Ghost files in the Window folder

scottshad · Nov 15, 2007

When I opened my windows folder I found 35 folders that are very light blue in color and the picture of each of these folders is very light, almost a ghost.
They all have file numbers, here is a sampling $NTUNISTALLKB891593$, $hf_mig$, $UNISTALLEmeraldOFES$, $UNINSTALLKB352221WXP......
I have found that the one that "KB" in there file number is a MS Update that failed to install. I have checked my history at MS and the one's with the KB's had not installed, but were installed at later time, usually that same day.
I double clicked each file to check the dates and they are correspond to my history with MS Update.
MY questions: 1) I am not sure about the files that have just letters, in fact the file $UNISTALLEmeraldOFES$, the CREATED DATE IS AUGUST 16,2005, I DID NOT EVEN OWN THIS COMPUTER THEN, I BOUGHT IT LAST DECEMBER! AND THAT FILE IS THE BIGGEST WITH 256MB. So...Can they be deleted or should I just leave them alone?
2) Can the rest of these folders(the ones with the KB in the file name) be deleted with OUT the fear of messing things up?
3) Does this usually happen when a update fails to install? (The placement of ghost folders in the windows file)
Thank you

DavidGP · Nov 15, 2007

Hi Scott

Those are the uninstaller files for Microsoft Updates and Hotfixes, they are the route in which Add/Remove lists these files so that you can uninstall them, if you delete those folders then your option to uninstall any of the Updates is removed, I tend to leave them, but they can be removed, you just loose as I mentioned the ability to uninstall them if anyone of them causes a problem.

$UNISTALLEmeraldOFES$ this one I never heard of BUT it could be one from the OEM maker of your PC, why the dates could be wrong and before you bought the PC is that the OEMs use Images of OS builds to install on PCs quickly and they are not always current dated, similar to that many files in Windows Folder ( system /System32 etc ) will be original to XP RTM or SP2 which could be as far back as 2001.

The file name colours are as follows:

Black = Normal
Blue = Compressed
Green = Encrypted ( generally if you used EFS )

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Ghost files in the Window folder

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DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member