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Proposed AnswerHow to clean up old Vista update backup files?

  • Saturday, April 04, 2009 11:17 AMDunghv Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    To remove old update backup files in Windows XP, I can access to Windows Folder and delete all $NT...  folders or using some ultilities. In Windows Vista, I know only how to remove SP1 Backup by using a ultility provided by Microsoft and how's about other backup files for security, hotfix, updates ... How can I remove these files to get more HDD space? Is there any tool to help me to do this task?

    Thank you very much.


    An IT Reporter from Vietnam

All Replies

  • Friday, April 17, 2009 11:21 AMResticted Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    i wouldnt mind knowing this as i had 4 gigs of free space but after dowloading vista updates i had 100megs...

    cant find were the windows update files are like u said...
  • Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:24 PMDissolve Yourself Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Dunghv,

    Check this link:  http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/11/16/safely-remove-windows-xp-update-backup-files-to-free-up-hard-disk-space/ .  It offers a freeware that might help you with deleting windows update backup files on your XP Computer.

    Regards.
  • Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:18 PMHorinius Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Dunghv,

    Check this link:  http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2008/11/16/safely-remove-windows-xp-update-backup-files-to-free-up-hard-disk-space/ .  It offers a freeware that might help you with deleting windows update backup files on your XP Computer.

    Regards.
    Nope, that doesn't work on Vista, as demanded by the original poster.
  • Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:40 AMGeorgeWKenny Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Proposed Answer

    There doesnt seem to be a directory available you can function this from in Vista - SO, answer is:

    Go to my computer and make a note of how much available space is on the C drive
    Go into cmd
    Type: compcln.exe
    command prompt will ask you if you want to keep the service packs permanently on this machine
    type Y for yes
    wait 5 minutes until the compcln.exe utility finishes
    Check your hard drive space on the C drive
    Voila...

    FYI - by doing this, you will not be abke to uninstall and SPs or updates from the system. Vista requires these files when uninstalling.

  • Thursday, June 04, 2009 10:43 AMHorinius Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    I suppose you mean vsp1cln.exe instead of compcln.exe (at least in my Vista, I don't find any compcln.exe) but this only remove files after installing SP1.  If your Vista has SP1 integrated, vsp1cln.exe has no effect.

    Anyway, your method doesn't work as the original poster had asked for method to remove files related to updates/hotfixes, but not just Service Pack.
  • Thursday, June 04, 2009 4:06 PMCédric BravoMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Compcln.exe is the tool to clean the Vista and 2008 SP2 backup files.

    vsp1cln.exe is used by SP1 :)
  • Friday, June 05, 2009 9:20 AMHorinius Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Ah OK.  In that case, nothing is changed as that is still not the answer.
  • Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:53 AMjklimek Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Horinius, I suppose that you can use Compcln.exe only when you have previously installed Service Pack 2.
    Install SP2 first and then try again.
  • Thursday, June 18, 2009 1:00 PMHorinius Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Well, you misunderstood the flow of this thread....

    I never asked to use compcln.exe
  • Saturday, October 24, 2009 7:30 PMJorgeManuelS Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    this forum topic may held solution
    http://www.vistax64.com/windows-updates/152379-deleting-old-update-backups.html
  • Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:48 AMHorinius Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    JorgeManuelS,

    If you're referring to the command "%SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535", I had known and tried it already.  But it doesn't clean up update files, unfortunately.