Windows XP Hotfix

[Neville]

Recently I checked my Add and remove programs feature. I
found about 25 to 30 new entries "Windows XP Hotfix" with
a list of numbers.
Con someone explain what these entries mean and why there
are there.
thanks

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You should not be tempted to "uninstall" any "Hotfixes" listed in the
Add or Remove Programs section. They are listed there in case
your computer does not function properly after they are installed.
Uninstalling them will uninstall the actual patch which was downloaded
from the Windows Update website.

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the
Hotfixes (i.e. $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ files shown in Windows Explorer)
and cleanup your Add/Remove Programs list, visit MS-MVP Doug Knox's
excellent website for instructions.

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

Note: Doug's program only removes the uninstall files and Hotfix entries
in the Add/Remove Programs listing. It does not remove the
actual updates.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Recently I checked my Add and remove programs feature. I
| found about 25 to 30 new entries "Windows XP Hotfix" with
| a list of numbers.
| Con someone explain what these entries mean and why there
| are there.
| thanks

 

[cammy]

-----Original Message-----
Recently I checked my Add and remove programs feature. I
found about 25 to 30 new entries "Windows XP Hotfix" with
a list of numbers.
Con someone explain what these entries mean and why there
are there.
thanks
.
If you are in Windows XP are you using the automatic

update feature? This means that you are downloading
automatic "hotfixes" as they become available from the
Microsoft site. They actually should be making things
better and not causing any problems.

 

[Tom Swift]

Those are the critical updates that you installed from Windows Update. Do
not uninstall them. If seeing all those entries upsets your sense of
aesthetics (;-> you can remove them. Here's how:

You'll need to unhide 'hidden' files. Then go to c:\windows and you'll see
lots of folders that start with $NtUninstall...those are the updates. If you
are certain that you will not want to uninstall the updates, you can delete
the folders. Once deleted, go back to Add or Remove Programs and try to
uninstall the updates. You'll be presented with a dialog box informing you
that the update has been removed and asking if you would like to remove the
entry in Add or Remove Programs.

Some tips:
1. Do this procedure to one update at a time.
2. Before you delete a folder, make sure it has a corresponding entry in Add
or Remove Programs.
3. After you're done, restart your computer. This is not really necessary,
but I like to do this when making certain changes to my computer, just to be
sure that I will be able to restart my computer without problems.
4. Run your computer for a few hours (or even a few days). No problems? Then
you can safely delete the folders from your Recycle Bin.

Tom Swift