Strange Folders

[Geoff Lane]

I've got XP home loaded on my laptop; within C:\WINDOWS\ I have 38
folders with names similar to $NtUninstallQ815021$

Anyone any idea what these are for? I assume it is something to do
with uninstalling but there are not enough to relate to programs.

Geoff Lane

 

[Malke]

I've got XP home loaded on my laptop; within C:\WINDOWS\ I have 38
folders with names similar to $NtUninstallQ815021$

Anyone any idea what these are for? I assume it is something to do
with uninstalling but there are not enough to relate to programs.

Geoff Lane

They are for the Windows hot fixes. Don't worry about it.

Malke

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Geoff,

They are backup files for a WindowsUpdate (hotfix) and yes you can delete
them as long as you do not plan to uninstall any of the Windows Update
files. You will also find a listing for each under Add & Remove in the
Control Panel. Once you have deleted the backup, you can select the hotfix
for removal. You will get an error message followed by an option to remove
the listing. You can automate this task using a tool from the Utilties
section of www.dougknox.com

The backups are there for hotfixes that are uninstallable. This is an option
only for some updates, and it is there in case the update causes issues for
you (so you can uninstall it if necessary). If you don't plan on
uninstalling it and want to conserve drive space, there is nothing wrong
with removing them. I keep each backup for about a month before removing it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alex Nichol]

I've got XP home loaded on my laptop; within C:\WINDOWS\ I have 38
folders with names similar to $NtUninstallQ815021$

Anyone any idea what these are for? I assume it is something to do
with uninstalling but there are not enough to relate to programs.

Those are there so you could *uninstall* the Hotfix patches installed by
Windows Update.. Each corresponds to a folder of files needed for the
purpose - Windows\$NTUninstallQnnnnnn$ for the fix described at
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;nnnnnn and in Add/Remove
programs as 'Windows Hotfix Qnnnnnn' or KBnnnnnn

If you decide you will not want to uninstall a fix (and if all is
running smoothly you probably won't) then delete the folder. If you
then try in Add/remove, to Remove that one, it will fail, and you will
be offered the option of removing the entry there

 

[Geoff Lane]

I've got XP home loaded on my laptop; within C:\WINDOWS\ I have 38
folders with names similar to $NtUninstallQ815021$

Anyone any idea what these are for? I assume it is something to do
with uninstalling but there are not enough to relate to programs.

Geoff Lane

Thanks for all the replies; I only enquired as they total 80MB

Geoff Lane

 

[Geoff Lane]

Hi Geoff,

They are backup files for a WindowsUpdate (hotfix) and yes you can delete
them as long as you do not plan to uninstall any of the Windows Update
files. You will also find a listing for each under Add & Remove in the
Control Panel. Once you have deleted the backup, you can select the hotfix
for removal.

Thanks Rick, I've found them in the uninstal list now.