Windows XP service pack

[Steven]

After putting on service pack 2 there are a lot of new files in the windows
directory...can I delete any of these files? I was told that I can delete
some files from the windows directory after loading service pack 2 but I
wanted to make sure before I do anything.
Thanks Steve

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Steven,

Tidying Up After Installing SP2
Windows XP SP2 - FAQs & Best Practices
http://aumha.org/win5/a/sp2faq.php

 

[Steven]

Thanks so much....that has saved a lot of space....there is also a folder
named $hf_mig$ which is fairly large...is this delectable?

Thanks Steve

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Steven,

No, the $hf_mig$ folders should *NOT* be removed.

<snip from the following KB Article>

When a security update, critical update, update, update rollup,
driver, or feature pack installs GDR version files, the hotfix files
are also copied to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder. This supports
migration to the appropriate files if you later install a hotfix or
service pack that includes earlier versions of these files.
For example, consider the following scenario:
1. You apply a security update that installs a GDR version of File.dll
with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 and copies a hotfix version of
File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 to the
%windir%\$hf_mig$ folder.
2. You apply a hotfix that includes a hotfix version of File.dll with
a version number of 5.2.3790.0000.
In this scenario the hotfix installation in step 2 installs the hotfix
version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.1000) from the
%windir%\$hf_mig$ folder instead of the hotfix version of File.dll
(version number 5.2.3790.0000) from the hotfix package.

Description of the contents of WinXP SP2 and Windows Server 2003
software update packages
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

 

[Steven]

Thanks for your help!

Steve

Hi Steven,

No, the $hf_mig$ folders should *NOT* be removed.

<snip from the following KB Article>

When a security update, critical update, update, update rollup, driver, or
feature pack installs GDR version files, the hotfix files are also copied
to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder. This supports
migration to the appropriate files if you later install a hotfix or
service pack that includes earlier versions of these files.
For example, consider the following scenario:
1. You apply a security update that installs a GDR version of File.dll
with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 and copies a hotfix version of
File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 to the
%windir%\$hf_mig$ folder.
2. You apply a hotfix that includes a hotfix version of File.dll with a
version number of 5.2.3790.0000.
In this scenario the hotfix installation in step 2 installs the hotfix
version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.1000) from the
%windir%\$hf_mig$ folder instead of the hotfix version of File.dll
(version number 5.2.3790.0000) from the hotfix package.

Description of the contents of WinXP SP2 and Windows Server 2003
software update packages
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

 

[Bert Kinney]

You're welcome Steven.