Delete Update Files?

[LMO]

Hello All; as most of you no doubt, I have quite a few MS update files in my
Windows directory (named $NTUninstallxxxxxxx), left from the various MS
updates. Is it safe to delete the older ones, that aparrently are working
fines and will not be used (say 6 months or older)?
Thanks all.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Yes, those are the uninstall files and can be safely deleted:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

 

[Rock]

Hello All; as most of you no doubt, I have quite a few MS update files in
my Windows directory (named $NTUninstallxxxxxxx), left from the various MS
updates. Is it safe to delete the older ones, that aparrently are working
fines and will not be used (say 6 months or older)?
Thanks all.

No, I don't have quite a few. I delete the previous set after the next
round of updates, assuming everything is running ok. Know, though that if
they are deleted, you cannot remove that update. To be safe you could copy
to CD but if it doesn't blow up in month I wouldn't expect problems after
that.

After the uninstall folders are removed you can remove their entries in
add/remove programs. Just click on an update, it will give an error saying
it can't remove the update and offer to remove that entry.

Doug Knox has a utility to automate the removal of the uninstall folders and
their add/remove entries
http://www.dougknox.com/
Win XP Utilities
Remove Hotfix Backup Files

Do not remove the $hf_mig$ folder. It's needed for future updates.

 

[Martin]

Hello All; as most of you no doubt, I have quite a few MS update files in
my Windows directory (named $NTUninstallxxxxxxx), left from the various MS
updates. Is it safe to delete the older ones, that aparrently are working
fines and will not be used (say 6 months or older)?
Thanks all.

Take a look at http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

That utility will delete them for you and also remove the associated
registry entries - keeping your Add/Remove Programs list free from invalid
entries.

Martin.