Different methods of installing SP3

Hello all!

This week, I have helped a friend getting his computer back in working order. His backup hard disk crashed and since both hard disk were the same model and age, he decided to get two new ones. I started by cloning (Ghost 2003) the working hard disk (with a system partition and a data partition) to a new hard disk and next, installing the second new hard disk, partitioning it for backups and Ghost Images.

Next on the "to do list" was to install SP3 on a fully updated system, originally installed using a CD with SP2 slipstreamed. I installed SP3 twice (using Ghost 2003 to roll back in between) to test the two different methods, suggested in other threads. What I was looking for was wasted space in the form of sub folders in the "$hf_mig$ Folder" and "Uninstall Folders ". The findnings below are valid for this particular system but indicate the differences between the methods.

1)

Installing SP3 from a downloaded "WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-SVE.exe ", burned to CD and after installing, there was one update to be installed from Windows Update:

The "$hf_mig$ Folder" contain 157 sub folders, totalling 620 MB - 625 MB on disk.

There are 185 "Uninstall Folders" occupying 914 MB - 592 MB on disk (compressed), including the "Uninstall Folder" for SP3 itself.

In total, 342 folders occupying 1534 MB - 1217 MB on disk.

2)

Installing SP3 by a repair installation, using a CD with SP3 slipstreamed and after repairing, there were fourteen updates to be installed from Windows Update (the repair installation "rolls back" all updates):

The "$hf_mig$ Folder" contain 157 sub folders, totalling 620 MB - 625 MB on disk. (No difference!)

There are 17 "Uninstall Folders" occupying 47 MB - 30 MB on disk (compressed) and there is no "Uninstall Folder" for SP3 itself. (Quite a difference!)

In total, 174 folders occupying 667 MB - 655 MB on disk.

3)

I checked my own system (comparable to the one I worked on) which is a clean installation from a CD with SP3 slipstreamed, fully updated:

The "$hf_mig$ Folder" contain 17 sub folders, totalling 39 MB - 40 MB on disk.

There are 18 "Uninstall Folders" occupying 26 MB - 18 MB on disk (compressed), and there is no "Uninstall Folder" for SP3 itself.

In total, 35 folders occupying 65 MB - 58 MB on disk.

4)

Conclusion:

Installing SP3 leaves a lot of debris. Compared to a clean installation of XP SP3, installing SP3 from the downloaded file "wastes" 1159 MB but performing a repair installation, using a CD with SP3 slipstreamed "wastes" only 597 MB of hard disk space.

Method 1 and 2 both took ~40 minutes, including the visit to Windows Update (on a 100 Mb/s connection) but Method 3 took three evenings ...

5)

Cleaning up the debris:

It is recommended to leave the sub folders in the "$hf_mig$ Folder" alone since the installer checks this folder for more recent file versions. The operating system should be the same in all three cases so, how come a clean installation can do without most of the sub folders but not an "updated" or "repaired" system? Why don't they get cleaned out?

Using Method 1, some of the "Uninstall Folders" get duplicated, the old ones get a 0 (zero) added in the file name. I think that all those files (with a 0) can be deleted and also all files that don't have a corresponding entry in the Control panel > Add/Remove programs.

I hope that someone finds this interesting. If not, sorry for wasting your time.

Christer

 

Dennis,
you make me realize that I forgot to check the corresponding sizes of the SP2 installation, prior to installing SP3. Tomorrow, I will restore the Ghost Image of the system in that condition.

Christer

 

I restored the previous XP SP2 system, fully updated:

The "$hf_mig$ Folder" contain 156 sub folders, totalling 617 MB - 622 MB on disk.

There are 170 "Uninstall Folders" occupying 502 MB - 338 MB on disk (compressed).

In total, 326 folders occupying 1119 MB - 960 MB on disk.

SP3 installed from file added 257 MB.

SP3 installed by repair installation reduced 305 MB.

Comparing Dennis' Image sizes:

The SP2 Image is 5192 MB (compressed ~30%)

The SP3 (installed from file, unnecessary "Uninstall Folders" deleted) Image is 5550 MB (compressed ~30%)

The size (estimated uncompressed) of the system partition has grown by ~500 MB but I also substituted NIS2007 for NIS2005.

Christer