Blue lettered folders in my C:\Windows folder

[Guest]

I have many, many folders (about 95) in my Windows folder on my hard drive
that have BLUE letters and numbers. They all start with $NtUninstallK and
then a letter, six numbers and ending in a $.

Example: $NtUninstallKB823182$

In each of these folders are several files, one of which is folder named
'spuninst' and they are dated with typically a 2003 or 2004 date.. March
12, 2003 etc. Can I get rid of these files safely? Just delete them? Or
is there a software pkg that will purge them safely?

Appreciate any info.

 

[Rishi]

Hello,

The blue lettered folders are actually compressed folder I believe (please
correct me if I am totally wrong). And no I don't believe that it is safe to
delete them either unless you are absolutely sure what they are and what
they do. They are all system folders mostly anything starting with $ sign
has something related to the system if my memory serves me right.

I believe that you can see these folders because you have enabled the option
of viewing system files and showing hidden files and folders. I also believe
that they are related to windows hotfixes etc (i.e. system files that are
downloaded after the initial install of windows or with the install of
windows).

And if you want to get rid of these folders (by that I mean hide them again)
just open up a explorer window (for example My Computer) > Tools > Folder
Options.. > View Tab > Uncheck display the contents of system folders (if
you wish) > Select 'Do not show hidden files and folders' > Click OK. This
should now hide those files.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Blue folders are compressed.
Not all blue folder can be safely deleted but the uninstall folders can be
safely deleted:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

 

[nsouza]

I believe if you run a disk cleanup it will ask if you want to remove
these. I could be wrong.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

This time you are wrong, Disk Clean-Up does not have an option to delete the
uninstall files.