Can these be deleted?

[Guest Bob]

In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

$NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also in

the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent

documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen to

find it.Thanks-Bob

[Guest JS]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

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.

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

Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

 

Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info, cookies,

temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows' tab listing check

the item types you want deleted.

Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

 

JS

 

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

news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

> $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also

> in

> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent

> documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen

> to

> find it.Thanks-Bob

[Guest Bob]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

 

 

"JS" wrote:

> 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.

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

> Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

>

> Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info, cookies,

> temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows' tab listing check

> the item types you want deleted.

> Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

> other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

> http://www.ccleaner.com/

>

> JS

>

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

> news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

> > In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

> > $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also

> > in

> > the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent

> > documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen

> > to

> > find it.Thanks-Bob

> js-thanks for the reply.I assume that the kb files can't be deleted either.

Thanks again

>

>

[Guest brent3600]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

I endorse the counsel from JS. In addition, I suggest you download the free

Microsoft tool Windows Installer Clean Up, which will show you what the

installation files are, and allow you to remove them. For example, you could

remove the installation files and backups for hotfixes installed months ago,

which you are never going to uninstall. Be careful with this one.

 

 

 

"JS" wrote:

> 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.

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

> Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

>

> Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info, cookies,

> temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows' tab listing check

> the item types you want deleted.

> Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

> other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

> http://www.ccleaner.com/

>

> JS

>

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

> news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

> > In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

> > $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also

> > in

> > the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent

> > documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen

> > to

> > find it.Thanks-Bob

>

>

>

[Guest Kelly]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

Hi Bob,

 

To view the files - in Windows Explorer go to Tools/Folder Options/View.

From there select Show hidden files and folders, uncheck Hide extensions for

known file types and uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Accept

the warning, apply/ok then refresh (F5).

 

Once applied go to Documents and Settings....Local Settings, etc.

 

Added info for hotfixes:

 

Can Hotfixes be removed via Add or Remove? MVP Ronnie Vernon

 

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.

 

Removes Hotfix Backup files and the Add/Remove Programs Registry entries

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

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_remove_hotfix_backup.zip

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

 

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

news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

> $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted? Also

> in

> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the recent

> documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I can't seen

> to

> find it.Thanks-Bob

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

On Thu, 15 May 2008 08:55:01 -0700, Bob

<Bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start out

> $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be deleted?

 

 

These are the uninstall files for hotfixes you've installed. They

can be safely removed, although if you do, you will never be able to

remove the associated hotfix.

 

My personal practice is never to remove them. Although I've never

needed one, I am more comfortable having them there, just in case.

 

If you are short of disk space and removing these (which aren't

terribly large) helps, my guess is that it will just turn out to be a

stopgap measure. Sooner or later (probably sooner than later) you will

need to bite the bullet and buy a bigger drive.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

Ken: Once you've installed SP3, it doesn't remove the obsolete entries, so

it should be safe to delete them. Just make sure you don't delete anything

that still shows up under Add/Remove programs.

 

Tom

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message

news:mqvo24tlvsvf7b9b9o6dftir54gvj0m3cr@4ax.com...

: :

:

: These are the uninstall files for hotfixes you've installed. They

: can be safely removed, although if you do, you will never be able to

: remove the associated hotfix.

:

: My personal practice is never to remove them. Although I've never

: needed one, I am more comfortable having them there, just in case.

:

: If you are short of disk space and removing these (which aren't

: terribly large) helps, my guess is that it will just turn out to be a

: stopgap measure. Sooner or later (probably sooner than later) you will

: need to bite the bullet and buy a bigger drive.

:

: --

: Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

: Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

On Thu, 15 May 2008 14:22:11 -0500, "Tom [Pepper] Willett"

<tom@youreadaisyifyoudo.com> wrote:

> Ken: Once you've installed SP3, it doesn't remove the obsolete entries, so

> it should be safe to delete them.

 

 

Yes, true--not only safe, but they will no longer be of any use.

 

Thanks for adding that, which I should have.

 

 

> Just make sure you don't delete anything

> that still shows up under Add/Remove programs.

>

> Tom

> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message

> news:mqvo24tlvsvf7b9b9o6dftir54gvj0m3cr@4ax.com...

> : :

> :

> : These are the uninstall files for hotfixes you've installed. They

> : can be safely removed, although if you do, you will never be able to

> : remove the associated hotfix.

> :

> : My personal practice is never to remove them. Although I've never

> : needed one, I am more comfortable having them there, just in case.

> :

> : If you are short of disk space and removing these (which aren't

> : terribly large) helps, my guess is that it will just turn out to be a

> : stopgap measure. Sooner or later (probably sooner than later) you will

> : need to bite the bullet and buy a bigger drive.

> :

> : --

> : Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

> : Please Reply to the Newsgroup

>

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

JS

 

Doesn't installing SP3 remove most of these folders? I haven't installed

SP3 yet so I cannot check. You can also compress these files which gains

significant disk space but not so much as deleting them.

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

JS wrote:

> 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.

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

> Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

>

> Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,

> cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows'

> tab listing check the item types you want deleted.

> Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

> other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

> http://www.ccleaner.com/

>

> JS

>

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

> news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

>> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start

>> out $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be

>> deleted? Also in

>> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the

>> recent documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I

>> can't seen to

>> find it.Thanks-Bob

[Guest Tom [Pepper] Willett]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

It doesn't remove any of them.

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:eUxKP3stIHA.548@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

: JS

:

: Doesn't installing SP3 remove most of these folders? I haven't installed

: SP3 yet so I cannot check. You can also compress these files which gains

: significant disk space but not so much as deleting them.

:

: --

: Regards.

:

: Gerry

: ~~~~

: FCA

: Stourport, England

: Enquire, plan and execute

: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:

:

: JS wrote:

: > 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.

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

: > Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

: >

: > Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,

: > cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows'

: > tab listing check the item types you want deleted.

: > Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

: > other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

: > http://www.ccleaner.com/

: >

: > JS

: >

: > "Bob" <Bob@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

: > news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

: >> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start

: >> out $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be

: >> deleted? Also in

: >> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the

: >> recent documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder located?I

: >> can't seen to

: >> find it.Thanks-Bob

:

:

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Can these be deleted?

 

Right Tom. On my own machine they are compressed. Not removed.

 

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Tom [Pepper] Willett wrote:

> It doesn't remove any of them.

>

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:eUxKP3stIHA.548@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> JS

>>

>> Doesn't installing SP3 remove most of these folders? I haven't

>> installed SP3 yet so I cannot check. You can also compress these

>> files which gains significant disk space but not so much as deleting

>> them.

>>

>> --

>> Regards.

>>

>> Gerry

>> ~~~~

>> FCA

>> Stourport, England

>> Enquire, plan and execute

>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>>

>>

>> JS wrote:

>>> 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.

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

>>> Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

>>>

>>> Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,

>>> cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk. In the 'Windows'

>>> tab listing check the item types you want deleted.

>>> Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any

>>> other/additional folders you want files deleted from.

>>> http://www.ccleaner.com/

>>>

>>> JS

>>>

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

>>> news:BA495202-149C-4BF8-8A68-39836D83E422@microsoft.com...

>>>> In my Windows System32 folder there are a bunch of files that start

>>>> out $NTUninstall----- and KB-----.What are these and can they be

>>>> deleted? Also in

>>>> the main directory can I safely delete temp internet files,and the

>>>> recent documents folder?Where is the temp. internet folder

>>>> located?I can't seen to

>>>> find it.Thanks-Bob