Hello Diana,
When you install a hotfix, this creates the uninstall folder
%SystemRoot%\$NtUninstall[KBArticleNumber]$, which contains the original
files that the hotfix updated so that they can be copied back if you want to
uninstall the hotfix at a later date. The hotfix uninstall process does not
perform version checking to determine if there is an earlier version service
pack that was installed after the hotfix installation. Therefore, the files
in the %SystemRoot%\$NtUninstall[KBArticleNumber]$ folder are copied back
into the applicable operation system directories, regardless of the file
versions that are currently in place.
Sample Scenario
---------------
You install Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) on a computer. You then
install a post-Service Pack 2 (SP2) hotfix. You then update the operating
system to SP2. (Note: The service pack performs version checking on the
hotfix, and it does not replace the later-version hotfix binaries.) At a
later date, you uninstall the post-SP2 hotfix. The hotfix uninstall routine
replaces the hotfix binaries with the original files in the hotfix uninstall
folder. These files do not have the SP2 version. Depending on the files in
the hotfix, this may cause a file mismatch which may cause the operating
system to stop functioning.
Microsoft does not recommend nor support the removal of hotfixes as it is
described in the "Sample Scenario". However, if it is essential that you
remove a hotfix, immediately reinstall the latest service pack prior to
restarting the computer to minimize the possibility of a problem.
Thank You.
Diana.
diane walker said:
We are running Windows 2000, SP4. Every time, I applied a patch for Windows
or Internet Explorer, the patch always saves a folder under Winnt folder
calls $NTUninstallQ828026$, $NTUninstallKB829558$, etc. I would like to
know if it is OK to delete some of the old these old folders.
Thanks.
