What are these files all about ?

I hope someone knows what I am asking about cause I SURE DON'T.

Under C:\Windows there is a folder named $hf_mig$ containing 15 more folders with names such as KB834707.

Beneath that there are 15 more folders with names such as $NtUninstallKB834707.

In both the numbers and dates match.

In each folder there is a file named SPUNIST.EXE. I ( PAYING STRICT and CAREFULL ATTENTION ) I opened one of them. It Said " Running this will restore your system to the previous condition. " ( or something to that effect ).

Now. My thoughts ( be they right or wrong or just plain indefferent ) are that these are the uninstall files for Windows Updates. Even though I believe KB stands for Knowledge Base.

Or are they used to tell Windows what updates have been installed ?

Or is this an area where I should keep my nose AND FINGERS out of ?

BillyBob

 

Hi BB,

MS says:

FWIW, I leave it there. I do delete the other $uninstallxxxx$ compressed folders when I get around to it. I have other means of uninstalling if i need. YMMV so react accordingly. You may need to keep them longer and verify for sure that the update is working and will not need uninstalling.

 

Thank you surferdude2

I have not completely figured it all out yet but I will.

But, I do get the message ( I hope the correct one ) that the files in $hf_mig$ are used by the updates to ( hopefully ) prevent an update from overwriting a newer version file with an older one.

OK. I now realize that the $hf stands for Hot Fix.

BillyBob

 

You have the right idea. They're to cover MS's butt as well as yours in case they offer or you do some HotFix out of sequence.

 

Gee whiz. My trigger finger is working much faster than my brain. ( does not take much either )

I also get the message that the $uninstallxxxxxx$ folders can be saftely deleted once all is found to be OK.

Thanks again
BillyBob

 

I use a Doug Knox tool for doing the house cleaning. It leaves the hf directory alone and cleans the rest.

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_remove_hotfix_backup.zip

Unzip and run.

 

I already had that file but had been VERY reluctant to use.

But I just did.

BillyBob

 

After running the cleanup I ran RegSeeker and got them out of the Registry.

There were 15 files under C:\Windows but 25-30 references in the Registry.

New Restore Point ( named properly ) made after cleaning. But kept the old for now.

BillyBob

 

FWIW, $hf_mig$ is a post SP2 feature.

I noticed it when I deleted NtUninstallKB834707, the first post SP2 IE hot fix. I was tempted to delete the copy in $hf_mig$, but ran across the same explanation that surferdude did. Although I may still delete it, I don't do auto updates and am very aware of the updates on my system.

Regards - Charles

 

I went one further and deleted it. It comes back. I did that on more than one occasion, same results, so I finally rolled over on it.

To clarify, I still advise deleting it periodically but only after verifying that you are current on all HotFixes. The problem would be that IF you selected an older HotFix that you had declined before, it MIGHT introduce an older version of some .dll or whatnot in your system. That's always a concern since HotFixes have the power to circumvent WFT (Windows File Protection).

After deletion, it will not replicate until you install another HotFix. I also didn't mean to, imply that it will recreate itself with all the files intact that you delete with it. Those will be gone, poof. Forever.

 

I'm still of the same mind and still doing what I was back in Oct. when we discussed this Christer.

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?p=193650#post193650

So far, so good...still. Your advice is safest for those who aren't so daring since there's little to gain in the way of drive space or other. I just like to choke things that MS forces on me occasionally.