I analyzed specific areas and found only one that contained a large file of items. They are in the Hotfix Uninstaller so I checked FAQ's and the forum and could not locate info. I believe that entry is to clear the disk of space set aside for Hotfix's that Microsoft installed during Window's updates. If that is the case, and no recent Hotfixes are present (no new reported bugs), I assume that removing them (uninstallers) via CCleaner is advisable. In the unlikely event a Hotfix would have to be removed, is there an option to back-up those entries, as when registry cleaning is done? Thanks in advance for info.
I analyzed specific areas and found only one that contained a large file of items. They are in the Hotfix Uninstaller so I checked FAQ's and the forum and could not locate info. I believe that entry is to clear the disk of space set aside for Hotfix's that Microsoft installed during Window's updates. If that is the case, and no recent Hotfixes are present (no new reported bugs), I assume that removing them (uninstallers) via CCleaner is advisable. In the unlikely event a Hotfix would have to be removed, is there an option to back-up those entries, as when registry cleaning is done? Thanks in advance for info.
It is pointless to backup those entries on the system drive because the backup would use at least the same amount of disc space as the what you are deleting.
You could put the backup into another partition,
but I do not know if Windows would close a door and be unable to use it if you restored it to its original place.
I have Moved my hotfixes to a separate NTFS partition and replaced them with a reparse point named $hf_mig$.
I did this in March. The latest hotfix is ACTUALLY in the remote partition
But Windows Explorer can still see this and all the hotfixes at the original position and does not realise they have been moved.
I am hoping the rest of Windows will oblige should I want to undo a hot fix.
If you need information on reparse points, see the answers I received in my post on
http://netez.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=6642
You can find other information there also.
You can also search Microsoft, but that always hurts my brain.
They assume their information is being read by people who are happy to format and re-install Windows before breakfast ! !
Alan
It is pointless to backup those entries on the system drive because the backup would use at least the same amount of disc space as the what you are deleting.You could put the backup into another partition,
but I do not know if Windows would close a door and be unable to use it if you restored it to its original place.
I have Moved my hotfixes to a separate NTFS partition and replaced them with a reparse point named $hf_mig$.
I did this in March. The latest hotfix is ACTUALLY in the remote partition
But Windows Explorer can still see this and all the hotfixes at the original position and does not realise they have been moved.
I am hoping the rest of Windows will oblige should I want to undo a hot fix.
If you need information on reparse points, see the answers I received in my post on
http://netez.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=6642
You can find other information there also.
You can also search Microsoft, but that always hurts my brain.
They assume their information is being read by people who are happy to format and re-install Windows before breakfast ! !
Alan
Thank you Alan for your fast reply. (I hope I am inserting this reply in the correct place, I have never seen one w/o a separate reply box) I see that I was in the right place about the nature/importance of Hotfixes. I am a novice at this PC thing and although I follow your ideas and reasoning, actually putting items into a remote "partition" and reparse points....... this is the 3rd PC I have owned and in it's 4th year of use. During that time I have never had to uninstall a Hotfix because of a bug. I have plenty of HD space left (I'll never fill it), so that is not the issue. I am looking to optimize it's speed and reducing unnecessary files and keeping temp. caches low/empty seemed to be one way to accomplish that. Based on real life, is it practical to delete uninstall Hotfixes?. It is something I never would have thought of, but since it is offered on CCleaner,it appears to be a viable option. Overall safe, or really best to leave be? I tend to think that MS would have a command prompt method prepared if a Hotfix would have to be removed at a later time. Or is that unlikely?
Thank you Alan for your fast reply. (I hope I am inserting this reply in the correct place, I have never seen one w/o a separate reply box) I see that I was in the right place about the nature/importance of Hotfixes. I am a novice at this PC thing and although I follow your ideas and reasoning, actually putting items into a remote "partition" and reparse points....... this is the 3rd PC I have owned and in it's 4th year of use. During that time I have never had to uninstall a Hotfix because of a bug. I have plenty of HD space left (I'll never fill it), so that is not the issue. I am looking to optimize it's speed and reducing unnecessary files and keeping temp. caches low/empty seemed to be one way to accomplish that. Based on real life, is it practical to delete uninstall Hotfixes?. It is something I never would have thought of, but since it is offered on CCleaner,it appears to be a viable option. Overall safe, or really best to leave be? I tend to think that MS would have a command prompt method prepared if a Hotfix would have to be removed at a later time. Or is that unlikely?
