Windows Update Cleanup

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2852386
For Windows 7 SP1

The update for that was already installed yesterday by Microsoft update so I didn't need to install anything. Gained 4.4 GB by following the instructions in the link. Do RESTART the PC after that!

 

Only 1.7GB cleaned for me on W7 SP1 but I usually stick to Security fixes with a select few 'Recommended' patches (stupidly time consuming going all the ones listed, most aren't even applicable anyway). This install dates back to the first week of the first public Beta of W7, I forced an upgrade when my Amazon pre-order came through because it was setup just the way I wanted - if I'd always installed all 'Recommended' patches through that time span, I'd probably have shifted 10GB+ with this new plugin :major

 

Sometimes the programmers at MS really seem to find good uses for their time. This is great...

Question about Windows XP. If I am up to date with updates on XP SP3, can I safely delete the blue titled update folders in the Windows folder? I read that I can safely delete them, but I am squeamish with the computer running so smoothly. I don't necessarily need the space, but for me the cleaner the better...

You know it would be fun to put together a group of people devoted to keeping Windows clean and publish a list of recommendations and guidelines for each version. CCleaner's "Include" tool is so useful for this, especially supporting wildcards as it does..:-D

 

It is a very tempting prospect to remove those folders which occupy a sizable chunk of disk space.

Deleting them outright is unadvisable.

There is a good overview here:
Remove HOTFIX Backups?

This utility, referred to in the forum post above, will properly remove the Hotfix Updates and the associated registry entries.

My two bits: Proceed with CAUTION.
XP_Remove_Hotfix_Backup

 

This program is good, but I've always used disc cleanup and that brought me to the same result.

Got back 3.2 GB today.

 

mjnc...

Thankyou for this breakdown and explanation of the blue updates files. I never looked closely enough to realize they are the uninstallers for the patches.

On your advice and based on this:

I'll pass on this one. I'm using 37% of the main drive (250 GB) as it is, and I'd like to have the extra space, but I don't need it enough to go this far...