C:\WINDOWS\Installer directory contents

[John]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3.

I recently converted my C: partition from FAT32 to NTFS. The conversion
ran smoothly with no error messages. I have a full backup of the C:
partition from before I ran the convert program.

I've found that there is nothing in the C:\WINDOWS\Installer directory
other than the few OS updates I've installed since the conversion. My
pre-conversion backup of that directory contains lots of stuff from the
day I built the system up through the date of the backup.

I have many desktop and start menu shortcuts which have lost their icon
associations. I ran Norton Utilities' WinDoctor and found out that the
shortcuts in question were looking for icons in the C:\WINDOWS\Installer
directory.

I can easily copy everything from the backup into the current directory.
Is it safe to do this, or will doing this cause new problems? Thanks!

John

 

[JS]

I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3.

I recently converted my C: partition from FAT32 to NTFS. The conversion
ran smoothly with no error messages. I have a full backup of the C:
partition from before I ran the convert program.

I've found that there is nothing in the C:\WINDOWS\Installer directory
other than the few OS updates I've installed since the conversion. My
pre-conversion backup of that directory contains lots of stuff from the
day I built the system up through the date of the backup.

I have many desktop and start menu shortcuts which have lost their icon
associations. I ran Norton Utilities' WinDoctor and found out that the
shortcuts in question were looking for icons in the C:\WINDOWS\Installer
directory.

I can easily copy everything from the backup into the current directory.
Is it safe to do this, or will doing this cause new problems? Thanks!

John

What kind of backup program did you use?
Did you run any type of cleaner software after the "Convert" from FAT to
NTFS?

The C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder contains the programs
necessary to uninstall a number (but not all) of your applications.
There are some files in this folder that are safe to remove but only
with the proper utility, which is why I asked if you used a "cleaner"
utility.

Yes you can and most likely should copy the file from the backup to the
now mostly empty folder (but create another backup to a separate lactation
so as to not accidentally delete your existing back) then copy the missing
files
and folders back.

Worth reading:
Windows Installer Folder - Is it safe to delete
http://www.pagestart.com/windowsinstallerfolder.html

MSIZAP: The real power of using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
http://www.pagestart.com/msizap.html

 

[John]

What kind of backup program did you use?
Did you run any type of cleaner software after the "Convert" from FAT to
NTFS?

The C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder contains the programs
necessary to uninstall a number (but not all) of your applications.
There are some files in this folder that are safe to remove but only
with the proper utility, which is why I asked if you used a "cleaner"
utility.

Yes you can and most likely should copy the file from the backup to the
now mostly empty folder (but create another backup to a separate lactation
so as to not accidentally delete your existing back) then copy the missing
files
and folders back.

Worth reading:
Windows Installer Folder - Is it safe to delete
http://www.pagestart.com/windowsinstallerfolder.html

MSIZAP: The real power of using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
http://www.pagestart.com/msizap.html

I used BounceBack Express for the backup. It's a program which came with
my Seagate 360GB External HD. I didn't run any cleanup program after
converting the partition.

John