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Win XP Uninstall folders

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by lindaeeds

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Hi- this is my first post to your forum.

Yesterday I read a very informative article & discussion string on your site regarding cleanup after SP2 install.

Based on info provided in the discussion, I used a DOS command to print to a file, sorted by date, all the uninstall files in my window directory.

After sorting the list by folder name in Excel, I saw something interesting to me.

Along with the service pack uninstall folder for SP2 there were 46 other KB uninstall folders created during the SP2 upgrade.

This is my curiousity/question:
All of the 46 new folders have corresponding folders from an earlier windows update. The difference is the kb sp2 folders end in xxx$ and the earlier windows updates end in xxx_0$ (ie-the folder name is exactly the same but for the ending of $ or _0$.

I think I can safely delete the earlier kb's ( the _0$ ones). I don't think I would need to back them up first.

There are other KB window update folders from the same earlier date that do not have corresponding sp2 update folders. I'm thinking I should not archive these folders yet, as they may have a corresponding future update folder in the near future.

Hope I have explained my issues well enough. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Regards,
Linda G

5 replies

by dumphrey

them to be honest, unless you need the space. Another option is to look into a program called Nlite, which will integrate SP2 into an XP sp1 cd, and then using ryanvm you can integrate most of the post SP2 hotfixes etc..
Nlite
http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html
RyanVM
http://integrator.siginetsoftware.com/index.php?download

After a reinstall, you will only have uninstall folders for updates after 06/22/07.

But, as for the uninstall, I have only about 20 hotfix uninstall folders (see above) and they all end in $, and I am running SP2, updated to latest. If your computer is running well, and you are not having any problems, I would feel safe deleting any folder older then say 1 year. That way you can still uninstall the "latest" hotfixes if they have problems.
But, double check to see that on your box, the _0$ are infact older then the $ files.
I asked around with several friends, and all said they delete their uninstall files for SPs and KBS, its just a matter of how long they keep em...

"There are other KB window update folders from the same earlier date that do not have corresponding sp2 update folders. I'm thinking I should not archive these folders yet, as they may have a corresponding future update folder in the near future"

Or they are finsihed, problem "fixed" and its more then safe enough to delete. Any new hotfix would create its own uninstal anyway.

So, pick a time frame thats comfortable and delete any uninstal older, or to be safe, copy them to a folder, burn them to cd, export the cd contents to a spread sheet, label the spread sheet so you will know what it is, and then delete the uninstalls.

by lindaeeds

Thanks for the info Dumphrey. It's just my nature to want to clean out "garbage" that builds up on my pc/notebook- space is not an issue. I delete tmps & scandisk/defrag on a regular basis. I am old enough to have had my share of filled drives, slowed down systems, crashed systems, etc from the 80's.

I have 154 uninstall folders, with dates ranging from 5/10/02 to 12/15/07. 47 of the folders were created during the SP2 install.

The 107 preSP2 folders total 358mb.
This is my game plan:
1.Delete all folders 2005 & older- no cd backup.
2.CD back up for all folders for 2007/2006- except for the sp2 12/15/07 install folders.
3.Delete folders backed up in 2.

Re your advice-
"Another option is to look into a program called Nlite, which will integrate SP2 into an XP sp1 cd, and then using ryanvm you can integrate most of the post SP2 hotfixes etc.."

I do not understand it- why integrate sp2 into an xp sp1 cd? It is probably over my head- I am not a techie, just an ex cpa/controller & now inspiring artist.

But it's reassuring to get advice from someone who knows what they are doing. My game plans come mainly from googling, so I am not always confident in the information I gather.

Thanks again & Happy Holidays
Best Regards,
Linda

by dumphrey

I think you have your bases covered. The point to splipstreaming XP Sp2 into an older (pre sp2) XP cd is so that when you use that disk to install XP, SP2 is installed by default, same with the hotfixes. This saves well over an hour of update time after you are done installing. Mostly its a time saver. Also, you would not have the uninstall folders being created, as those fixes are pat of the OS, put there durring the install.

And never knock Google. A friend of mine swears the the difference between a good computer tech and a bad computer tech is their ability to use Google to get answers.

by lindaeeds

Thanks for the feedback Dumphrey---

I also cleared all my restore points from system volume info & deleted some garbage temp folders in my symantec virusdefs folder. All together I freed up over 6gb on the system. Not much on an 80gb drive, but in my eyes the 6gb was nonfunctional cluttered space. Then defragged to prepare for phase 2--

Today I will install 49 high prioriy "after sp2" ms updates. So at least I am starting from a clean known point.

Questions for you:
1. If you are knowledgeable about Symantec products (I have Norton 360) can you tell me what is the function of the BinHub folder in the VirusDefs folder? Although my virus defs are current thru 12/20 the BinHub folder contains files dating from 8/20/07 to 11/14/07. From googling info I think I can clear the BinHub folder & it will regenerate on the next LiveUpdate.

2. I agree about Google- it's only as good as the search parameters you use. It's the only search engine I use & is my customized home page. I like the customized search engines you can create. Do you have a search engine you like better?

Best Regards,
Linda

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