What are those "$NtUninstaxxxx" directorys in Windows?

[Richard Lewis Haggard]

Under my c:\Windows directory I have a bootload of $NtUninstalxxxx
directories, some of which go back for several years. What are these
directories and what created them? I'm running low on disk space - is it
safe to delete them?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Under my c:\Windows directory I have a bootload of $NtUninstalxxxx
directories, some of which go back for several years. What are these
directories and what created them? I'm running low on disk space - is
it safe to delete them?

Yes, but it's best to *move* them elsewhere or burn a CD, etc., if you're
running low on space. The folders/files are created when you install
updates, and you need them present there if you ever want to uninstall the
patches in question.

 

[Engel]

Hello Richard,

To add to Lanwench's posting

Have a look here:
What are the $NTUninstall folders? Can they be deleted?
<http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Hotfix_backup.htm>

Good luck
-=-

 

[JS]

The $NtUninstall* folders and associated files in these folders are safe to
remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.

$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$
$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$
Created 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 grow in size
as it will contain both SP2 and SP3 uninstall files.
If you have already installed SP3 then I would leave
this folder as is 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 a part of/contained in $hf_mig$)
It is a necessary folder for future updates

Also See Doug Knox's page on this subject:
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

JS
www.pagestart.com

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm and
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827