Clean Up After WinXP SP3

[rwinegar]

I just installed SP3 with absolutely no problems at all. After three reboots all is fine.

Where are the backed up files created during the installation? I would like to remove them. The size of my boot drive has grown considerably. I think it is because of these backed up files. I remember after SP2 there was a very large file to uninstall.

[rwinegar]

I found one of the culprits that bloated my boot drive following installation of SP3. It is a Windows folder called ServicePackFiles. It is around 480 MB. From what I was able to find out, it should not be removed.

I think I am looking for the SP3 uninstall files. I can't locate them. Since the ServicePackFiles folder contains all the old files replaced by SP3 maybe they are the SP3 uninstall files. Maybe there is nothing to remove to restore the drive to pre-SP3 size.

[rwinegar]

Forget about it. A lot of folks on a much smaller forum gave me the help I needed.

Moderator you may remove this thread.

[amdkt7]

So what did you find out? Please share!

[BipolarBill]

Yes, please share.

[no1_vern]

First:
Please do NOT delete it unless you absolutly have got to have the space. Think of it as a safety net or cheap insurance. The ServicePackFiles are exactly that - the files that are IN the service pack. IF you change your configuration or install new software the system might need these files to fix known problems that werent needed when you installed the service pack - or to correct user errors. IF you burned a CD(or made a slipstreamed DVD/CD) of the service pack then you dont need them as you have a copy on the disk.

IF you must have the space, download and burn a copy for later problems!

Its SAFER to keep a copy(not to mention easier) than to have to find someone with a working computer and connection to download them if/when your system has problems.

Second:
Any folder on Windows XP which is compressed shows as a blue folder.