Why should I not delete ServicePackFiles?

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Guest

I keep seeing reports that you should not delete C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
- why is this? My computer runs fine with SP2 installed, and I never had that
folder. I installed with a slipstream setup, in case you were wondering. My
other computer has the folder, but that was installed using the free CD, and
I want to remove the folder to save space. If it is necessary, why do I not
have it on this computer?
 
It says that it will be used by Windows File Protection, but in what way?
Will I be prompted to insert my CD when I need it? Should I worry that I do
not have the folder? What will trigger Windows File Protection to use the
files?

BTW thanks for the quick reply.
 
Yes, if WFP detects an important/critical Operating System file has been
corrupted and/or compromised, it will prompt for the WinXP SP2 CD. Since
you most likely haven't built a new slipstreamed WinXP SP2 CD, you will need
to point WFP to either the folder containing these files (ServicePackFiles
folder) or copy the ServicePackFiles folder to CD and insert this CD into
your CD drive and point WFP to it. Once you copy the folder to CD or create
a new WinXP SP2 slipstreamed CD, you may safely remove the ServicePackFiles
folder from your hard drive.
 
It says that it will be used by Windows File Protection, but in what way?
Will I be prompted to insert my CD when I need it? Should I worry that I do
not have the folder? What will trigger Windows File Protection to use the
files?
Click to expand...

Giga,

I don't know of any severe problem with removing the folders. I
have removed them on my computers too, after making sure that
everything works well enough.

Please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm for
some more details on this question.

Hans-Georg
 
Giga said:
I keep seeing reports that you should not delete
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles - why is this? My computer runs fine
with SP2 installed, and I never had that folder. I installed with
a slipstream setup, in case you were wondering. My other computer
has the folder, but that was installed using the free CD, and I
want to remove the folder to save space. If it is necessary, why
do I not have it on this computer?
Click to expand...
Hi

The ServicePackFiles folder is not created on a OS installation where
the service pack is slipstreamed into the OS installation CD, it is
only created when the service pack is added on top of an existing OS.

The reason:

Scenario:

You later add additional OS components (from Add/Remove Windows
Components in Add/Remove Programs), or the OS needs to repair some
files.

In this cases, if no ServicePackFiles folder is found, the OS will ask
for your OS CD and you put it in. This will be OK for the slipstreamed
CD version, because the CD have the same service pack level as the OS.
For the computer where you deleted the ServicePackFiles folder, this is
not OK, because the OS CD have a lower service pack level than the OS
installation (and I think in many cases, the OS will refuse to use the
CD as well).
 
Actually, I do have a new SP2 slipstream, I stated I installed from
slipstream in my OP. I take it the folder is used to repair files if WFP
detects a problem. In that case, I will just use my slipstream CD if it ever
happens.

Thanks for the post.
 
Thanks, this makes sense.

If I delete the folder on a computer that was installed using the network
installer or the free SP2 CD MS distributed, can I use the up-to-date
slipstream CD to allow the repairs?
 
Giga said:
Thanks, this makes sense.

If I delete the folder on a computer that was installed using the
network installer or the free SP2 CD MS distributed, can I use
the up-to-date slipstream CD to allow the repairs?
Click to expand...
Hi

Yes, that should work.
 
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