temp update removal?

alright well my C drive is filling up.. anyway everytime i seem to remove and clear up space something will take its place (not because of me since i dont install anything on C drive anymore).

Anyway problem is i had quite of bit of space freed up and then windows update start downloading service pack 3 (which can never install because i dont have the CD) but it seems that its still on my computer even after clearing temporary folders and running CC cleaner. now my drive is really low on space.. how do i remove this update since it did not install but is still downloaded.

 

I think it's the back up files that are using up your hard drive space. I believe they start with a $uninstallxxxxxxx. If SP3 is working fine then you'll have to unhide files and system files (not sure of the exact nomenclature) and search for them, but then you won't be able to uninstall SP3 ever again if you do delete them. The other SPs were the same.

Someone who's still on XP can confirm exactly where these files are stored and they do take up a lot of space.

EDIT: Oops, I should read the whole post.:-o What I said above applies to a complete SP install from disc and not WU though it still may apply but I'm not sure about that. Sorry.

 

yes i do remove the $uninstall files but back them up in my external harddrive should the need ever arise and i need them.

See i dont think service pack 3 ever installed.. because i remember that it alwas says unable to install everytime it tries. I think it just downloaded.. because i had something like 200mb and then i saw the windows update downloading something now i only have 30mb left...

 

Ouch at 30MB! You can't do anything with that amount of space!:eek Maybe that's why the SP wouldn't install as it needs quite a bit of wiggle room to do it's thing. Aside from emptying the recycle bin, killing hibernate and stopping system restore you can try using TreeSize to root out more garbage along with CCleaner. You probably know all this already, so sorry if I'm lowballing you.

 

BTW, I always at least burn a disc with the IT version of an SP3 as WU irritates me to no end what with all the reboots etc., and at best I integrate the SP into a copy of my XP CD using nLite. The IT version weighs in at 316MB and only needs one reboot. Try that after you get some room back on your hard drive.