Windows XP Hotfix files take up harddrive space

[d.laidlaw \(removethis\)]

I have 8 Windows XP Hotfix files (248 MB each) that are
consuming nearly 2 GB of precious hard drive space on my
computer. I'm guessing they appeared as I performed some
XP updates. Is it safe to remove these files?

 

[Kelly]

Some info:

Some of the Hotfixes (Mostly security updates) do not have an uninstall
feature, these will not appear in the Add and Remove list. If a Hotfix does
appear in the Add and Remove list then it can be uninstalled just like any
other program.

If you uninstall the Hotfix, you will lose the benefits of that patch. This
should only be done if you can determine that you are experiencing negative
effects from the particular Hotfix.

If you simply do not want them to appear in the Add and Remove list and you
are sure that you will not need the uninstall option, you can remove items
from that list by using a registry tweak.

Automated Edit:

Remove Hotfixes from Add or Remove (Line 193)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Manual Edit: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Uninstall

Expand this branch and look at the list. The Hotfixes are all listed by a
"Q" number that corresponds to the entry in the Add and Remove list. Make
sure that you back up each Key before deleting it.

Select the key and then select File/Export and include the Q number in the
name of the file. Right click the entries you want to remove and select
Delete.

 

[Jason Tsang]

Are they actually taking up 248 megs each?
If you goto your Windows directory (with hidden files shown), what is the
size of each uninstall directory if you right click them and goto
properties. I'd be surprised if it was 248 megs.

The size indicator on Add/Remove programs isn't always accurate.

 

[Guest]

Hello Kelly. I noticed that the hotfixes that D.Laidlaw reffered to were 248MB in size. Each. That seems odd to me that they would be that big and that they would be all the same size. If he can view the file then I suggest getting the hotfix number and researching what it is. I, personally, would delete them all and then go to the windows update site immediately after rebooting and see if the hotfixes are detected as missing. Perhaps he should use something like the MBSA(microsoft baseline security analyzer) or even Daisy to see if after deleteing they are needed or noted as missing. I just think that 248MB each is rather odd and somewhat large but I don't have your knowledge or skills in these matters. {:~)

 

[Kelly]

I would tend to agree with Jason on this as well as some of the comments
made by yourself (good stuff).

Now lets work on that white space. Example: )

Hello Kelly. I noticed that the hotfixes that D.Laidlaw reffered to were
248MB in size. Each. That seems odd to me that they would be that big and
that they would be all the same size. If he can view the file then I suggest
getting the hotfix number and researching what it is.

I, personally, would delete them all and then go to the windows update site
immediately after rebooting and see if the hotfixes are detected as missing.
Perhaps he should use something like the MBSA(microsoft baseline security
analyzer) or even Daisy to see if after deleteing they are needed or noted
as missing.

I just think that 248MB each is rather odd and somewhat large but I don't
have your knowledge or skills in these matters. {:~)