equivalent of NTUNinstall folders on Win 7
Hello, I've installed 7 on a work computer with an 80GB hdd. I've got like 2.5 GB free space. Where are the equivalent of NTUninstall folders on 7, so that I can get rid of old patch rollback files? thanks
June 28th, 2010 10:34pm

The equivalent (well, kind of) would be the \windows\winsxs folder that contains all actual system files and their previous versions. I would strictly not touch this folder, however, as you may damage the whole OS (it contains the whole OS, in a way). Why not use the normal way and delete unneeded programs by "Programs and Features > Uninstall" (Control Panel)? Or use the "Uninstall" feature of Windows Update (I'm not sure what "old patch rollback files" means)? "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
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June 29th, 2010 11:19am

When Windows Updates are installed, the files they replace are usually saved in case you need to revert to them. After a few weeks of healthy performance, you can elect to get rid of the old files. That's what I want to be able to do, but don't know where those files are in Win 7. Thanks
June 29th, 2010 7:04pm

When Windows Updates are installed, the files they replace are usually saved in case you need to revert to them. After a few weeks of healthy performance, you can elect to get rid of the old files. That's what I want to be able to do, but don't know where those files are in Win 7. Thanks I don’t know the location for sure but these two folders are the most likely candidates: 1. \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download appears to store the downloads as it’s quite large. 2. \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.EDB is also a large file. The file extension for updates is .msu not .exe as per XP. To rename or not to rename, it's your choice.
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June 29th, 2010 9:39pm

You marked the wrong reply as answer ;) Sanmartin is right here. The files are now placed inside the WinSxS folder."A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
June 30th, 2010 12:41am

An answer is still missing for the key part of the question of what can be deleted from within that folder, as equivalent to the $NTUNINSTALL folders. I am not comfortable going with that single answer, as the poster clearly is not familiar with the concept in question. Should BurrWalnuts anwer be the correct, somebody will need to verify it.Michael M. Thornberg System Administrator Accobat A/S
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July 2nd, 2010 11:40am

An answer is still missing for the key part of the question of what can be deleted from within that folder, as equivalent to the $NTUNINSTALL folders. I am not comfortable going with that single answer, as the poster clearly is not familiar with the concept in question. Should BurrWalnuts anwer be the correct, somebody will need to verify it. Michael M. Thornberg System Administrator Accobat A/S I have experimented by downloading and installing an optional MSSE update from Windows Update and it added 2 files and 1 folder to the \Download folder, the huge \winsxs was unaffected. The dates and times of \DataStore were updated but I didn’t examine the before and after sizes and numbers. In XP, one of the solutions to Windows Update issues was to delete the \SoftwareDistribution folder, we somewhat nervously used to suggest renaming it first and waiting a few days before deleting it. I see no reason for Vista and Windows 7 to be any different.
July 2nd, 2010 12:09pm

I've looked into that \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder. It mainly consists of MSE Antimalware Definition files (> 90%) and a few 12-45 kB files that aren't identified. The whole \Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder contains a measly amount of 158 MB, divided in 121 MB MSE definition files, a 32 MB *.edb index file for those, and some small files to redirect the old "Microsoft Update" pointers to the new, unified "Windows Update". If anyone wants to delete that, probably it won't harm too much, even if I don't see the need for it. On the other hand, all updated system files are in the \winsxs folder, along with previous versions that are preserved for cases where an update gives unwanted side effects and you want to roll back to the old version, simply by clicking on "Uninstall"."I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
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July 2nd, 2010 7:48pm

An answer is still missing for the key part of the question of what can be deleted from within that folder, as equivalent to the $NTUNINSTALL folders. Delete NOTHING from the WinSxS folder or you will break your Windows!"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
July 3rd, 2010 3:33am

I have experimented by downloading and installing an optional MSSE update from Windows Update and it added 2 files and 1 folder to the \Download folder, the huge \winsxs was unaffected. MSE Update is not a Windows Update. Windows a Windows 7 update and install it and you'll see that they are placed inside the WinSxS folder."A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
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July 3rd, 2010 3:34am

The reason I tested it on a MSSE download was because it was the only outstanding download on my Windows 7 x86 machine. I have just carried out a little detective work on my Windows 7 x64 test system: 1. I installed one update (KB972270), which was cited by Windows Update as 575KB in size. 2. The \Download folder increased by 37 files and 10 folders, of which 8 were empty. The disk space used increased by 9.1MB. 3. The \winsxs (side-by-side) folder increased by 41 files and 8 folders. Not surprisingly, the size of the folder stayed at 5.45GB, i.e. I only checked the Properties Tab, as it would have been too labour-intensive to identify the additions. Interesting, eh?
July 3rd, 2010 5:06pm

Sorry, I checked this, too. I know when I've installed this specific update ("View update history"), I found it easily in the \winsxs folder, and there's really no single trace of it in the \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder. Perhaps you should simply forget the habits from XP and accept that Windows 7 is intentionally designed in a way to prevent you from deleting "previous versions" as you like it (why do you think there is a "previous version" tab in the file properties? To invite you to delete them?)."I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
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July 3rd, 2010 11:00pm

For anyone who is still interested, here are the results of my latest, and positively last, Windows Update test on a Windows 7 x64 computer: A1. Checking Windows Update for missing updates (of which there are 25), I selected one to be downloaded via Windows Catalog as opposed to Windows Update. I downloaded KB975467 to the Desktop. It was cited as 287KB in WU, 446KB in WC and increased slightly to 447KB on the Desktop. A2. After installation, the \Download folder increased by 2 files and 2 folders (totalling 200KB). A3. The \winsxs folder increased by 23 files and 4 folders. A4. This one update created over 50 registry entries in HKLM\SW\MS\Win\CV\Component Based Servicing (abbr). B1. I renamed \Download to \DownloadOLD (effectively deleting it) and installed KB971468 (305KB) via Windows Update. B2. After installation, a new \Download folder was created with 19 files and 6 folders. 4 of the folders were empty and have names beginning AMD..... and appearing to match registry entries). B3. The \winsxs folder increased by 4 files and 4 folders. Make what you will of this.
July 4th, 2010 3:48pm

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