SP3 Cleanup Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter skeet3
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skeet3

I'd been running XP Pro SP2 for several years and always kept it properly
updated. I've recently successfully installed SP3. I notice that a
significant number (140 or so) of the SP2 critical updates were removed from
the Add or Remove Program listing during the SP3 installation. However, the
uninstall folders still remain in the Windows directory, example KB886185 is
no longer in the Add - Remove listing, yet the $NtUninstallKB886185$ folder
is still showing under Windows.

Can these uninstall folders be safely deleted, and the associated
uninstaller reference issues be removed from the registry.

Thanks
 
They ( uninstallers ) are left in case Sp3 is rolled back. Simply removing
the folders is OK. What you don't want to do is modify the contents of
the $hf_mig$ folder in the \Windows path.
 
I'd been running XP Pro SP2 for several years and always kept it properly
updated. I've recently successfully installed SP3. I notice that a
significant number (140 or so) of the SP2 critical updates were removed from
the Add or Remove Program listing during the SP3 installation. However, the
uninstall folders still remain in the Windows directory, example KB886185 is
no longer in the Add - Remove listing, yet the $NtUninstallKB886185$ folder
is still showing under Windows.

Can these uninstall folders be safely deleted, and the associated
uninstaller reference issues be removed from the registry.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Run SP3 for a few months, use your apps, do things you normally would
do. If all seems well, you can remove the old KB folders from
C:\Windows and their entries from add/remove programs.

- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)
 
The $NTUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders and associated files in these
folders are created during each Windows Update that is installed
on your PC and are safe to remove if you do not plan to uninstall
any security or hotfix updates.

Since you have installed SP3 and noticed that the Add/Remove
list is significantly smaller, which is because SP3 removed the links
to uninstall a large number of SP2 updates. All of these
$NTUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders can be removed. See the article
below to identify these old updates:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/

For any updates not in the list above, you can still delete but keep
in mind that once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install
a patch or update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.

Other folders that may be on your hard drive:
$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$
$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$
Created if and when you installed IE7.
If you delete them you will no longer be able to uninstall IE7

$NtServicePackUninstall$
Created when you install a service pack.
If you are currently using XP with SP2
then if you remove the folder you can no longer
uninstall SP2. When and if you install SP3 this folder will be
deleted and replaced by a new SP3 $NtServicePackUninstall$
folder to be used if you uninstall SP3.
If you have already installed SP3 then I would leave
this folder as is, at least until you are certain that no bugs have
cropped up after installing SP3.
Note: Once you delete this folder you are stuck with SP3

Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
(and any folders that are part of/contained in $hf_mig$)
It is a necessary folder for future updates

Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

And:
Is it safe to delete the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders:
http://www.pagestart.com/ntuninstall.html
 
Thanks PA Bear, appreciate those links.
I'd been pretty reluctant about putting SP3 on my machine until recently.
Primarily due to fact I was on dial up and really didn't want my phone tied
up for 6 hours, and, of course, there were the reports of some real
disasters. But I kept up with your and other MVP's comments and suggestions
ever since SP3 was first offered and finally gave it a try last week with my
recently installed high speed service. I really hadn't been reading post
installation comments.

Didn't have a bit of problem with the installation - it even worked with
McAfee real-time scanning running. They assured me it wouldn't effect
anything but I was still skeptical. I know, I know - McAfee is a piece of
junk according to everyone, but I've been running it (Virus Scan only - not
all the other junk) for 15 years or so, and knock on wood - it's done me
right!

Thanks again,
Al - skeet3
 
YW & thanks for your feedback.
Thanks PA Bear, appreciate those links.
I'd been pretty reluctant about putting SP3 on my machine until recently.
Primarily due to fact I was on dial up and really didn't want my phone
tied
up for 6 hours, and, of course, there were the reports of some real
disasters. But I kept up with your and other MVP's comments and
suggestions
ever since SP3 was first offered and finally gave it a try last week with
my
recently installed high speed service. I really hadn't been reading post
installation comments.

Didn't have a bit of problem with the installation - it even worked with
McAfee real-time scanning running. They assured me it wouldn't effect
anything but I was still skeptical. I know, I know - McAfee is a piece of
junk according to everyone, but I've been running it (Virus Scan only -
not
all the other junk) for 15 years or so, and knock on wood - it's done me
right!

Thanks again,
Al - skeet3
Click to expand...
 
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