What are those subfolds?

[Yumin]

In the fold "windows" of my winXP pro, there are many
subfolds named "$NTUninstallxxxxxxxx$", they usually
contain a sub-subfold "spuninst" and files.

What are those folds? Where do they come from? How
should we do for them?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Those folders contain uninstall info for removing updates (hotfixes) that
were downloaded and installed from the Windows Update website.

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

Note: Doug's program only removes the uninstall files and Hotfix entries
in the Add/Remove Programs listing. It does not remove the

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| In the fold "windows" of my winXP pro, there are many
| subfolds named "$NTUninstallxxxxxxxx$", they usually
| contain a sub-subfold "spuninst" and files.
|
| What are those folds? Where do they come from? How
| should we do for them?

 

[Alex Nichol]

In the fold "windows" of my winXP pro, there are many
subfolds named "$NTUninstallxxxxxxxx$", they usually
contain a sub-subfold "spuninst" and files.

What are those folds? Where do they come from? How
should we do for them?

Those are there so you could *uninstall* the patches downloaded from
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 referred to in
Add/Remove Programs as Windows Hotfix Qnnnnnn

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