Windows XP folders/files that can be discarded

  • Thread starter Thread starter Frank D. Nicodem, Jr.
  • Start date Start date
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Frank D. Nicodem, Jr.

I've been running Windows XP for about a year, and the files on my C: drive
continue to grow at an alarming rate. (I have my system partitioned so that
*nothing* but the Windows operating system gets installed on C: -- all
application software gets installed to other partitions.) There are several
folders that contain a lot of files that appear to be "archive" or
"maintenance" files, and I wanted to know if any of the following sound
familiar, what they are, and if they can be deleted (and, if so, what the
repercussions are of deleting the folders/files).

C:\Windows\Downloaded Installations -- half a dozen sub-folders, totaling
75MB
C:\Windows\Installer -- about 40 sub-folders, with all files totaling almost
200MB
C:\Windows\RegisteredPackages -- half a dozen sub-folders, totally about
24MB
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles -- only one sub-folder, but the total is 260MB
C:\Windows\System32\ReinstallBackups -- 10 sub-folders, about 15MB

In addition, there is a series of folders with names like
"C:\Windows\$NtUninstallxxxxxxxx" (e.g.,
C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB817778$") -- over 40 of them, in fact -- which
contain quite a few files, as well.

I don't know if all of these are "standard" Windows folders and files, but I
would certainly appreciate any information on the above (and, if possible,
an idea of *what* causes them to be created -- and grow), and whether or not
they're safe to remove from my system.

Thanks.
 
I've been running Windows XP for about a year, and the files on my C: drive
continue to grow at an alarming rate. (I have my system partitioned so that
*nothing* but the Windows operating system gets installed on C: -- all
application software gets installed to other partitions.) There are several
folders that contain a lot of files that appear to be "archive" or
"maintenance" files, and I wanted to know if any of the following sound
familiar, what they are, and if they can be deleted (and, if so, what the
repercussions are of deleting the folders/files).

C:\Windows\Downloaded Installations -- half a dozen sub-folders, totaling
75MB
Click to expand...

I still haven't figured out what purpose this folder serves. It appears to
be the *.MSI files for some - but not all - downloaded programs. I
assume these files are used to do "on the fly" repairs to the software
installations.
C:\Windows\Installer -- about 40 sub-folders, with all files totaling almost
200MB
Click to expand...

Also for "on the fly" repairs but for programs loaded from CD.
C:\Windows\RegisteredPackages -- half a dozen sub-folders, totally about
24MB
Click to expand...

Judging by the contents these are related to downloaded updates for Windows
components. I have a mixture of "uninstallable" and things that can be
uninstalled so will guess there's some "on the fly" repair stuff going on from
here too.

I don't think that any of the above are absolutely necessary. If removed,
the worse scenario I can see happening is that if a program would
become damaged, one would have to reinstall it.

I have found notes in Event Viewer about a program being touched up now and
then so these do get used when an application is "not quite right." Personally, I
leave all of these in place since I'm not crunched for hard drive space. I like
the convenience factor of not having to rummage around for CDs to reinstall.
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles -- only one sub-folder, but the total is 260MB
Click to expand...

Windows File Protection will use this folder and Windows\system32\dllcache
to keep your critical operating system files tidy. You could copy these off to
CD or move them to another hard drive. There is a corresponding registry
entry for the location of the files that you can edit to reflect the new
location:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\ServicePackSourcePath
and the "ServicePackCachePath"
C:\Windows\System32\ReinstallBackups -- 10 sub-folders, about 15MB
Click to expand...

My guess is that these backup files are for driver rollbacks. If new
drivers are working fine, these should be okay to delete. You forfeit
the rollback opportunity if you delete them.
In addition, there is a series of folders with names like
"C:\Windows\$NtUninstallxxxxxxxx" (e.g.,
C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB817778$") -- over 40 of them, in fact -- which
contain quite a few files, as well.
Click to expand...
These are the backup files created by downloads from Windows Update. There
will be one folder for each update that includes an uninstall option. There will
also be a corresponding listing for each update in Add/Remove Programs.

If the update is not causing you any problems, delete its folder of backup
files. Then remove its listing from Add/Remove Programs. You can do
this step by editing the registry or you can use a tool by Doug Knox
(MVP): http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

I don't know if all of these are "standard" Windows folders and files, but I
would certainly appreciate any information on the above (and, if possible,
an idea of *what* causes them to be created -- and grow), and whether or not
they're safe to remove from my system.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Sorry for all the "i guess" answers but I have seen little documentation
about these and have wondered too.
 
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