Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

[Guest braxx20]

I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last one is

"Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

 

I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I delete

any of these?

 

I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any of these?

 

Your help is appreciated

[Guest Shenan Stanley]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

braxx20 wrote:

> I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last

> one is "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

>

> I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I

> delete any of these?

>

> I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete

> any of these?

 

You can 'remove the uninstall files' - but do not uninstall any updates you

see in your add or remove programs control panel.

 

You seem concerned with disk space - for which you are not likely to gain

all that much (and if it is a high-percentage you gain back from deleting

uninstall files for Windows patches - you may want to consider purchasing a

replacment hard drive or doing some heavy archiving of old material you have

placed on the drive...)

 

In that light - here is a spiel that will free up maximum space for you...

 

If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete the

uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed...

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

 

You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your

latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files"..

 

How to use Disk Cleanup

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

 

You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it..

 

When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the system's

memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys

file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If you

don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that Windows

uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps:

 

- Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings,

Control Panel, and click Power Options).

- Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then

click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the

"System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the

hiberfil.sys file.

- Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power Schemes

tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file.

 

You can control how much space your System Restore can use...

 

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2. Click the System Restore tab.

3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on

the "Settings" button.

4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest moving

the slider until you have just about 1GB (1024MB or close to that...)

5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again.

 

You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can utilize...

 

Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a

size between 64MB and 128MB..

 

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.

- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.

- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the

following:

- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)

- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to

something between 64MB and 128MB. (It may be MUCH larger right

now.)

- Click OK.

- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"

(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10

minutes or more.)

- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet

Explorer.

 

You can use an application that scans your system for log files and

temporary files and use that to get rid of those:

 

Ccleaner (Free!)

http://www.ccleaner.com/

 

Other ways to free up space..

 

SequoiaView

http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

 

JDiskReport

http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html

 

Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used.

 

If you are concerned over less than 5GB of space total at any given time

being freed up on your hard disk drive - then something is wrong and

you would be better off spending a little and putting in a drive that is

likely 3-8 times as large as what you have not and not concerning

yourself over such a small amount of space OR you seriously need

to consider what you really need on the system and what should be

archived.

 

Basic housekeeping 101... - in an actual home, if your storage area gets

full - you either have to decide what you really should have in the storage

area and what could go or you have to find a new place to store stuff

that will accommodate everything you need. You don't walk into a

warehouse of cars, look at the filing cabinet in the corner where

you keep all the records for the cars and decide that if you move it out of

the warehouse - you will have more room for cars. ;-)

 

--

Shenan Stanley

MS-MVP

--

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Guest JS]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

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: $hf_mig$

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

It is a necessary folder for future updates

See the "Notes" near the bottom of the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

 

One of the largest files in each KBxxxx folder under $hf_mig$

is 'update.exe'. For information on what this is used for see:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

 

Also See Doug Knox's page on this issue:

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

 

JS

 

"braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:661F8294-3430-48B1-B388-586E07207517@microsoft.com...

>I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last one is

> "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

>

> I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I delete

> any of these?

>

> I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any of

> these?

>

> Your help is appreciated

[Guest braxx20]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

Thank you but maybe I am showing my ignorance but I was not asking about

$NtUninstall files. I was asking about Hotfixes, Updates and Security

Updates. I have plenty of hard disk space I just do't like a lot of

unnecessary clutter

 

"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: $hf_mig$

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

> It is a necessary folder for future updates

> See the "Notes" near the bottom of the following KB article:

> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

>

> One of the largest files in each KBxxxx folder under $hf_mig$

> is 'update.exe'. For information on what this is used for see:

> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

>

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

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

>

> JS

>

> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:661F8294-3430-48B1-B388-586E07207517@microsoft.com...

> >I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last one is

> > "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

> >

> > I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I delete

> > any of these?

> >

> > I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any of

> > these?

> >

> > Your help is appreciated

>

>

>

[Guest JS]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

An example of a typical security update uninstall folder:

C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB941644$

 

Associate MS KB article for the above:

MS08-001: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow remote code execution

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941644

 

JS

 

"braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:6AE4C091-DDC2-41BF-9F5E-4C19416020A0@microsoft.com...

> Thank you but maybe I am showing my ignorance but I was not asking about

> $NtUninstall files. I was asking about Hotfixes, Updates and Security

> Updates. I have plenty of hard disk space I just do't like a lot of

> unnecessary clutter

>

> "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: $hf_mig$

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

>> It is a necessary folder for future updates

>> See the "Notes" near the bottom of the following KB article:

>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

>>

>> One of the largest files in each KBxxxx folder under $hf_mig$

>> is 'update.exe'. For information on what this is used for see:

>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

>>

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

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

>>

>> JS

>>

>> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:661F8294-3430-48B1-B388-586E07207517@microsoft.com...

