SP3 and other Updates

[Ragab]

Hi
I have just installed WindowsXp Professional SP2. Then updated it to SP3
from Windows Automatic Update. I observed that there r some folders in
Windows directory that takes a hug disk space. These folders are:
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles ---> about 570MB
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download ---> about 730MB
"the Download folder contains some subfolders like
1ece269e23f4ef02dbea7dfa6a74a7d0"
* And there r about 10 Hidden Folders in Windows directory that takes names
like $NtUninstallKB888111WXPSP2$ and their size on disk is about 350MB
*** My Question is: Can I remove these folders to free up disk space? Note:
I won't uninstall SP3 or any other updates that have been installed.
Thanks for help

 

[Nepatsfan]

Hi
I have just installed WindowsXp Professional SP2. Then updated it to SP3
from Windows Automatic Update. I observed that there r some folders in
Windows directory that takes a hug disk space. These folders are:
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles ---> about 570MB
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download ---> about 730MB
"the Download folder contains some subfolders like
1ece269e23f4ef02dbea7dfa6a74a7d0"
* And there r about 10 Hidden Folders in Windows directory that takes names
like $NtUninstallKB888111WXPSP2$ and their size on disk is about 350MB
*** My Question is: Can I remove these folders to free up disk space? Note:
I won't uninstall SP3 or any other updates that have been installed.
Thanks for help

You'll want to leave the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles folder in place. If you're
pressed for space you can compress this folder by right clicking, selecting
Properties from the menu, and clicking on the Advanced button.

You can safely delete the folders contained in the
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder.

If you're confident that you won't need to uninstall SP3, or any subsequent
updates, you can delete the folders with names that start with $NtUninstallKB.
You can also delete the folder named $NtServicePackUninstall$. Do not delete the
folder named $hf_mig$.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Ragab]

Thank You
I did what u said. Just have a question, why should I leave
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles Folder? What is its value and what does it
contains? I thought it contains SP2 files.
Anyway I compressed it and now its about 370MB. It was about 570MB
Thanks for help

 

[Nepatsfan]

XP has a feature called Windows File Protection. It's there in case a critical
system file is improperly replaced by an installed program. Windows File
Protection will check the version stored in the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
folder and replace the file if needed.

If you're looking for more info you might want to do a Google search for Windows
File Protection and System File Checker.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Ragab]

Thank you very much
--
Ragab

XP has a feature called Windows File Protection. It's there in case a critical
system file is improperly replaced by an installed program. Windows File
Protection will check the version stored in the C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
folder and replace the file if needed.

If you're looking for more info you might want to do a Google search for Windows
File Protection and System File Checker.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Nepatsfan]

You're welcome.

Nepatsfan

Thank you very much