Add/Remove Software Updates

My Add/Remove part of my control panel has over 155 Software Updates and it is taking up lots of room--many of them were there since 2004. Can I remove most of the old updates, or is it not advisable. PLease advise!!!

 

What software updates are you talking about ? Windows updates or applications ?

 

If your PC is behaving properly you can remove the Windows hotfix hidden backup files that begin $NTUninstallKB from the WINDOWS folder. There are two ways to do it:

1. Manually by copying them to a CD/DVD then delete them from the \WINDOWS folder but leave the now orphaned Add or Remove Programs entries intact. Only delete the $NTUninstallKB folders that relate to fixes not those for applications like Word, WMP, etc. Also, DO NOT delete the $hf_mig$ folder.

2. Running a script which also removes the corresponding entries in Add or Remove Programs. Download, extract and run this little script http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm Create a system restore point first just in case anything goes wrong during the registry updating.

I prefer method 2.

 

Thanks for the info

BurrWalnut,
Mahalo (thanks, in Hawaiian) for your help--it sure got rid of lots of Software Updates and it was done automatically with the link you shared.
Shakado