OK To Delete $NtUninstall... Folders?

Shel · 11-07-2006

I have 60 of these folders and their contents in the Windows
directory. Is there any reason why I should not delete them?

Shenan Stanley · 11-07-2006

Shel wrote:
> I have 60 of these folders and their contents in the Windows
> directory. Is there any reason why I should not delete them?

Most of them... you can obliterate.

If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete the
uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed..

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

Need to free up more friviously used space?

Do you have hidden and system files visible?
How's your system restore settings?
Used Disk Cleanup?
Is hibernate turned on and do you use that feature?
Uninstalled unnecessary applications lately?

Other ways to free up space..

SequoiaView
http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

DX Hog Hunt
http://www.dvxp.com/en/Downloads.aspx

JDiskReport
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html

Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used.

You can use an application that scans your system for log files and
temporary files and use that to get rid of those:

Ccleaner (Free!)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but yuor
latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files"..

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it..

When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the system's
memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys
file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If you
don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that Windows
uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps:

- Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings,
Control Panel, and click Power Options).
- Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then
click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the
"System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the
hiberfil.sys file.
- Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power Schemes
tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file.

You can control how much space your System Restore can use...

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the System Restore tab.
3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on
the "Settings" button.
4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest 5% or
higher.
5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Carey Frisch [MVP] · 11-07-2006

How can I save space after installing a Service Pack or other updates?
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Shel" wrote:

| I have 60 of these folders and their contents in the Windows
| directory. Is there any reason why I should not delete them?

Robin Walker [MVP] · 11-07-2006

Shel <scs@XXXieee.org> wrote:

> I have 60 of these folders and their contents in the Windows
> directory. Is there any reason why I should not delete them?

Bear in mind that all the problems caused by update 913670 arose because the
users previously deleted an NtUninstall folder for an earlier update, which
913670 needed to uninstall.

These folders are "hidden" for a good reason - Microsoft does not want users
messing with them.

Large hard disks are cheap these days - how much is your time worth, when
spent diagnosing future problems arising from unsafe deletion of these
folders?

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
rdhw@cam.ac.uk

Florida Gal :) · 13-07-2006

I have my System Restore point set at the max..What is a safe setting, if
there is one?
Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
--
"Have a Great Day"

"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> Shel <scs@XXXieee.org> wrote:
>
> > I have 60 of these folders and their contents in the Windows
> > directory. Is there any reason why I should not delete them?
>
> Bear in mind that all the problems caused by update 913670 arose because the
> users previously deleted an NtUninstall folder for an earlier update, which
> 913670 needed to uninstall.
>
> These folders are "hidden" for a good reason - Microsoft does not want users
> messing with them.
>
> Large hard disks are cheap these days - how much is your time worth, when
> spent diagnosing future problems arising from unsafe deletion of these
> folders?
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
> rdhw@cam.ac.uk
>
>
>

Shenan Stanley · 13-07-2006

Florida Gal :) wrote:
> I have my System Restore point set at the max..What is a safe
> setting, if there is one?
> Windows XP SP2 Home Edition

Safe? That really depends on the size of your hard disk drive.

1% of a 750GB drive should be more than sufficient for the *system* files.
The same cannot be said for 1% of a 20 or 40GB drive.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Florida Gal :) · 13-07-2006

Thank you.
--
"Have a Great Day"

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> Florida Gal :) wrote:
> > I have my System Restore point set at the max..What is a safe
> > setting, if there is one?
> > Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
>
> Safe? That really depends on the size of your hard disk drive.
>
> 1% of a 750GB drive should be more than sufficient for the *system* files.
> The same cannot be said for 1% of a 20 or 40GB drive.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>