overload of MSP files

[DC Gringo]

My system is holding nearly 18GB of msp files such as 1af7f61.msp.
Almost all are 18,760MB in size and there are hundreds of them. I'm led to
believe by what I'm reading about the Windows Installer that these are
perhaps installation configuration files with "possible" effects on my
system that "may" require reinstallation of the programs that I "clean-up"
with the Cleanup utility.

Will the clean-up utility delete them if I select all programs to clean up?
Can I delete them manually? What will happen if I do?
Why would there be 18GB of these files in there when I have only have less
than 5 GB of programs on my computer?

_____
DC G

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

This may help identify the application that is creating these files.

File Extension Details for .MSP
http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=msp&Search=Search

 

[DC Gringo]

Bert, yes, I'm aware of this site...I already know the source of these files
is the Windows Installer. The files are in the c:\windows\installer
directory

I need the answers to my specific questions if I'm going to take some action
to deal with my problem, which is that 1/3 of my 60 GB hard drive is full of
these files.

_____
DC G

 

[Guest]

I would say you don't need them: they are windows installer files so unless
you see a windows installer dialog frequently that you didn't want, you can
probably delete it.

 

[R. McCarty]

I wouldn't move/delete them. They will most definitely break any
attempt at updating certain applications. Specifically, Office Update
will fail and cause you to have to take some major steps to get
things lined up again.

 

[PopS]

Try a faux-deletion method and see if they're needed files.
First, back them up someplace as an easy way to restore them.

Simply copy them to a new location of your choosing, maybe to a
CD, and then delete them. or,

just rename them. That's the same as deleting them to any
program that might be looking for them. Test for a reasonable
length of time and if nothing goes wrong, get rid of them
completely.

Start with a few at a time, and as you gain confidence and
nothing goes wrong, move up to larger batches. Or, if you know
how, write a batch file to rename them for you and put them back
afterwards if needed.

You're pretty unlikely to get into any situation that would
prevent hte machine from starting, so you should be able to bring
them back at any time. If you're comfortable with doing so, work
from the Command Prompt is fastest, but from within windows
should work fine too.

Pop's opinions, off the top of my head.

 

[DC Gringo]

The backup method seems the most logical, but I'd still like a better
explanation and a more definitive solution. Can I be the only one with 18GB
of msp files that's hogging my hard drive?

______
DC G

 

[Malke]

The backup method seems the most logical, but I'd still like a better
explanation and a more definitive solution. Can I be the only one
with 18GB of msp files that's hogging my hard drive?

The "only one" out of the millions of people using XP on computers?
Probably not, but this isn't a common occurrence. It is not normal
behavior. Something on your machine is creating the files. If you
aren't able to troubleshoot this yourself, have a professional look at
it.When you asked this same question before (can't remember exactly
when but I remember the question), you basically got the answer that
only you were going to be able to troubleshoot this because only you
can see your computer. That answer hasn't changed.

Back up your data and then do as suggested and back up the .msi files
and then delete them. Do a clean-boot of Windows and watch what
happens. Then add processes/programs back one at a time and watch what
happens. When the .msi files appear (if they do), you'll know what is
causing them.

Malke

 

[pman123]

You're not the only one with this problem. I'm experiencing the same
thing, but with my work computer, and my IT department is understaffed,
so I'm left investigating this thing on my own. DC Gringo, did you ever
find the root cause or establish a definitive solution? Is there a
pattern (naming, size, etc) to which ones are safe to delete and which
ones, if any, cause massive problems? I'm hesitant to do 'too much' as
it's not my own computer, but it's clogging up my C:\ drive to an
unacceptable degree. This thread is the closest I've seen to a
solution, but not really a reason for the cause.
Anyone? Bueller?