Where does installing SP2 also install backup?

I recently downloaded and installed SP2 for home ed. Windows XP. I read somewhere that as part of SP2 installation it first produced and saved a "backup" of your system. I looked away and did not pay attention when the installtion was proceeding, and did not see the screen regarding backup, nor did I have a chance to browse to designate the location to which I wanted the backup to go.

Question: Does anyone know the default folder [the whole path] into which SP2 puts the backup? Does anyone know the several folders or files that constitute the backup? Can I find these by using Widows Explorer?

Maybe there is no backing up and I just dreamed this up. But I think I read about it somewhere--and did not pay attention when the installing was progressing on my computer. Let me know. --------Thanks

 

Hello Lee,

SP2's uninstall file: \Windows\$NtServicePackUnistall$.

This file is approx 366 MB's. Can be taken off whenever you decide that SP2 is a keeper If taken off, XP will "clean up" the add/remove entry for SP2 on reboot - won't be there. If the uninstall file is downloaded again, the add/remove entry will reapper. Hot Fixes work the same way.

Regards - Charles

 

Pete and Charles: Thanks much for your replies. I guess I failed to make my question clear. I do not want to uninstall SP2, and then maybe re-install it. Some risk of glitches if I were to do that. The SP2 now appears to be working beautifully--and I want to keep it.

What I want to do is to find [and then delete] any "backup" stuff that the SP2 install procedure put on my hard drive. I can't find anything using Windows Explorer. Is there any "backUp" stuff [files and or folders], from the
sp2 install procedure, now on my hard drive? Can you help me find it? Thanks!! ---Lee

 

What I want to do is to find [and then delete] any "backup" stuff that the SP2 install procedure put on my hard drive.

Lee, SP2's uninstall file: \Windows\$NtServicePackUnistall$ That is the backup. It contains all the XP files that were replaced by SP2.

I can't find anything using Windows Explorer.

The reason you can't find it is because it's a hidden file. To see it, bring up the drive > Tools > Folder options > View tab > scroll down to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and tick.

Regards - Charles

 

Charlesvar: thanks again!! Dummy me, I just did not understand until you explained.

To accopmplish what I want to do, can I NOT run sp2 unistall from the ControlPanel-Add/Remove, but rather just go to the hidden file you told me how to find, and then just DELETE that file? Would that get me in trouble?

Thanks again and again. LEE

 

Hello Lee,

but rather just go to the hidden file you told me how to find, and then just DELETE that file? Would that get me in trouble?

That's EXACTLY what you should do. Accessing the Add/Remove SP2 entry would uninstall SP2 - NOT what you want to do.

Shouldn't be a problem deleting that $Nt.... file. Reminding you again - deleting the file will also delete the SP2 Add/Remove entry on next bootup which is what you want.

Regards - Charles

 

Charles: OK--I will proceed as outlined in your latest post. I will be a happy camper [or maybe I should say happy surfer].

I think this completes and ends this thread. The administrator can delete it, I suppose, when he feels like it.

Many, many thanks. I love this Windows bbs website. ------LEE

 

Hi Lee,

I think this completes and ends this thread. The administrator can delete it, I suppose, when he feels like it.

Oh no, this thread is part of a knowlege base. Lot's of people with the same question can now look this up.

Regards - Charles