Removing the KB folders & files in Windows folder

[Guest bksgs1]

There are lots of KB folders and files in the windowsXP folder. This is

taking up lots of space. The SP3 one is really big.

Is it safe to delete these folders/files. If so is there any utility for

this or any set of instructions available ?

[Guest Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

Re: Removing the KB folders & files in Windows folder

 

See http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Remove Hotfix Backup Files.

 

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"bksgs1" <bksgs1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:441D4C85-10F5-4A72-BBA4-3C29CD7EF287@microsoft.com...

> There are lots of KB folders and files in the windowsXP folder. This is

> taking up lots of space. The SP3 one is really big.

> Is it safe to delete these folders/files. If so is there any utility for

> this or any set of instructions available ?

[Guest JS]

Re: Removing the KB folders & files in Windows folder

 

The $NtUninstall* folders and associated files in these folders are safe to

remove,

however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or

update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.

I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders

and delete the older updates.

As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.

 

$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$

$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$

Created when you installed IE7.

If you delete them you will no longer be able to uninstall IE7

 

$NtServicePackUninstall$

Created when you install a service pack.

If you are currently using XP with SP2

then if you remove the folder you can no longer

uninstall SP2.

 

If you choose not to delete the $NtServicePackUninstall$ folder,

then when and if you install SP3 this folder grow in size

as it will contain both SP2 and SP3 uninstall files.

If you have already installed SP3 then I would leave

this folder as is until you are certain that no bugs have

cropped up after installing SP3.

Note: Once you delete this folder you are stuck with SP3

 

Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$

(and any folders that are part of/contained in $hf_mig$)

It is a necessary folder for future updates

 

Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

 

And:

Is it safe to delete the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders:

http://www.pagestart.com/ntuninstall.html

 

JS

http://www.pagestart.com

 

 

"bksgs1" <bksgs1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:441D4C85-10F5-4A72-BBA4-3C29CD7EF287@microsoft.com...

> There are lots of KB folders and files in the windowsXP folder. This is

> taking up lots of space. The SP3 one is really big.

> Is it safe to delete these folders/files. If so is there any utility for

> this or any set of instructions available ?