$ Uninstall files

[Andre De Clercq]

I have a laptop and a desktop PC. Both running up-to-date XPSP2 Pro. When I
open the :"WINDOWS" folder on the system dick (C), I get, besides several
files and folders also a large number of folders named "$NTUninstall..." on
my laptop, but not on my desktop. Is there a reason for this? Is there a
setting which makes this difference? Can I delete these $ folders? Thanks
for an advise.

 

[Guest]

They are basically "uninstall" files for updates you have done to your
computer! DO not delete them - if you do so - you might not be able to
uninstall a program!

 

[Rock]

I have a laptop and a desktop PC. Both running up-to-date XPSP2 Pro. When I
open the :"WINDOWS" folder on the system dick (C), I get, besides several
files and folders also a large number of folders named "$NTUninstall..." on
my laptop, but not on my desktop. Is there a reason for this? Is there a
setting which makes this difference? Can I delete these $ folders? Thanks
for an advise.

Each one is a folder containing uninstall files for updates that came
through windows update. The number at the end, KBxxxxxx, corresponds to
the Knowledge Base number for that update. These uninstall files can be
deleted if you want. The impact is that you cannot then uninstall that
update.

If the update has been working for some time then it is safe to remove
the uninstall files. I keep them for one month until the next round of
updates, and if no issues have arisen, I delete them. Of course if you
have plenty of disk space, they can be left alone. After the uninstall
folders are deleted you can then delete the reference to each update in
Add/Remove Programs. Click on the "Remove" button for that update in
Add/Remove; it will give a message that it can't uninstall the update
and offers to delete the entry for you.

Doug Knox has a utility on his site to automate the deletion of the
uninstall files and their entries in Add/Remove.

http://www.dougknox.com/
Win XP Utilities
Remove Hotfix Backup Files v2.1.6

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Folders that have uninstall as part of the name (for example
$NtUninstallKB282010$ which reside in C:\windows (hidden folders) are Window
Hot Fix Update folders/files) can be safely deleted (providing you never
wish to uninstall the updates). I would recommend leaving these folders for
a period of at least a month to make sure the update is working correctly.

These updates can be deleted individually or in multiples. To find out more
about the update/s go to:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=XXXXXX
NB: XXXXXX = the actual number not including the "Q" or "KB"

Once you have deleted the uninstall folders/files, then go to Control Panel,
Add/Remove Programs. Select the matching Windows Hotfix Title relating the
update folder/file you have just deleted and select remove. You will get a
Windows error. This is because you have deleted the uninstall folder/files.
Just choose OK and the entry will be deleted from the Add/Remove Programs
Listing.

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


--

==================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
==================================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping
the information current)


|I have a laptop and a desktop PC. Both running up-to-date XPSP2 Pro. When I
| open the :"WINDOWS" folder on the system dick (C), I get, besides several
| files and folders also a large number of folders named "$NTUninstall..."
on
| my laptop, but not on my desktop. Is there a reason for this? Is there a
| setting which makes this difference? Can I delete these $ folders? Thanks
| for an advise.
|
|

 

[Guest]

The reason that on one computer you can see those folders & on one you cannot
is because of how the Folder Options have been set. When you have
%systemroot%\Windows open (%systemroot% equaling your system's drive) choose
Folder Option from the Tools menu. Folder Options can also be accessed from
the Control Panel. Look at the two computers side by side and compare the
settings on the View Tab in Folder Options. One will and will not have the
setting 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' selected.