Windows Hot Fix

[coodi]

In Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, I have many programs listed as
Windows HotFix, some with a (Qxxx) following. I don't understand how/why
they are there. Can anyone explain to me? And is it safe to remove these
programs (?) from the listing? Thanks!

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

They are Windows Updates. May I suggest that you leave them where they are. Uninstalling some may put your PC at risk.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| In Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, I have many programs listed as
| Windows HotFix, some with a (Qxxx) following. I don't understand how/why
| they are there. Can anyone explain to me? And is it safe to remove these
| programs (?) from the listing? Thanks!
|
|

 

[Jim Macklin]

Windows update puts them in add/remove so you can remove the
hotfix if it causes problems. You can remove the listing
but then you can't remove the hotfix.

Don't worry about it,


| In Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, I have many
programs listed as
| Windows HotFix, some with a (Qxxx) following. I don't
understand how/why
| they are there. Can anyone explain to me? And is it safe
to remove these
| programs (?) from the listing? Thanks!
|
|

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Coodi,

The hotfixes in the Control Panel are a method of uninstalling incompatible
updates. Do not uninstall them unless you are having problems with a
particular update.

If you set folder options/view tab to see hidden and operating system files,
you will find corresponding $NtUninstallQxxxxxx$ folders in the \Windows
folder for each update. They hold the uninstall information for each hotfix.
If you are not going to uninstall any particular update, you can safely
delete the uninstall folder. Then go to Add & Remove and select the hotfix
for removal. You will get an error message followed by an offer to remove
the hotfix from the listings. It is not necessary to do this, I mention it
only as an option. I usually leave each hotfix alone for at least a month.

MVP Doug Knox has developed an easy method to automate this series of steps.
See WinXP Utilities on www.dougknox.com "Remove hotfix backup files".

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[coodi]

Thanks so much---I had no idea what these were and how they got there!! You
are such a big help!