Windows XP Hotfix Files - can I delete them

C

Complete Novice

First off - I apologize in advance as I am an absolute
novice and may not know all the right language!! Our
computer is set to automatically download updates/fixes
which it does very nicely. The problem is that we have a
whole lot of "patches" sitting on our computer
as "installed programs". I came across them when daring
to un-install a program I did not want on my computer.
Can anyone tell me if, once a hotfix has been installed,
can I safely delete these "hotfix files" using "remove
program" feature.

Thanks
 
P

Phil \(purplehaz\)

No do not use the remove feature, that will do what it says and remove the
hotfix.
You can namually delete the hotfix uninstall files out of the windows
folder. They are hidden folders/files and will look like this:
$NTuninstallKB828741$
These can be deleted from windows explorer, then go into add/remove programs
and try to remove the hotfix. XP will see you already deleted it and will
remove the add/remove entry.
 
W

Will Denny

Hi

Please leave them installed. Do not try and uninstall them via Add/Remove Programs. They are Security/Critical Updates that have been installed to protect your PC.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| First off - I apologize in advance as I am an absolute
| novice and may not know all the right language!! Our
| computer is set to automatically download updates/fixes
| which it does very nicely. The problem is that we have a
| whole lot of "patches" sitting on our computer
| as "installed programs". I came across them when daring
| to un-install a program I did not want on my computer.
| Can anyone tell me if, once a hotfix has been installed,
| can I safely delete these "hotfix files" using "remove
| program" feature.
|
| Thanks
 
T

Tom Porterfield

Complete said:
First off - I apologize in advance as I am an absolute
novice and may not know all the right language!! Our
computer is set to automatically download updates/fixes
which it does very nicely. The problem is that we have a
whole lot of "patches" sitting on our computer
as "installed programs". I came across them when daring
to un-install a program I did not want on my computer.
Can anyone tell me if, once a hotfix has been installed,
can I safely delete these "hotfix files" using "remove
program" feature.

Thanks

Removing them via the remove program feature will actually uninstall the
hotfix, something you don't want to do. MVP Doug Knox has written a utility
that will remove the hotfix backup files as well as the entry from the Add
or Remove programs list, but leave the fix applied on the computer. More
info is available at http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm.

--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP MCE
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.
 
A

Alex Nichol

Complete said:
First off - I apologize in advance as I am an absolute
novice and may not know all the right language!! Our
computer is set to automatically download updates/fixes
which it does very nicely. The problem is that we have a
whole lot of "patches" sitting on our computer
as "installed programs".

Those are there so you could *uninstall* the patches. Each corresponds
to a hidden folder of files needed for the purpose -
Windows\$NTUninstallQnnnnnn$ for the fix described at
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;nnnnnn

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. You will
need to have have Folder Options - View set to show Hidden files. 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
 

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