DOCUMENT:Q164461 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Service Pack Removal Restores Compressed Files PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0,4.0 SP2 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbsetup ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP2 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Several Windows NT system files are compressed on an NTFS volume after removing Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2, and many of the files cannot be uncompressed. CAUSE ===== On an NTFS partition, the uninstall directory created by Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 is compressed, to save disk space. If you use Update.exe to remove the service pack, the original Windows NT files are restored with the compressed bit still set, regardless of the original state of these files before removing the service pack. Several of these files are in use by the system, and cannot be uncompressed while the operating system is running. RESOLUTION ========== If you want the system files modified by Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 to be uncompressed, you can manually decompress many of them by removing the Compressed attribute in the Windows NT Explorer properties dialog box. To uncompress the files that are currently in use by the system, you must either perform the uncompression from a parallel installation of Windows NT, or uncompress the %SystemRoot%\$NtServicePackUninstall$ hidden directory before removing Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. Additional query words: prodnt changed SP2 sp unable can't uninstall uninstalled deinstall deinstalled de- un- install installed uninstallation deinstallation expand expanded decompress ====================================================================== Keywords : kbsetup Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp2 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp2 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : :4.0,4.0 SP2 Issue type : kbbug ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.