Uninstall / SP Files

[Martin Schmid]

I have a whole slew of files in my \windows\ folder that start w/
$NtUninstall, also a folder called "$xpsp1hfm$", and one called
"ServicePackFiles".. also a bunch of "KBxxxxxx.log" files and "Qxxxxxx.log"
files... I presume I can move all of these safelly, correct? They are
taking up nearly half a GB on my system drive... I'd prefer to burn them to
CD than have em take up space on my HD.

 

[Chris Lanier]

"Hotfixes" are the updates you installed from the Windows Update
website. Do not be tempted to remove them or you will uninstall
the actual updates.

If you wish to safely remove the "uninstall files" for the
Hotfixes (i.e. $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ files shown in Windows Explorer)
and cleanup your Add/Remove Programs list, visit MS-MVP Doug Knox's
excellent website for instructions.

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

 

[Martin Schmid]

Can't I just move the folders, not modify the reigstry, and if in the event
I ever do need to uninstall, I could put the associated uninstall files
($NtUninstallK) back in e:\windows?

 

[Chris Lanier]

Greetings --

I'm not sure how you would go about doing that, but you could just copy the
folders over to another source (i.e. your e: drive) and copy them back in
the unlikely event of needing to uninstall. That would not hurt anything.

 

[Martin Schmid]

There are a few folders w/ files that the OS won't let me move/copy to
another drive - access denied:

03/18/2003 09:30 PM <DIR> $NtUninstallQ309521$
03/18/2003 09:30 PM <DIR> $NtUninstallQ314862$
03/18/2003 09:30 PM <DIR> $NtUninstallQ315000$
03/18/2003 09:28 PM <DIR> $NtUninstallQ323172$

However, I can move into a different folder on the same drive.. any idea?

 

[Martin Schmid]

I even boot my system w/ another OS, and it still said access denied when
trying to move/copy these files... strange.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a whole slew of files in my \windows\ folder that start w/
$NtUninstall, also a folder called "$xpsp1hfm$", and one called
"ServicePackFiles".. also a bunch of "KBxxxxxx.log" files and "Qxxxxxx.log"
files... I presume I can move all of these safelly, correct?

The ones for $NTUninstall (including $NTServicePackUninstall, if
present) are folders of files that would be needed if you uninstalled
the corresponding fix - check what they are at
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;xxxxxx

Those and the .log ones you can delete should you decide you do *not*
want to uninstall the fix concerned

ServicePackFiles contains the service pack file versions for use in
preference to ones from the original CD if needed by File
Protection/SFC/New Hardware etc. Don't just delete it. On an NTFS
drive a useful amount of space can be saved by compressing it. What you
can do if you have a CD burner is burn the complete folder to a CD, then
run regedit.exe and at

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

Change the value of ServicePackSourcePath in the right pane to reflect
the drive. Best if you have 2 drives, and can have the original
SourcePath on one and this on the other