>> >I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last one

>> >is

>> > "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

>> >

>> > I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I

>> > delete

>> > any of these?

>> >

>> > I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any of

>> > these?

>> >

>> > Your help is appreciated

>>

>>

>>

[Guest braxx20]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

I think I am beginning to understand. I have a program called "My

Uninstaller" which lists all of these. It is supposed to be better than

"AddRemove". In the details part they show the "$" sign listings. Can I

uninstall most of these, following the suggestions in these posts?

What about the Updates prior to the "Update Rollup2 for W XP? Sounds like

it might be a summary or replacement for the previous ones.

 

"JS" wrote:

> An example of a typical security update uninstall folder:

> C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB941644$

>

> Associate MS KB article for the above:

> MS08-001: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow remote code execution

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941644

>

> JS

>

> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:6AE4C091-DDC2-41BF-9F5E-4C19416020A0@microsoft.com...

> > Thank you but maybe I am showing my ignorance but I was not asking about

> > $NtUninstall files. I was asking about Hotfixes, Updates and Security

> > Updates. I have plenty of hard disk space I just do't like a lot of

> > unnecessary clutter

> >

> > "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: $hf_mig$

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

> >> It is a necessary folder for future updates

> >> See the "Notes" near the bottom of the following KB article:

> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

> >>

> >> One of the largest files in each KBxxxx folder under $hf_mig$

> >> is 'update.exe'. For information on what this is used for see:

> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

> >>

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

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

> >>

> >> JS

> >>

> >> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:661F8294-3430-48B1-B388-586E07207517@microsoft.com...

> >> >I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last one

> >> >is

> >> > "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

> >> >

> >> > I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I

> >> > delete

> >> > any of these?

> >> >

> >> > I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any of

> >> > these?

> >> >

> >> > Your help is appreciated

> >>

> >>

> >>

>

>

>

[Guest JS]

Re: Can I delete old updates and hotfixes

 

Don't use the Add/Remove option or you will end up uninstalling the security

patches. Instead just delete the folder(s) as outlined in my previous post.

Pre-SP2 updates that use the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ naming convention can

also be deleted.

 

Using the 'MyUnistaller' software will result in uninstalling the actual

security patches which is not what you want to do.

 

JS

 

 

"braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:70B95BF9-57C6-40E5-86DF-6EC66E92FF2C@microsoft.com...

>I think I am beginning to understand. I have a program called "My

> Uninstaller" which lists all of these. It is supposed to be better than

> "AddRemove". In the details part they show the "$" sign listings. Can I

> uninstall most of these, following the suggestions in these posts?

> What about the Updates prior to the "Update Rollup2 for W XP? Sounds like

> it might be a summary or replacement for the previous ones.

>

> "JS" wrote:

>

>> An example of a typical security update uninstall folder:

>> C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB941644$

>>

>> Associate MS KB article for the above:

>> MS08-001: Vulnerability in TCP/IP could allow remote code execution

>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941644

>>

>> JS

>>

>> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:6AE4C091-DDC2-41BF-9F5E-4C19416020A0@microsoft.com...

>> > Thank you but maybe I am showing my ignorance but I was not asking

>> > about

>> > $NtUninstall files. I was asking about Hotfixes, Updates and Security

>> > Updates. I have plenty of hard disk space I just do't like a lot of

>> > unnecessary clutter

>> >

>> > "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: $hf_mig$

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

>> >> It is a necessary folder for future updates

>> >> See the "Notes" near the bottom of the following KB article:

>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824994

>> >>

>> >> One of the largest files in each KBxxxx folder under $hf_mig$

>> >> is 'update.exe'. For information on what this is used for see:

>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/deployment/winupdte.mspx

>> >>

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

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

>> >>

>> >> JS

>> >>

>> >> "braxx20" <braxx20@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> >> news:661F8294-3430-48B1-B388-586E07207517@microsoft.com...

>> >> >I have about 12 "Updates for WXP" as far back as 11/1/06. The last

>> >> >one

>> >> >is

>> >> > "Update Rollup 2 for XP" 12/29/06. Can I delete any of these?

>> >> >

>> >> > I have about 30(!) "Security Updates from 2/15/07 to 5/14/08" Can I

>> >> > delete

>> >> > any of these?

>> >> >

>> >> > I have about 12 "Hotfixes" form 12/29/06 to 4/8/08. Can I delete any

>> >> > of

>> >> > these?

>> >> >

>> >> > Your help is appreciated

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>>

>>

>>