Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
 ·Comcast
|  [XP Pro] Cleaning up old uninstall files after SP3 install
Now that I have SP3 installed, I'd like to eventually clean out all the old uninstall files (there's about 153 directories) since it would recover about 1 GB of space (if I include the $hf_mig$ directory).
I'm assuming any $NtUninstall directory that's listed as included is SP3 is safe to get rid of, but there is also a \windows\ $hf_mig$\ directory that contains another copy of nearly every KB installed. Is it safe to remove the copy from there as well?
Also is there an easier way to tell what can be removed other than matching each $NtUninstall directory to the SP3 fix list?
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The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired. |
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Cudni
La Merma - La Guerrilla
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire
 ·BTOpenworld
| I wouldn't remove $hf_mig$ because
»support.microsoft.com/?kbid=824994
"...
When a security update, critical update, update, update rollup, driver, or feature pack installs GDR version files, the hotfix files are also copied to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder. This supports migration to the appropriate files if you later install a hotfix or service pack that includes earlier versions of these files. For example, consider the following scenario:
1. You apply a security update that installs a GDR version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 and copies a hotfix version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.1000 to the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder.
2. You apply a hotfix that includes a hotfix version of File.dll with a version number of 5.2.3790.0000.
In this scenario the hotfix installation in step 2 installs the hotfix version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.1000) from the %windir%\$hf_mig$ folder instead of the hotfix version of File.dll (version number 5.2.3790.0000) from the hotfix package.
..."
i delete all other backups and use CCleaner to tidy up
Cudni
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"Mercifully, he hit him with the soft end of the pistol."
Help yourself so God can help you.
Microsoft MVP, 2006 - 2008 |
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bcastner
Premium,MVM
join:2002-09-25
Chevy Chase, MD
clubs: 
·Verizon Online DSL
edit:
May 9th, @06:03AM
| reply to Morac
Let me offer an alternative to your planned deletions, as I am unhappy with some aspects of it; and like Cudni  cannot stand the thought of deleting $hf_mig$
• A very big System 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 addition to the regular items, under ‘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: \Windows\$NTServicePackUninstall. Once this is done, if you try to use the ‘Remove’ for Service Pack 2 in Add/Remove Programs, that will fail and will offer to delete the entry.
• There may also be a large folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download, depending on how you did the installation. That can be deleted also.
• Check that the installation’s temporary folder got properly removed. It will be on the drive where you downloaded the setup files (probably C:) and will have a long name of random characters, such as C:\af74d61c43av. If it is still around, delete it.
• 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. Right-click on it, select Properties, click the Advanced button, and select Compress.
• Now empty your Recycle Bin.
And that is as much cleanup as I believe it is safe to do.
Best wishes,
Bill Castner
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Freddy
join:2005-05-17
Arlington, VA | bcastner,
Now that we know how to clean up XP, how do we clean up Vista after SP1 and other upgrades?
Freddy |
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Cudni
La Merma - La Guerrilla
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire
·BTOpenworld
| said by Freddy :how do we clean up Vista after SP1 see
»Re: [Vista] New large System Volume Information file in Vista SP
Cudni
--
"Mercifully, he hit him with the soft end of the pistol."
Help yourself so God can help you.
Microsoft MVP, 2006 - 2008 |
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Freddy
join:2005-05-17
Arlington, VA | Cudni,
Thanks. I kicked myself when I saw that and realized I had already seen that previously, but forgot about it. I can remember almost anything (for about 5 minutes).
Freddy |
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Sentinel
Premium
join:2001-02-07
Florida |  reply to bcastner
Wow, that's some good info there. Thanks. |
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Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
·Comcast
| reply to Cudni
I was under the impression that all security updates and hotfixes released to date are in SP3 so the files installed by SP3 (and stored in the WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\) would be the same or newer that those in the $hf_mig$ directory. Is that not correct?
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The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired. |
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Cudni
La Merma - La Guerrilla
Premium,MVM
join:2003-12-20
Someshire
·BTOpenworld
| said by Morac :I was under the impression that all security updates and hotfixes released to date are in SP3 so the files installed by SP3 (and stored in the WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\) would be the same or newer that those in the $hf_mig$ directory. Is that not correct? I think you are correct and in cases when SP was installed and before new WU updates you can remove the contents of $hf_mig$ folder
Cudni
--
"Mercifully, he hit him with the soft end of the pistol."
Help yourself so God can help you.
Microsoft MVP, 2006 - 2008 |
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bcastner
Premium,MVM
join:2002-09-25
Chevy Chase, MD
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| The structure and Cardinal point milestones in that file are extremely important.
Leave the folder alone.
Otherwise, there will be no reference for later Hotfixes as to which branch -- QFE or QRE -- is to be used to resolve a file with a newer version than an existing one. That folder is an integral part of installing any Hotfix from Microsoft in the future.
The files used to uninstall updates to Windows can be deleted if you're confident that they will not have to be uninstalled in the future. These files can be found in the Windows folder with names similar to this, $NtUninstallKB123456$. They are hidden folders so make sure you enable viewing of hidden files and folders in Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View tab.
Note: Do not delete the $hf_mig$ folder. This folder will be used by future updates.
Here's a web site which provides an automated way of deleting these folders.
(Courtesy of Doug Knox, MS-MVP)
Removes Hotfix Backup files and the Add/Remove Programs Registry entries.
»www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hot···ckup.htm
From Ramesh Srinivasan, MS-MVP:
What are the $NTUninstall folders? Can they be deleted?
»windowsxp.mvps.org/Hotfix_backup.htm
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to bcastner
said by bcastner :There may also be a large folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download, depending on how you did the installation. That can be deleted also. I have 3 subfolders in this one, one from 2/13/08, one from 5/6/08 (when I first tried to do SP3) and one from 5/7/08 (when I succeeded doing SP3). The third one is by far the biggest - 489 MB. Can I delete all 3 of them?
Why doesn't Windows delete this mess when it gets through? |
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bcastner
Premium,MVM
join:2002-09-25
Chevy Chase, MD
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| You are welcome to delete the entire folder, including any and all subfolders.
Why is it not deleted automatically?
I am not completely certain. Windows Updates downloads are managed automatically, so one would think this folder would be as well.
I can tell you that I have found on an odd occasion or two it useful to have the downloads, so that I can archive them off the SYSTEM volume for use on other computers.
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Sentinel
Premium
join:2001-02-07
Florida | reply to bcastner
Can the $hf_mig$ folder be compressed in the same way that you said we could compress the other folder? Or would that hurt it in some way? |
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OZO
Premium
join:2003-01-17 | Check this thread:
[XP Pro] What files can be removed from an XP installation? - dslreports.com |
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bcastner
Premium,MVM
join:2002-09-25
Chevy Chase, MD
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Sentinel
It should not matter.
When the OS receives a request to open any folder or file, it decompresses automatically in the background.
There are lots of ways one could save more space on the SYSTEM volume without pruning core operating system folders. Use Scheduled Tasks, and the Disk Cleanup tool, to empty the Recycle Bin. Modify the disk reservations made for the Internet Temporary Files cache. Ratchet downwards any reservations for a cache for System Restore. Uninstall never used applications. Be aggressive in clearing the TEMP folders.
Buy a bigger hard drive.
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MS-MVP 2004 - -2008, ASAP Member
Users Helping Users
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Sentinel
Premium
join:2001-02-07
Florida | Thank you both. |
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