Can these be deleted?

[Bob]

In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out
$NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also in
the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent
documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen to
find it.Thanks-Bob

 

[JS]

The $NtUninstall* folders and associated files in these folders are safe to
remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info, cookies,
temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows' tab listing check
the item types you want deleted.
Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
other/additional folders you want files deleted from.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

JS

 

[Bob]

The $NtUninstall* folders and associated files in these folders are safe to
remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info, cookies,
temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows' tab listing check
the item types you want deleted.
Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
other/additional folders you want files deleted from.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

JS


js-thanks for the reply.I assume that the kb files can't be deleted either. Thanks again

 

[brent3600]

I endorse the counsel from JS. In addition, I suggest you download the free
Microsoft tool Windows Installer Clean Up, which will show you what the
installation files are, and allow you to remove them. For example, you could
remove the installation files and backups for hotfixes installed months ago,
which you are never going to uninstall. Be careful with this one.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Bob,

To view the files - in Windows Explorer go to Tools/Folder Options/View.
From there select Show hidden files and folders, uncheck Hide extensions for
known file types and uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Accept
the warning, apply/ok then refresh (F5).

Once applied go to Documents and Settings....Local Settings, etc.

Added info for hotfixes:

Can Hotfixes be removed via Add or Remove? MVP Ronnie Vernon

Some of the Hotfixes (Mostly security updates) do not have an uninstall
feature, these will not appear in the Add and Remove list. If a Hotfix does
appear in the Add and Remove list then it can be uninstalled just like any
other program.

If you uninstall the Hotfix, you will lose the benefits of that patch. This
should only be done if you can determine that you are experiencing negative
effects from the particular Hotfix.

If you simply do not want them to appear in the Add and Remove list and you
are sure that you will not need the uninstall option, you can remove items
from that list by using a registry tweak.

Automated Edit:

Remove Hotfixes from Add or Remove (Line 193)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Manual Edit: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Expand this branch and look at the list. The Hotfixes are all listed by a
"Q" number that corresponds to the entry in the Add and Remove list. Make
sure that you back up each Key before deleting it.

Select the key and then select File/Export and include the Q number in the
name of the file. Right click the entries you want to remove and select
Delete.

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

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out
$NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted?

These are the uninstall files for hotfixes you've installed. They
can be safely removed, although if you do, you will never be able to
remove the associated hotfix.

My personal practice is never to remove them. Although I've never
needed one, I am more comfortable having them there, just in case.

If you are short of disk space and removing these (which aren't
terribly large) helps, my guess is that it will just turn out to be a
stopgap measure. Sooner or later (probably sooner than later) you will
need to bite the bullet and buy a bigger drive.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Ken: Once you've installed SP3, it doesn't remove the obsolete entries, so
it should be safe to delete them. Just make sure you don't delete anything
that still shows up under Add/Remove programs.

Tom
: :
:
: These are the uninstall files for hotfixes you've installed. They
: can be safely removed, although if you do, you will never be able to
: remove the associated hotfix.
:
: My personal practice is never to remove them. Although I've never
: needed one, I am more comfortable having them there, just in case.
:
: If you are short of disk space and removing these (which aren't
: terribly large) helps, my guess is that it will just turn out to be a
: stopgap measure. Sooner or later (probably sooner than later) you will
: need to bite the bullet and buy a bigger drive.
:
: --
: Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
: Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken: Once you've installed SP3, it doesn't remove the obsolete entries, so
it should be safe to delete them.

Yes, true--not only safe, but they will no longer be of any use.

Thanks for adding that, which I should have.

 

[Gerry]

JS

Doesn't installing SP3 remove most of these folders? I haven't installed
SP3 yet so I cannot check. You can also compress these files which gains
significant disk space but not so much as deleting them.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

It doesn't remove any of them.

: JS
:
: Doesn't installing SP3 remove most of these folders? I haven't installed
: SP3 yet so I cannot check. You can also compress these files which gains
: significant disk space but not so much as deleting them.
:
: --
: Regards.
:
: Gerry
: ~~~~
: FCA
: Stourport, England
: Enquire, plan and execute
: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:
:
: JS wrote:
: > The $NtUninstall* folders and associated files in these folders are
: > safe to remove,
: > however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch
: > or update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
: > I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of
: > folders and delete the older updates.
: > As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
: > Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
: > Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:
: > http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm
: >
: > Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,
: > cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows'
: > tab listing check the item types you want deleted.
: > Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
: > other/additional folders you want files deleted from.
: > http://www.ccleaner.com/
: >
: > JS
: >
: > : >> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start
: >> out $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be
: >> deleted? Also in
: >> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the
: >> recent documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I
: >> can't seen to
: >> find it.Thanks-Bob
:
:

 

[Gerry]

Right Tom. On my own machine they are compressed. Not removed.


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~