Safe to delete the uninstall directories?

[Bruce Bille]

I have a laptop with a fairly limited (6 Gb) hard drive.
I conduct frequent archiving and maintenance to rid the
drive of junk files. I am wondering if it is safe to
delete the $NTUninstall... directories that show up in
the Windows directory. They have accumulated to be a
significant storage burden.

If the only implication is that I can't uninstall a
program, that's fine, since the apps that I have are all
wanted and running fine. Are there other problems with
deleting these directories?

Look forward to your replies... but please don't tell me
to try it and let everyone else know about the
consequences!!!

 

[Nicholas]

Bruce --

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the
Hotfixes (i.e. $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ files shown in Windows Explorer)
and clean-up your Add/Remove Programs list, visit MS-MVP Doug Knox's
excellent website for instructions.

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


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.

Remove Hotfix Backup files and the Add/Remove Programs Registry entries
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm


--
Nicholas

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| I have a laptop with a fairly limited (6 Gb) hard drive.
| I conduct frequent archiving and maintenance to rid the
| drive of junk files. I am wondering if it is safe to
| delete the $NTUninstall... directories that show up in
| the Windows directory. They have accumulated to be a
| significant storage burden.
|
| If the only implication is that I can't uninstall a
| program, that's fine, since the apps that I have are all
| wanted and running fine. Are there other problems with
| deleting these directories?
|
| Look forward to your replies... but please don't tell me
| to try it and let everyone else know about the
| consequences!!!

 

[Bruce Bille]

Nicholas,

Thank you for your prompt and accurate reply. I will
give this a shot.