good weekend, Sam.

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

Many thanks for the information. Have a good weekend, Sam.

You are welcome.

 

[Guest]

--
xp-pro,sp2,
computer newbie

i have question, you say open explorer and go to windows, how is that done?
please explain the steps involved to get there. thanks

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Double-click "My Computer", double-click "C:\", double click on the Windows
folder, and you are there. If you cannot see the Windows folder, it is
because you are set to keep hidden and system folder from view. Click
Tools/Folder Options, and on the View tab, set the options so you can see
hidden and system files. Specifically:

Enable (check) "Display the contents of system folders"
Enable (check) "Show hidden files and folders"
Disable (uncheck): "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"

I also recommend that you disable (uncheck) "hide extensions for known file
types". You could also just type C:\Windows into the address bar at the top
of Windows Explorer. You could also just click start/run and type C:\Windows
and hit enter.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

thanks
--
xp-pro,sp2,
computer newbie

Hi,

Double-click "My Computer", double-click "C:\", double click on the Windows
folder, and you are there. If you cannot see the Windows folder, it is
because you are set to keep hidden and system folder from view. Click
Tools/Folder Options, and on the View tab, set the options so you can see
hidden and system files. Specifically:

Enable (check) "Display the contents of system folders"
Enable (check) "Show hidden files and folders"
Disable (uncheck): "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"

I also recommend that you disable (uncheck) "hide extensions for known file
types". You could also just type C:\Windows into the address bar at the top
of Windows Explorer. You could also just click start/run and type C:\Windows
and hit enter.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org