Multiple copies of operating system files

[Guest]

I am looking for ways to reduce the amount of space taken up on my boot
drive. I have noticed that there are often many copies of what appears to be
the same file in various directories on that drive. I am using Windows XP
Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 2.

Just to focus on one example, but there are literally hundreds of cases -
shell32.dll.

There is a copy on windows/system32 - that I would understand/suspect is the
'operational' copy.

I also find copies of the same file, at least one of which is of the same
date and size, while others are of older dates and normally smaller sizes on
such directories as :

WINDOWS/ServicePackFiles
WINDOWS\$hf_mig$\KB890047\SP2QFE and three other similarly named KBnnnnnn
directories
WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$
WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB826939$ and five other similarly named
UnistallKBnnnnnn directories

Do I really need all these multiple copies of this one file. If I am happy
with my configuration and it has been stable for some time, can I go ahead
and delete all these multiple copies of files - just deleting all but the
system32 copy of this one file would save me about 105M, and that is just one
file.

On a briefer but related issue - should I be upgrading by buying a more
recent XP, or am I being kept up to date by downloading the Service Packs,
and being on automatic update. I am a student so really can't afford much
but on the other hand don't want to be missing out on good stuff that may
only be available thru buying the 2006/2007 version. I am also concerned
about ongoing compatability with new software that I might buy.

I look forward to the great responses I know that I will get here.

Best regards

 

[Dave Patrick]

:
|I am looking for ways to reduce the amount of space taken up on my boot
| drive. I have noticed that there are often many copies of what appears to
be
| the same file in various directories on that drive. I am using Windows XP
| Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 2.
|
| Just to focus on one example, but there are literally hundreds of cases -
| shell32.dll.
|
| There is a copy on windows/system32 - that I would understand/suspect is
the
| 'operational' copy.
|
| I also find copies of the same file, at least one of which is of the same
| date and size, while others are of older dates and normally smaller sizes
on
| such directories as :
|
| WINDOWS/ServicePackFiles
*** Windows XP will use the \ServicePackFiles folder in the event you Add
components to the system. Best to leave this folder.


| WINDOWS\$hf_mig$\KB890047\SP2QFE and three other similarly named KBnnnnnn
| directories
| WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$
| WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB826939$ and five other similarly named
| UnistallKBnnnnnn directories
*** Don't delete the $hf_mig$ directory as this is a general distribution
release store. The others are hotfix and service pack uninstall routines. If
you're sure you'll never need to back down then you can delete them. You can
delete the keys for them from;
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
or use the Add/Remove Control Panel applet to remove the entries.

When updates are installed the \servicepackfiles and \dllcache folders are
updated with the new versions. SFC pulls from these.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...p/all/proddocs/en-us/system_file_checker.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/system_file_protection.mspx

| Do I really need all these multiple copies of this one file. If I am
happy
| with my configuration and it has been stable for some time, can I go ahead
| and delete all these multiple copies of files - just deleting all but the
| system32 copy of this one file would save me about 105M, and that is just
one
| file.
|
| On a briefer but related issue - should I be upgrading by buying a more
| recent XP,
*** No

or am I being kept up to date by downloading the Service Packs,
| and being on automatic update.
*** Yes

I am a student so really can't afford much
| but on the other hand don't want to be missing out on good stuff that may
| only be available thru buying the 2006/2007 version. I am also concerned
| about ongoing compatability with new software that I might buy.
|
| I look forward to the great responses I know that I will get here.
|
| Best regards
| --
| Philip Hunt
| Graewood Business Services, Kwinana, Perth, Western Australia


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Guest]

Thank you Dave

I am concerned though that you seem to have focussed on my reference to
directories. Does XP actually need all the duplicated files in the
ServicePackFiles directory and the $hf_mig$ directory or does it simply need
the presence of the directories?

Best regards

Philip
--
Graewood Business Services, Kwinana, Perth, Western Australia

:
|I am looking for ways to reduce the amount of space taken up on my boot
| drive. I have noticed that there are often many copies of what appears to
be
| the same file in various directories on that drive. I am using Windows XP
| Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 2.
|
| Just to focus on one example, but there are literally hundreds of cases -
| shell32.dll.
|
| There is a copy on windows/system32 - that I would understand/suspect is
the
| 'operational' copy.
|
| I also find copies of the same file, at least one of which is of the same
| date and size, while others are of older dates and normally smaller sizes
on
| such directories as :
|
| WINDOWS/ServicePackFiles
*** Windows XP will use the \ServicePackFiles folder in the event you Add
components to the system. Best to leave this folder.


| WINDOWS\$hf_mig$\KB890047\SP2QFE and three other similarly named KBnnnnnn
| directories
| WINDOWS\$NtServicePackUninstall$
| WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB826939$ and five other similarly named
| UnistallKBnnnnnn directories
*** Don't delete the $hf_mig$ directory as this is a general distribution
release store. The others are hotfix and service pack uninstall routines. If
you're sure you'll never need to back down then you can delete them. You can
delete the keys for them from;
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
or use the Add/Remove Control Panel applet to remove the entries.

When updates are installed the \servicepackfiles and \dllcache folders are
updated with the new versions. SFC pulls from these.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...p/all/proddocs/en-us/system_file_checker.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/system_file_protection.mspx

| Do I really need all these multiple copies of this one file. If I am
happy
| with my configuration and it has been stable for some time, can I go ahead
| and delete all these multiple copies of files - just deleting all but the
| system32 copy of this one file would save me about 105M, and that is just
one
| file.
|
| On a briefer but related issue - should I be upgrading by buying a more
| recent XP,
*** No

or am I being kept up to date by downloading the Service Packs,
| and being on automatic update.
*** Yes

I am a student so really can't afford much
| but on the other hand don't want to be missing out on good stuff that may
| only be available thru buying the 2006/2007 version. I am also concerned
| about ongoing compatability with new software that I might buy.
|
| I look forward to the great responses I know that I will get here.
|
| Best regards
| --
| Philip Hunt
| Graewood Business Services, Kwinana, Perth, Western Australia


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Dave Patrick]

Deleting them will break things. I'd buy more drive space if you're running
out.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thank you Dave
|
| I am concerned though that you seem to have focussed on my reference to
| directories. Does XP actually need all the duplicated files in the
| ServicePackFiles directory and the $hf_mig$ directory or does it simply
need
| the presence of the directories?
|
| Best regards
|
| Philip
| --
| Graewood Business Services, Kwinana, Perth, Western Australia

 

[blacklotus90]

You may not be able to remove every duplicate file, but from the way it
sounds you are looking to clean up your dlls. There are numerous DLL
cleaners available on the internet which eill allow you to manage and
clean up your DLLs. I personally recommend WinOptimizer, the 30day
trial is here:
http://www.ashampoo.com/frontend/products/php/product.php?session_langid=2&idstring=1306
There is also 1 Click PC Fix:
http://www.download.com/1-Click-PC-Fix-2006/3000-2086_4-10447386.html
and DLL Toys:
http://www.download.com/DLL-Toys-International-Edition/3000-2248_4-10439928.html?tag=lst-0-5