MSFN Forum: Huge windows folder - MSFN Forum

Jump to content



Windows Vista Forum Rules

If you have questions about customizing Windows Vista that are vLite-specific, please post them in the vLite forum, not here. If you have questions regarding the unattended installation of Windows Vista, please post them in the Unattended Windows Vista/Server 2008 section.
Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

Huge windows folder 13 gb, wow! Rate Topic: -----

#1 User is offline   hansen_dk 

  • Executive
  • Pip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 74
  • Joined: 27-April 03

  Posted 26 January 2008 - 04:16 PM

So I was wondering what all my space on C:\ was being used for, since the drive is starting to be pretty filled. I came across that my Windows folder is over 13GB!!! Stuff on my desktop, documents, and so on is in the C:\Users folder right, so what the hell is taking up all that space in the windows directory?? Had this been in 2000/XP I would have been pretty confident what I could delete to save some space, but I dont know that much about Vista.. I'm running Vista Ultimate if that makes any difference.. Any help guys?


#2 User is offline   Grake 

  • Advanced Member
  • PipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 369
  • Joined: 23-March 05

Posted 26 January 2008 - 04:38 PM

That's just Vista.

Minimum Requirements:

# 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
# 1 GB of system memory
# 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
# Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:

* WDDM Driver
* 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
* Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
* 32 bits per pixel

#3 User is offline   PC_LOAD_LETTER 

  • Well, I stole something else
  • Group: Super Moderator
  • Posts: 1,829
  • Joined: 13-October 07
  • OS:Windows 7 x64
  • Country: Country Flag

Posted 26 January 2008 - 05:31 PM

my C:\Windows 9.49 GB (10,196,250,070 bytes)
Vista Business

to get a visual breakdown of disk usage use:
http://windirstat.info/

you might find something in there that doesn't belong in there

#4 User is offline   suryad 

  • MSFN Expert
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 1,216
  • Joined: 17-February 05

Posted 26 January 2008 - 10:26 PM

My XP 64 bit on the other hand is a paltry 2.4 gb hehehehe

#5 User is offline   PC_LOAD_LETTER 

  • Well, I stole something else
  • Group: Super Moderator
  • Posts: 1,829
  • Joined: 13-October 07
  • OS:Windows 7 x64
  • Country: Country Flag

Posted 26 January 2008 - 11:19 PM

my XP 32 is 4.71 GB (5,062,624,566 bytes) but theres prolly a lot of junk in there

#6 User is offline   hansen_dk 

  • Executive
  • Pip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 74
  • Joined: 27-April 03

Posted 27 January 2008 - 07:34 AM

View Postgeek, on Jan 27 2008, 12:31 AM, said:

my C:\Windows 9.49 GB (10,196,250,070 bytes)
Vista Business

to get a visual breakdown of disk usage use:
http://windirstat.info/

you might find something in there that doesn't belong in there


Using this I found that my WinSxS folder takes up as much as 6gb or 43% of my Windows folder.. I searched a little for some information about this and what I found out is that this is a folder used to store .dll files and so on to avoid important .dll files overwrite.. But ****, 6 GB? On my PC this had not been a problem, but on my notebook I have limited amount of space :(
I hope some expert on this folder will show his voice :) because if it keeps growing as it has been until now, I will have to reinstall at some point, and I would HATE reinstallaing for a lame reason like this, because the system runs smooth, when there is enough space :)

#7 User is offline   cluberti 

  • Gustatus similis pullus
  • Group: Supervisor
  • Posts: 10,936
  • Joined: 09-September 01
  • OS:Windows 7 x64
  • Country: Country Flag

Posted 27 January 2008 - 01:20 PM

View Posthansen_dk, on Jan 27 2008, 08:34 AM, said:

But ****, 6 GB? On my PC this had not been a problem, but on my notebook I have limited amount of space :(

Welcome to the new DLL hell - now there's a way to avoid the old replacement of DLLs causing it, but the WinSXS folder grows tremendously. And deleting it is frought with danger - I've got a 20GB SXS folder, so 6GB to me would be wonderful :realmad:.

#8 User is offline   PC_LOAD_LETTER 

  • Well, I stole something else
  • Group: Super Moderator
  • Posts: 1,829
  • Joined: 13-October 07
  • OS:Windows 7 x64
  • Country: Country Flag

Posted 27 January 2008 - 03:26 PM

I couldnt find anything about cleaning out the winsxs folder but i did find this:
http://aspoc.net/archives/2007/12/05/how-t...ctory-in-vista/

hopefully somebody write a util that can determine what stuf can be deleted from there safely (would love to see that added in CCleaner)

#9 User is offline   suryad 

  • MSFN Expert
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 1,216
  • Joined: 17-February 05

Posted 27 January 2008 - 03:50 PM

View Postgeek, on Jan 27 2008, 01:26 PM, said:

I couldnt find anything about cleaning out the winsxs folder but i did find this:
http://aspoc.net/archives/2007/12/05/how-t...ctory-in-vista/

hopefully somebody write a util that can determine what stuf can be deleted from there safely (would love to see that added in CCleaner)



Great find but in essence I still dont get what that article did. It basically allowed you to move the SX whatever directory? How is moving a directory helping?

This post has been edited by suryad: 27 January 2008 - 03:51 PM


#10 User is offline   cluberti 

  • Gustatus similis pullus
  • Group: Supervisor
  • Posts: 10,936
  • Joined: 09-September 01
  • OS:Windows 7 x64
  • Country: Country Flag

Posted 28 January 2008 - 12:28 AM

The problem with WinSXS in it's current form is that you don't have any way to determine what to clean out/remove/delete/whatever and what to leave, as app uninstalls RARELY remove their SXS data. I've used vLite to remove the non-English stuff, and I've deleted some things without issue (like .exe files) - yet. I think what I'm going to do is reinstall with SP1 when it hits the web, and start paying attention to EVERY install, including windows updates, what files/folders get put there by which application and update. Then, I'll know what I need and what I don't (at least I'll know better - whether or not I can do anything about it is still anyone's guess).

Share this topic:


Page 1 of 1
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users



All trademarks mentioned on this page are the property of their respective owners
Copyright © 2001 - 2011 msfn.org
Privacy Policy