toooooooooooooo many msp files

[greggustin]

my pal has a laptop
he has 27 GB of MSP files (in 40 GB HD)
looks like they are executing every month
he says he is not doing anything
how can we get rid of these?

 

[Dark Atheist]

format c: /u

msp files are Microsoft patch files, mainly used in security updates, try checking the MS site it might have some info or tools there that might be able to remove them if they are not required

 

[greggustin]

format c: /u

msp files are Microsoft patch files, mainly used in security updates, try checking the MS site it might have some info or tools there that might be able to remove them if they are not required

I did read that they are patch files and are not 'bad'
but there are hundreds of them, and in big groups on same day
about once per month for past 9 months
(had computer for 4 years)

 

[Johnny]

I would delete them and turn off windows update - Or, set it to update but not to download anything unless he says to. That way he can decide what gets done and what doesn't. Personally, I have updates turned off and use autopatcher.

http://www.autopatcher.com/

 

[greggustin]

ok - i will suggest that (turn off updater)
but then what do I do with 27GB of MSP files?

 

[LeeJend]

I only have 1 .msp file. All I do is run disk clean up under each HD's propertiesonce a month. It must be deleting the installer files.

 

[greggustin]

disk cleaner = nothing deleted - already trued that

 

[Johnny]

Where are these located? When was the last time CCleaner was ran?

 

[American Zombie]

Most likely located in Windows\Installer which is a hidden folder.

 

[greggustin]

Most likely located in Windows\Installer which is a hidden folder.

yes - found them with a file management program (from fineware.com)
(while looking for files over 5Mb)

will try CCleaner today

 

[LordOfLA]

you could just delete them all

 

[greggustin]

you could just delete them all

thought I read somewhere that if you deleted patch files
it might cause a problem with future updates?

 

[Dark Atheist]

shouldn't do as the patched files are already installed, its like keeping the .exe to a program just in case the latest version requires a file, the new security updates will have the files in it, it needs - they are safe to delete.

Do as we say or we will come round to your house and give you wedgies and chinese burns!!!!!

 

[greggustin]

ok - will try the CCleaner first
- to see if it does its job
if not, will then delete them
will report back later today - after I get to my pals computer

thanks to everyone here !

 

[American Zombie]

Just a heads up that if you remove them and then had to use system restore you may have problems similar to what is described in KB 814833.
Not saying you will have problems but it is possible.

 

[greggustin]

yes - that was my concern
especially as it is not my computer
I told him to buy a external USB drive
so we can store all the msp files offline

 

[greggustin]

MSP update

pal bought a 300Mb USB External ($50) for his laptop
transferred all the hidden *.msp files (25GB)
turned off Windows Automatic Update
everything seems fine (at this time )