delete windows xp backup directories?

[LHDMan]

Hi,

Every time I update windows xp, I get additional folders
in the windows directory named $NtUnintallXXXXXXX. These
folders are taking up quite a bit of my hard drive. I'm
wondering if they are doing anything other than just
sitting around. My computer is working fine, and I don't
intend to uninstall any patches. Any reason not to delete
these folders and open up some hard drive space?

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Every time I update windows xp, I get additional folders
in the windows directory named $NtUnintallXXXXXXX. These
folders are taking up quite a bit of my hard drive. I'm
wondering if they are doing anything other than just
sitting around. My computer is working fine, and I don't
intend to uninstall any patches. Any reason not to delete
these folders and open up some hard drive space?

Hi

Yes, those can be deleted as long as you don't think you will need
to uninstall any of the hotfixes later on. I suggest you use a tool
for this (and then afterward manually delete any leftovers).


You can use this utility by fellow MVP Doug Knox:

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

Alternatively (Windows 2000 and XP):

In the link below there is VBScript that I have written that will
remove the uninstall folder (and the Add/Remove Programs entry if
one exists) for all hotfixes that creates $ntuninstall... folders
under the Windows folder (that means that it will e.g. not remove
uninstall information for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
updates). The script will work on both Win2k and WinXP.

http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

Note: The script will not uninstall the updates themselves, only the
uninstall folder and the Add/Remove Programs entry.


After running the above, you can also delete the folder
%windir%\$xpsp1hfm$\ if it exists.

(%windir% is typically C:\Windows)

 

[Rock]

Hi,

Every time I update windows xp, I get additional folders
in the windows directory named $NtUnintallXXXXXXX. These
folders are taking up quite a bit of my hard drive. I'm
wondering if they are doing anything other than just
sitting around. My computer is working fine, and I don't
intend to uninstall any patches. Any reason not to delete
these folders and open up some hard drive space?

No, if you don't intend to remove the patches then you can safely delete
these backup folders. After that go to Add/Remove programs, click on
each patch entry whose folder you deleted, and click remove. This will
remove the entry in Add/Remove programs. Only do this after you have
deleted the uninstall folder, otherwise the patch will be removed.