Help - how to removed those Windows Update UnInstalled files

[RoveR]

Hi all,

Once a Windows Update patch is run successfully in XP it creates a folder
(e.g. $NtUninstallKB824141$) to contain the files needed to uninstall that
patch.

Questions:
1) Is it safe to removed some ancient ones?
2) Is there a tool to do this clean up task? After a while, the Windows
directory is filled with these stale stuff. I want to recover the disk
space.

Thanks.

Rover

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the Windows Update
Hotfixes (i.e. $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ files shown in Windows Explorer)
and cleanup your Add/Remove Programs list, visit MS-MVP Doug Knox's
excellent website for instructions.

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

Note: Doug's program only removes the uninstall files and Hotfix entries
in the Add/Remove Programs listing. It does not remove the
actual updates.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi all,
|
| Once a Windows Update patch is run successfully in XP it creates a folder
| (e.g. $NtUninstallKB824141$) to contain the files needed to uninstall that
| patch.
|
| Questions:
| 1) Is it safe to removed some ancient ones?
| 2) Is there a tool to do this clean up task? After a while, the Windows
| directory is filled with these stale stuff. I want to recover the disk
| space.
|
| Thanks.
|
| Rover

 

[R. McCarty]

If your system is stable and some amount of use/time has lapsed since they
were installed, it's safe to remove the folders.

After deleting them, go to Control Panel Add/Remove Programs - scroll
through the list to the end and click each Windows entry,then click the
Remove button.

XP will indicate removal is not possible, would you like to remove the
entry from the list, Click OK. If any remove actions don't present that
message do not remove those.

Also if you have a folder $NtServicePackUninstall$ - Do not remove it
from the C:\Windows folder. If you remove this one, you won't be able
to uninstall a Service Pack. This particular folder should be moved or
saved to CD-R media.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Once a Windows Update patch is run successfully in XP it creates a folder
(e.g. $NtUninstallKB824141$) to contain the files needed to uninstall that
patch.

Questions:
1) Is it safe to removed some ancient ones?

Yes - once satisfied you will not want to do the uninstall. I usually
give them a month

2) Is there a tool to do this clean up task?

Nothing specific, but it is only a few moments to open Explorer (Show
hidden files on), highlight them collectively, and hold down Shift while
hitting Delete (so they do not go to the Recycle bin).

If you then try the uninstalls in Add/Remove they will fail, and it will
offer to remove the entry