What is the purpose of all of the Windows uninstall files in XP?

[Rembrandt]

I have never had to uninstall an update in all of my years working with Windows. Does the OS need them when looking at what I have for updates? Or does it actually use them when it needs to do a new update? I have uninstalled them before, a couple of days before I reformatted the drive to re-install XP again and it had no problems running any program that I would throw at it. The OS actually ran faster and I presume it is because it had so many less folders that were present in the OS.

 

[zacdl]

I have never had to uninstall an update in all of my years working with Windows.

I have uninstalled them before,

???? Kinda contradicting don't you think?



I am unsure of what your question is. The uninstall information is there in case the update causes any problems with existing software or other operations.

 

[Catweazle]

If you've had the update installed long enough to verify that it doesn't create any problems for you then you can remove the $NTUninstall........ files quite safely.

 

[calebb]

You can uninstall service packs from the WinXP recovery console (command prompt) if you run into a problem and still have the $ folders in your windows/winnt directory.