Is It Safe to Delete "$NtUninstall" Folders on WinXP?

[Deborah Able]

Hidden folders, with names beginning "$NtUninstall...,"
seem to be proliferating in my Windows Folder. Is it my
imagination that makes it appear as through the number of
these folders is growing? Can anyone explain their
purpose? It appears that WinXP is currently accessing all
of these folders, but, is it possible to delete some of
the oldest ones without harming the system?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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

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

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


| Hidden folders, with names beginning "$NtUninstall...,"
| seem to be proliferating in my Windows Folder. Is it my
| imagination that makes it appear as through the number of
| these folders is growing? Can anyone explain their
| purpose? It appears that WinXP is currently accessing all
| of these folders, but, is it possible to delete some of
| the oldest ones without harming the system?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Those are the uninstall files for the Windows Updates installed on
your computer.
They can be safely deleted:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi Deborah,

Those folders contain the uninstall information for Windows hotfixes,
updates, etc. If you are certain that you aren't going to be needing/wanting
to uninstall the hotfix/update that each folder pertains to, then it is
quite safe to delete them.



Regards,