Ever since there was DOS I have used a P.C.
Until 3 years ago every version of Windows would have a daily BSOD.
Since then I have used XP and a BSOD is an annual occurrence.
XP has the APPEARANCE of being much more reliable and safe.
Experience and instincts suggest that M.S. were running out of engineers for telephone support,
so XP was designed to stumble on as best it could, and to keep all errors and problems as inconspicuous as possible.
I have halved the size of my C:\ by use of reparse points,
and halved the time taken to create and archive a partition image backup file.
All the stuff I relocated is not wasting any C.P.U. time, and is never involved in defragging, and is available should I need it.
I am fairly certain that I can delete things such as $hf_mig$ and I386 etc.
but I know that Murphy's Law sees all and knows all, and will immediately strike if I do ! !
Incidentally, I am currently suffering a delay between power on and Log in that varies between 30 and 60 seconds.
Until last month it was consistently 20 to 25 Seconds.
Something has gone wrong with a catalogue file - I am now investigating.
I am confident whatever I need to fix it has been retained, and will be available when I know how to fix it.
I am ultra cautious.
I also have great respect for the bravery and assurance of those with an alternative approach to life.
Alan
Ever since there was DOS I have used a P.C.Until 3 years ago every version of Windows would have a daily BSOD.
Since then I have used XP and a BSOD is an annual occurrence.
XP has the APPEARANCE of being much more reliable and safe.
Experience and instincts suggest that M.S. were running out of engineers for telephone support,
so XP was designed to stumble on as best it could, and to keep all errors and problems as inconspicuous as possible.
I have halved the size of my C:\ by use of reparse points,
and halved the time taken to create and archive a partition image backup file.
All the stuff I relocated is not wasting any C.P.U. time, and is never involved in defragging, and is available should I need it.
I am fairly certain that I can delete things such as $hf_mig$ and I386 etc.
but I know that Murphy's Law sees all and knows all, and will immediately strike if I do ! !
Incidentally, I am currently suffering a delay between power on and Log in that varies between 30 and 60 seconds.
Until last month it was consistently 20 to 25 Seconds.
Something has gone wrong with a catalogue file - I am now investigating.
I am confident whatever I need to fix it has been retained, and will be available when I know how to fix it.
I am ultra cautious.
I also have great respect for the bravery and assurance of those with an alternative approach to life.
Alan
Alan, Your reply is duly noted. I shall erase that memory (the one in my head) of playing with Hotfixes. I should know better than mess with something in (or near by) my PC. Any digging into my ancestry would expose Murphy as blood kin, and one who would happily move into my home under the guise of a "short visit" and once he learned that I have not suffered a BSOD in 3+ years be "Glad to make up for that oversight" in short order. Good Day! Dan
I assume that removing them (uninstallers) via CCleaner is advisable.
Actually not advisable, it's an option that's turned off by default. With the size of hard disks nowadays removing them won't give much free disk space.
Actually not advisable, it's an option that's turned off by default. With the size of hard disks nowadays removing them won't give much free disk space.
Can the Prefech files be cleaned/deleted with relative safety from causing problems?
Can the Prefech files be cleaned/deleted with relative safety from causing problems?
Cleaning the prefetch directory does no harm. It is best to just leave it alone. XP will clean it up about every three days while the computer is idle.
Xp uses the directory to speed loading of programs. Playing with it in the past I have noticed a very slight delay loading programs until the directory is populated again.
The machine I really notice the speed is on my Asus eee pc as the 1.6 gig Atom chip does not run at 1.6gig all the time. It's usually at the 900mhz range = SLOW.