how to move MSI files from C:\Windows to other disc partition?

[Lee]

Hello

My C: drive is out of space - so much so that I cannot install the latest
security updates. Can I remove the many installer-related files and
directories to another hard drive?

I have a 6 GB C: hard drive drive with just 35 MB free space and a 120GB
secondary hard drive with 34GB free space remaining.

Some months ago, I moved the locations for my web cache, windows swap file
and most applications onto the secondary drive but my latest windows
security updates have today failed due to lack of free space on the C:
drive. The Windows disk clean up applet finds nothing to remove.

I have deleted the contents of the windows and user temp folders.

Browsing around the C drive, I find a substantial number of folders and
files related to Windows Installer and Windows Update. These appear to be
cached files not actively used on a day-to-day basis.

I have 393 MB in 56 folders named similarly to $NtUninstallKB????????$. I
also have
1.2 GB in C:\Windows\Installer folder containing - 90 ????.msp files and 36
other folders with names that look like registry keys or something.

Can I move the location where MSI expects to find these files? If not, what
would happen if I chose to delete or compress these?

Thanks

Lee

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Lee,

6 GB is very small for a Windows partition. You may burn the "$Nt" folders to a CD and delete them from the hard drive. You'll need those "$Nt.." folders only if you plan to remove a service pack/update/hotfix. Do not delete the "$hf_mig$" anyway.

As for moving the C:\Windows\Installer folder to a different drive, the "Installer" paths are stored in various locations in the registry. If you plan to move the Installer folder to a different drive, you may need to update the registry (Search for every instance of "C:\Windows\Installer" and replace it with the new path). It's *highly* recommended to create a System Restore point *AND* a complete registry hive backup using ERUNT, before proceeding.

[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe

[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hello

My C: drive is out of space - so much so that I cannot install the latest
security updates. Can I remove the many installer-related files and
directories to another hard drive?

I have a 6 GB C: hard drive drive with just 35 MB free space and a 120GB
secondary hard drive with 34GB free space remaining.

Some months ago, I moved the locations for my web cache, windows swap file
and most applications onto the secondary drive but my latest windows
security updates have today failed due to lack of free space on the C:
drive. The Windows disk clean up applet finds nothing to remove.

I have deleted the contents of the windows and user temp folders.

Browsing around the C drive, I find a substantial number of folders and
files related to Windows Installer and Windows Update. These appear to be
cached files not actively used on a day-to-day basis.

I have 393 MB in 56 folders named similarly to $NtUninstallKB????????$. I
also have
1.2 GB in C:\Windows\Installer folder containing - 90 ????.msp files and 36
other folders with names that look like registry keys or something.

Can I move the location where MSI expects to find these files? If not, what
would happen if I chose to delete or compress these?

Thanks

Lee

 

[Lee]

[email protected]...
Hi Lee,

6 GB is very small for a Windows partition.

Yes, I know. It wasn't when I built this machine! I think I may have to
bite the bullet and buy a new machine but cannot afford to just now.

Thanks for all the other links - I will work my way through them and sort
out how best to do this.

Thanks for the rapid response

Lee

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

[email protected]...
Hi Lee,

6 GB is very small for a Windows partition.

Yes, I know. It wasn't when I built this machine! I think I may have to
bite the bullet and buy a new machine but cannot afford to just now.

Thanks for all the other links - I will work my way through them and sort
out how best to do this.

Thanks for the rapid response

Lee