saving updates files elsewhere

[Jeff Malka]

I was told it would be wise to save XP update files elsewhere. The rationale
is that in case of a re-install I would not loose the updates in the system
drive and have to download them again - a pain since I am still on dialup. I
would therefore like to save them to a CD.

Where are these files? After transferring them to a CD, is it OK to delete
them from the system drive?

Thanks.

 

[Jeff Malka]

Thanks. I used Windows update. I have a /program Files/windowsupdate
folder, but it has no update files, so I guess they were automatically
deleted. Nothing to backup therefore. Too bad. Sounded like a good idea to
avoid redownloading them again on my slow dialup modem.

My Windows folder has a bunch of folders named $NtUninstall.......$. I
thought hat might be the downloaded updates. Are these safe to delete?

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Thanks. I used Windows update. I have a /program Files/windowsupdate
folder, but it has no update files, so I guess they were automatically
deleted. Nothing to backup therefore. Too bad. Sounded like a good idea to
avoid redownloading them again on my slow dialup modem.

It =is= a good idea .. pity MS made it so ^%£$$# difficult. It's not
like asking for a place to store/keep the downloaded files would be a
tough programming job. I wouldn't mind so much if SP2 (which should have
them all on one nice CD file) didn't keep vanishing over the event
horizon at a rate of knots.

My Windows folder has a bunch of folders named $NtUninstall.......$. I
thought hat might be the downloaded updates. Are these safe to delete?

Those are the (compressed, on NTFS volumes) files you need to remove the
hotfix, and put things back as they were. If you are =sure= you don't
want/need to remove the fix, yes, you can delete them. If you try to
'remove' the hotfix (from add/remove programs) after deleting the
uninstall files, you'll get the option of removing the add/remove entry
instead.