Hotfix files-WinXP

[Tom]

Whenever I receive a windows update, a new hotfix file is
placed in the windows folder. SInce these are of a
substantial number and size, can I safely delte them?
Thanks

 

[harly]

Hi Tom, if you mean the ones that sit in the begining of
the Windows directory and are hidden, i guess you can . I
did and have had no probs.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

What kind of Hotfixes are they? Security/Critical Updates should **always** be accepted. Just because there are a number of them please don't disregard them as someone else has suggested.

 

[cimex]

If they have been installed, and you are satisfied that you will not want to
uninstall them, then go to Add/Remove Programs and remove them.

 

[Lem]

Whenever I receive a windows update, a new hotfix file is
placed in the windows folder. SInce these are of a
substantial number and size, can I safely delte them?
Thanks

If you mean the files with names like $NTUninstallQnnnnnn, these files
contain the information to uninstall hotfixes and security updates that
you may have installed. As explained by MVP Alex Nichol:

What to do, for hotfix Qnnnnnn or KBnnnnnn is to check it at
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;nnnnnn then if you decide
you will not want to remove it, delete the corresponding folder
Windows\$NTUninstallQnnnnnn$
Once done, if you *then* try it in add/remove [using Add/Remove Programs
in the Control Panel], it will (naturally) fail, and you will get an
offer to delete that entry [in the list of programs that can Added or
Removed].

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Your posting is utterly wrong and would cause havoc to anyone's system. If you do not know the proper answer to a solution, please do not post in the future. Better still, don't post to any MS NG.

If you go to Add/Remove Programs - those Hotfixes are going to be uninstalled.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

"Hotfixes" are the updates you installed from the Windows Update
website. Do not be tempted to remove them or you will uninstall
the actual updates.

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the
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

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| Whenever I receive a windows update, a new hotfix file is
| placed in the windows folder. SInce these are of a
| substantial number and size, can I safely delte them?
| Thanks

 

[NobodyMan]

If they have been installed, and you are satisfied that you will not want to
uninstall them, then go to Add/Remove Programs and remove them.

My god you just gave horrible advice. If he goes to Add/Remove
programs and removes the hotfixes, that box will once again have all
the security holes the hotfixes removed!

Why don't you just recommend they take out their hard drive and beat
on it with a hammer for about an hour? That would also permamently
remove any affect of the hotfixes.

 

[cimex]

That sounds like a lot of work!
Seriously, mea maxima culpa.