3.05.1408: (Hotfix Uninstallers) Cleaning overlooks "$hf_mig$" folder

[crobs808]

3.05.1408: (Hotfix Uninstallers) Cleaning overlooks "$hf_mig$" folder

 

Details: In Windows XP and Server 2003, if the "Hotfix Uninstallers" box is checked under the Windows cleaning tab, then the following folder should also be removed: C:\Windows\$hf_mig$

[Andavari]

The $hf_mig$ folder as per Microsoft instructions should never be touched! It causes severe issues as discovered in an older version of CCleaner which used to clean it, however it isn't touched anymore. See this topic for starters and pay close attention to what member wraithdu wrote.

 

See this Google search of the forums about $hf_mig$.

 

Edit:

If you've deleted $hf_mig$ on your system(s) I hope you made a backup before removing it to fully restore it!!!

[crobs808]

Deleting that folder has NO effect on Windows OS functionality, or any of it's components. The only thing that is affected is your ability to uninstall service packs. I work in a QA Test lab, and when I make all my Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP test images, I make sure this folder is deleted after all updates are performed.

 

I checked out that link, and the problems experienced by that user were specific to his situation and not a systemic problem of Windows XP/2003 family.

 

Also, since you are only removing the ability to uninstall SPs in the future by deleting this folder, then all you have to do is modify the wording for the warning dialog when checking the "Hotfix Uninstallers" checkbox, saying that this will prevent them from downgrading basically. That is the only sideffect of removing that folder.

 

p.s. - in short, Microsoft no longer relies on the hf_mig folder to determine what the latest version of a DLL file is when installing hotfixes. If a 3rd party software package includes an SP hotfix EXE package, the older DLL will be ignored, silently when installed if a newer one already exists.

[Andavari]

Mmm hmm.

[crobs808]

Mmm hmm.

 

Not sure what you mean by that, but just to reiterate, I would have seen a LOT of problems in our test lab by now if deleting that folder mattered at all. We have about 8 machines that I ghost to/from XP SP3 and 2003 SP2 all day long; probably about 2 or 3 times per machine per day, and are constantly installing software, running updates, etc, even after that folder has been deleted. At any rate, never had any issues, so just throwing that in here.