Windows Update clutter

[kanad1]

Hi to all! I am using Win XP Pro v2002 and upgraded it in steps from SP1 to SP2 and keep it updated using Windows Update. However, I found out that SP1, SP2 and the various Windows Updates have cluttered my HDD with uninstall backups which I definately don't require. I have a 40 GB HDD and have made 4 partitions of equal size and hence my system drive is only 10 GB and already the WINDOWS folder occupies 3 GB.

I wan't to know wether I can simply delete these backup folders or is there any alternate method? Also how to prevent future Windows Updates which I download to prevent from backing up files? Thanx.

 

[MrChad]

The backup files themselves take up very little space. You're free to delete them, but I don't think you can prevent Windows Update from creating backup folders (nor would you want to).

 

[nweaver]

yes, show hidden/system files, and in C:\windows you will see the blue folders, you are free to delete those blue folders.

 

[corkyg]

I always delete those files 2 or 3 days after installing the update. That is to give me a chance to see if they cause any problems or not. So far, since SP2, many moons ago, no such problems have arisen.

With Explorer, look in C:\Windows, and they are all the blue files up front. Just select and delete as desired.

 

[kanad1]

I don't see any blue files, guys! All I see is grayed out folders! Are you sure u want the blue folders?

 

[MrChad]

Yes, they're blue folders named "$NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$".

 

[corkyg]

And this is a clip of what they look like:

Update Uninstall Files

Once you know they work and your system is at peace with them, just select and delete.

 

[kanad1]

OK Thanx guys! I have decided to delete only the service pack 2 and 1 backup folders which are taking up 500 MB. I've had XP on this system for a year and a half almost, and it has never ever crashed on me after any Windows Update. Just a curiosity that as corkyg's screen shot reported, the $NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders somehow don't show up as blue on my system! I'll upload a screenshot shortly after this post.

Thanx guys/gals !

 

[kanad1]

Xtremely sorry guys/gals, but since i don't have my personal webspace, I have to use Rapidshare. Please bear with me and download the screenshot [It's only 88Kb PNG Image]
Here's the link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/26059856/win.PNG.html

Thanx guys/gals!

 

[Geiser34]

Use ImageShack

 

[corkyg]

Make sure you have Folder View Options set so it shows those files and does not hide them.

View

 

[Steve]

The blue is if they're compressed. No biggie.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: kanad1
Xtremely sorry guys/gals, but since i don't have my personal webspace, I have to use Rapidshare. Please bear with me and download the screenshot [It's only 88Kb PNG Image]
Here's the link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/26059856/win.PNG.html

Thanx guys/gals!

Those are the ones. Yours are just uncompressed, probably because you haven't run Windows' disk space freeing utility, which compresses files like those.