Removing Uninstall files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert M Jones
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R

Robert M Jones

I've just upgraded my OEM version of XP Home SP2 to SP3 using a
downloaded ISO image of SP3 on CD which all went smoothly.

My C:\ partition (about 12GB) which has just the OS on it, is now down
to 350-450MB of free space and I am wondering about removing some of the
uninstall files in the Windows folder. At the moment there is not enough
free space for disk defrag to work properly.

The alternative is to increase the partition size which I can do with
BootItNG - although I'd like to try the safer alternative first.

Given that XP3 rolls up most of the previous KB... updates, what can I
safely delete of the uninstall files?

(I'm also planning to create a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD and would
appreciate a link for the method to do that please, if possible) - I
have an XP SP2 installation disk, and the downloaded ISO image of SP3 on
CD too.

Many thanks for any assistance.

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Removing Old Windows Updates:-

Folders that have uninstall as part of the name (for example $NtUninstallKB282010$ which
reside in C:\windows (hidden folders) are Window Hot Fix Update folders/files) can be
safely deleted (providing you never wish to uninstall the updates). I would recommend
leaving these folders for a period of at least a month to make sure the update is working
correctly.

These updates can be deleted individually or in multiples. To find out more about the
update/s go to:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=XXXXXX
NB: XXXXXX = the actual number not including the "Q" or "KB"

Once you have deleted the uninstall folders/files, then go to Control Panel, Add/Remove
Programs. Select the matching Windows Hotfix Title relating the update folder/file you
have just deleted and select remove. You will get a Windows error. This is because you
have deleted the uninstall folder/files. Just choose OK and the entry will be deleted from
the Add/Remove Programs Listing.

and/or
http://winhlp.com/node/125#Removing_the_uninstall_information
Removing the uninstall information

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
Save Space After Installing Updates



Slipstreaming links

Autostreamer Instructions/download:
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html

http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
Slipstreaming Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Create Bootable CD

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=248
Creating a bootable Windows XP

http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
Universal Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide

Note Autostreamer worked with SP3 as I recently slipstreamed SP3 with the original disk..


--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


| I've just upgraded my OEM version of XP Home SP2 to SP3 using a
| downloaded ISO image of SP3 on CD which all went smoothly.
|
| My C:\ partition (about 12GB) which has just the OS on it, is now down
| to 350-450MB of free space and I am wondering about removing some of the
| uninstall files in the Windows folder. At the moment there is not enough
| free space for disk defrag to work properly.
|
| The alternative is to increase the partition size which I can do with
| BootItNG - although I'd like to try the safer alternative first.
|
| Given that XP3 rolls up most of the previous KB... updates, what can I
| safely delete of the uninstall files?
|
| (I'm also planning to create a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD and would
| appreciate a link for the method to do that please, if possible) - I
| have an XP SP2 installation disk, and the downloaded ISO image of SP3 on
| CD too.
|
| Many thanks for any assistance.
|
| --
| Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
| http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
| Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
| goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
| http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
Hi Robert

Wandering off your normal stamping ground!

TaurArian has answered your direct question , except that you can win
space by compressing the files if they are not removed.

If your drive is formatted as NTFS another potential gain arises with
your operating system on your C drive. In the Windows Directory of
your C partition you will have some Uninstall folders in your Windows
folder typically: $NtServicePackUninstall$ and $NtUninstallKB282010$
etc. These files may be compressed or not compressed. If compressed
the text of the folder name appears in blue characters. If not
compressed you can compress them. Right click on each folder and
select Properties, General, Advanced and check the box before Compress
contents to save Disk Space. On the General Tab you can see the amount
gained by deducting the size on disk from the size. Folder
compression is only an option on a NTFS formatted drive / partition.

There are many other options for increasing free disk space on a Windows
partition if you are reluctant to increase the size of the partition.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition
which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My
Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor
on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag
it to the left until it reads 700 mb and
exit. When you get to the Settings screen click on Apply and OK and
exit.

Another default setting which could be wasteful is that for temporary
internet files, especially if you do not store offline copies on disk.
The default allocation is 3% of drive. Depending on your attitude to
offline copies you could reduce this to 1% or 2%. In Internet Explorer
select Tools, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files,
Settings to make the change. At the same time look at the number of days
history is held.

The default allocation for the Recycle Bin is 10 % of drive. Change to
5%, which should be sufficient. In Windows Explorer place the cursor
on your Recycle Bin, right click and select Properties, Global and
move the slider from 10% to 5%. However, try to avoid letting it get
too full as if it is full and you delete a file by mistake it will
bypass the Recycle Bin and be gone for ever.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System
Information, Tools, Dr Watson and verify that the box before "Append to
existing log" is NOT checked. This means the next time the log is
written it will overwrite rather than add to the existing file.

The default maximum size setting for Event Viewer logs is too large.
Reset the maximum for each log from 512 kb to 128 kb and set it to
overwrite.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of
folders.

For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.

To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm

How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147

You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft
Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word
go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on
Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General
and change default file path.

My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.

You can move programmes but to do this you have to uninstall and
reinstall.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Robert said:
I've just upgraded my OEM version of XP Home SP2 to SP3 using a
downloaded ISO image of SP3 on CD which all went smoothly.

My C:\ partition (about 12GB) which has just the OS on it, is now down
to 350-450MB of free space and I am wondering about removing some of the
uninstall files in the Windows folder. At the moment there is not enough
free space for disk defrag to work properly.

The alternative is to increase the partition size which I can do with
BootItNG - although I'd like to try the safer alternative first.

Given that XP3 rolls up most of the previous KB... updates, what can I
safely delete of the uninstall files?

(I'm also planning to create a slipstreamed XP SP3 CD and would
appreciate a link for the method to do that please, if possible) - I
have an XP SP2 installation disk, and the downloaded ISO image of SP3 on
CD too.

Many thanks for any assistance.
Click to expand...

Many thanks to both for your very helpful replies. (and Hi there Gerry -
here I am nearly always "asking"!)

--
Rev Robert M Jones, Wimborne Baptist Church, UK
http://www.wimborne-baptist.org.uk
Free trial of Mailwasher Pro - effective email spam filter - (commission
goes to our partners in Bulgaria)
http://fta.firetrust.com/index.cgi?id=420
 
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