JSI Tip 3501. Managing Service Pack Folders in Windows 2000.

If you installed a Windows 2000 Service Pack with the uninstall option, the original version of files replaced by the service pack are stored in a hidden folder at %SystemRoot%$NtServicePackUninstall$.

Once you determine that there will NEVER be a need to uninstall the service pack, you can perform the following procedure:

1. Delete the $NtServicePackUninstall$ sub-folder.

2. Use Regedt32 to navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallWindows 2000 Service Pack n,
    where n is the service pack version number.

3. Delete the Windows 2000 Service Pack n sub-key.

Another folder that gets created when you install a Windows 2000 Service Pack is %SystemRoot%ServicePackFiles. This is the folder that contains all the new service packs files and allows you to change the state (install / uninstall) Windows components, as described in tip 2914 A Windows 2000 Service Pack does NOT have to be reinstalled when you changeSystem State?

This folder also supports Windows File Protection and insures that SFC does NOT have to prompt you for the location of the service pack files.

In tip 2509 I want to change the location where Windows 2000 expects to find Service Packs, I explained that the location of the service pack files is stored in the ServicePackSourcePath value name, and can be on a network share. This last point should be emphasized. With the possible exception of portable computers, you can save considerable disk space by pointing all clients to the appropriate network share.