C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB######$

[Jon E. Scott]

To free up diskspace, is it safe to delete all the downloaded and applied
Windows update files in C:\Windows such as $NtUninstallKB######$ and
$hf_mig$? I assume the SP2 uninstallation files are located here too,
right? I don't have any problems with any of the updates so I have no
problems permanently deleting these uninstallation files, but wanted to know
if there was any harm. I'd also have to go to Add/Remove Programs list and
remove the updates entries once I've deleted the above directories.

Thanks,
Jon.

 

[John [MSFT]]

copy them to another disk or to a CD and then you can always put them back
if needed. Then you can ignore the entries in A/RP.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Jon;
Yes they can be safely deleted:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

 

[S.Sengupta]

What are the $NTUninstall folders? Can they be deleted?
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Hotfix_backup.htm

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Rock]

To free up diskspace, is it safe to delete all the downloaded and applied
Windows update files in C:\Windows such as $NtUninstallKB######$ and
$hf_mig$? I assume the SP2 uninstallation files are located here too,
right? I don't have any problems with any of the updates so I have no
problems permanently deleting these uninstallation files, but wanted to know
if there was any harm. I'd also have to go to Add/Remove Programs list and
remove the updates entries once I've deleted the above directories.

Thanks,
Jon.

Yes they can be deleted except for the $hf_mig$ folder. The hf_mig
directories are part of the hotfix migration and multibranch support, so
you might need them in the future.

Description of Dual-Mode Update Packages for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=328848

Description of the Contents of a Windows Server 2003 Product Update Package
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=824994

 

[Jon Scott]

Yes they can be deleted except for the $hf_mig$ folder. The hf_mig
directories are part of the hotfix migration and multibranch support, so
you might need them in the future.

Description of Dual-Mode Update Packages for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=328848

Description of the Contents of a Windows Server 2003 Product Update
Package
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=824994

So you're saying I can delete all the $NTUninstall*$ folders but not
$hf_mig$ nor any subfolders under it? How are the folders under $hf_mig$
used if the associated $NTUninstall*$ folder is removed?

Thanks,
Jon.

 

[Rock]

So you're saying I can delete all the $NTUninstall*$ folders but not
$hf_mig$ nor any subfolders under it? How are the folders under $hf_mig$
used if the associated $NTUninstall*$ folder is removed?

Thanks,
Jon.

Yes, the uninstall folders can be removed. Leave the $hf_mig$ folder
and all its subfolders. See the links I gave you as to why they are
needed for _subsequent_ updates. It's not related to uninstall.

 

[Chris]

*From:* "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" <[email protected]>
*Date:* Thu, 16 Jun 2005 15:56:37 -0600

Jon;
Yes they can be safely deleted:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

What about the $hf_mig$ directory?

Chris.

 

[Vodum]

>> What about the $hf_mig$ directory?

For Windows XP users who started with Service Pack 1 and upgraded to SP 2, the \windows\$hf_mig$ will exist. If the user never plans on uninstalling SP2, then it is OK to delete the $HF_MIG$ version.

Rather than do all of these folder deletions manually, I would suggest the following software tool that does a better job than you can do manually:

Update Cleanup

A copy of this cleanup utility can be found at www.pcshareware.com/update.htm

Vodi