C:\Windows\Installer

Hi All,
I have 21 mega in this folder. CLSID looking Folders and a lot
of .msi suffixed files.
Can the Folder contents be deleted ?
[I mean without wrecking the PC, of course ]
What are the files for ? Just a log ?
Tips from you with thanks.
regards

 

These are the installers for "Windows Installer" programs, the ones that have an .msi installer package. These are supposedly improved installer/uninstaller packages approved for use on Windows by Microsoft.

If you delete them, you will have problems uninstalling, changing, or repairing any applications that used them for installation.

It isn't really a lot of space compared to the possible heartache.

 

thanks abraxas !
Most of the files\folders are over 7 months old.
I deleted them and will post back if things go haywire.
regards

 

If you get any more *.msi have a look at the Properties sheet and, in particular, the Summary tab. My Installer folder is 64Mb with one msi at 21Mb being an update to Office 2000. I've had to repair word 2000 a few times over the years and without the msi I would have had to uninstall/install.

Some msi's don't get deleted on an uninstall - bit like reg entry residue after uninstalling.

 

Thanks for the post ge.
I have not noticed any ill effects so far after deleting all files folders in C:\Windows\Installer - on the other hand I have not needed to uninstall anything since then.
I think I would prefer a fresh re-install of apps rather than
have a ~ 60 mega disk load to hump around daily.
I Drive Image the C:\ drive regularly and try to keep it lean and
clean so the imaging time is not overlong.
I still think these files / folders are maybe useful but not essential logfiles.
regards

 

I shall add that quote to the following list:-

It's probably just a rash.

I know what I'm doing!

I'm making a citizen's arrest!

What does this button do?

Relax! It's hibernating!

These are the good kind of mushrooms.

Nice doggie!

Don't worry. I've done this hundreds of times!

I can do this with my eyes closed.

It's perfectly safe.

That's odd.

God will protect me.

Hey! Watch this!

You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses on, would you?

I wonder where the mother bear is?

What duck?

 

Oh merlin,

I think this was not a wise decision. Using your theory of clearing space by deleting files simply because they are not needed at the moment is not a good thing. These packages have dat nfo on all the components that were installed using the msi. I think your going to find that a clean uninstall will be difficult. I believe you will see this error frequently:

Cannot repair/remove/uninstall/reinstall/add/find blah blah because *.msi is missing.

See:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/wininstaller.doc

NOTE:while this refers to win2000, it still applies. I just didn't search for the XP doc.

Add to that the fact that windows update is going to insist that you update the installer before downloading updates. Plus many of the newer software/hardware and net site installs are requiring the newer installer. Or installing it anyway. You may find more packages in this folder in the future and will still have to clean them out manually, if you choose to continue to do so.

Do you repair office? Do you repair IE? Do you update Virus program such as Norton (uninstall of this guy is difficult enough)?

I think you are setting your own booby trap.

 

I agree with both brett and goddez1 but Ann's response is the more constructive; to say the least. I'm glad of Ann's response because I wasn't going to come back.

As mentioned I've repaired Word 2000 a few times over the years. I would not like to reinstall as the current state includes the SR-1 update.

“...rather than have a ~ 60 mega disk load to hump around daily.â€

There isn't anything to hump around dailly - no more than the files in Sysbckup - they just sit there.

I'd bet that there were some msi's that you could have deleted - after examining the info in the respective Properties sheets - so the 21MB may have the potential to be reduced.

I'd strongly advise you to restore the last image and then see if any msi's are redundant.

 

Well I didn't tell you I can restore the stuff in 15 seconds flat
- thanks for worrying for me

regards
PS Brett's great post reminded me of a movie I once saw.
Cannot remember the name but Steve McQueen played the hero.
He was telling a story about a guy fell off a 27th floor
balcony.
Tenants of the floors 26 down to 1 could here him saying
"So far, so good - so far, so good .....

 

The Magnificent Seven

 

Right Brett again !!
I remember now.
Charles Bronson, Yul Brunner et al ?
Good film.
regards
PS Did the 15 Seconds restore - so you can cross this thread
off your "omigord list" Thanks everyone for keeping me in check.