Cleanup after installing SP2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gerald Ross
  • Start date Start date
G

Gerald Ross

My windows is getting more and more bloated. Can I delete
the sp uninstall directory after I run with SP2 for awhile
and am satisfied with it? Any other stuff it squirreled away
that won't be needed if I don't want to uninstall SP2?
--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist
ought to have his head examined.
 
Gerald, yes you can and also rt click your Drive Icon in
MyComputer>select Properties>Disk Cleanup>More Options>
System Restore-Cleanup. Say Yes to all.
 
Hi Gerald,

Cleaning up after installing SP2: MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#cleanup

Or line 347: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Installing SP2 leaves a lot of space on hard disk taken up by files you
would only ever need if you were to uninstall it. Once you are sure you are
happy with it:

A very big restore point will have been made. Once a new regular size one
has been made in the ordinary way, clean up by going to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup
and in 'More Options' click the bottom button to remove all but the most
recent restore point

Delete the hidden folder of files that would be restored by an Uninstall:
C:\Windows\$NTServicePackUninstall
Once done, if you try to use the 'Remove' for Service pack 2 in Add/remove
programs, that will fail and offer to remove itself

There may also be a large folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
depending on how you did the installation. That can also be deleted

Check that the installations temporary folder did get properly removed - it
will be on the drive where you downloaded the setup files, so probably C:
and have a long name of random letters. If it is still around, delete it.
And burn the downloaded file to a CD so as to have it if you ever need to
reinstall.

There will also be a large folder C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles. Do not delete
this - it will be used in future by Windows File Protection - but on an NTFS
disk you can compress it to save about 200MB of disk space. R-click on it,
Properties, click the Advanced button, and select 'Compress'.


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
 
Kelly said:
Installing SP2 leaves a lot of space on hard disk
taken up by files you would only ever need if you
were to uninstall it. Once you are sure you are
happy with it:

A very big restore point will have been made.
Once a new regular size one has been made
in the ordinary way, clean up by going to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Cleanup
and in 'More Options' click the bottom button to remove all but the most
recent restore point
Click to expand...


Do you mean to say that:

1) SP2 makes a very big restore point, and
2) one has to make another "new regular size
restore point in the ordinary way" before one
can delete the SP2 installation files?
3) How does one make a regular size restore
point in the ordinary way?


Rick Lowen
 
How does one make a regular size restore point in the ordinary way?

Go to System restore through Start>All programs>Accessories>System Tools>System restore and select
'Create a restore pont' and click next. Type a restore point description and click on create.


--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

In memory of Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/nichol.mspx

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Thanks, Anando. Is it necessary to make such a restore
point before deleting the SP2 installation files?

Rick Lowen
 
Hi,

It is not necessary to make such a restore point. If you delete the SP2 uninstallation files, you
would not be able to uninstall SP2 anyways. Some users delete the SP2 uninstall files and the
restore point created by SP2 setup to save disk space. If you have ample disk space to spare, dont
bother to delete the SP2 uninstall files or creating any new restore points.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

In memory of Alex Nichol
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/nichol.mspx

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
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