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Where does Vista keep its Undo/Rollback Files for Windows Update?

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XRaySpeX

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Aug 11, 2008, 9:49:19 PM8/11/08
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Under XP, Windows Update keeps copies of the the (old) files that it
replaced, so that it can undo/rollback the changes it made upon doing an
Uninstall of an Update.

It keeps these copies in folders like $NtUninstallKBnnnnnn$ within the
\WINDOWS folder.

Where does Vista keep its equivalent backup files?


TaurArian

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Aug 11, 2008, 11:49:06 PM8/11/08
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At the moment, I don't think anyone really knows. I've been looking into it
but can't seem to find an answer to that one either.
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--------------------------------
TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009
Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org

TaurArian

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Aug 12, 2008, 4:17:07 AM8/12/08
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Okay what I've found out -

The uninstall information is stored by Volume Shadow Copy service. Which means that after
every update, the Volume Shadow Copy service only backs up the updated files. So in
Windows Vista, it is a differential backup other than a full backup.This is suppose to
save disk space. So what does that all mean? You just can't manually remove the uninstall
files like you did in WindowXP.

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TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
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How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
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"XRaySpeX" <XRay...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
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XRaySpeX

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Aug 12, 2008, 7:03:15 PM8/12/08
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Thanks.
Where are these shadow copies held? They must be somewhere on the HD.

I suspect that Windows Updates' uninstall stuff is held under the folders:
\WINDOWS\servicing\Packages\
and
\WINDOWS\System32\catroot\{Some CLSID}\

TaurArian

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Aug 12, 2008, 10:43:07 PM8/12/08
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Don't know, never tried to find it. Have you done some research of your own -

I've just been reading -
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/02/18/recover-files-with-previous-versions-volume-shadow-copy-in-vista-home-basic-and-premium-with-shadowexplorer/

I sure there are other articles on the internet which may interest you.


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TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2009
Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org

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