How big is your Windows folder?

Soldato
Joined
12 Mar 2003
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Location
Arlington, VA
Hey,

So my 100GB system partition started out at 50GB full when I first installed Windows, all programs and copied over my personal files.

Today, about two years later, it was showing 18GB free :eek: I used Spacesniffer to find a bunch of crap (6GB worth of Google Chrome instalers, a 500MB text log file etc.?!) and I am now showing 31GB free.

I noticed that my Windows folder is almost 40GB, so I'm wondering... how big is yours? :p


8fljX7Cl.png.jpg


And more importantly, do you guys have any safe methods to downsize the Windows folder size?

I tried using a tool called "wicleanup" a while back, and that worked, but caused a whole heap of problems when uninstalling and updating certain programs (usually sorted with MS Fixit though).

Cheers,

Su
 
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I always find if your windows folder is huge its down to the winsys folder inside of it.

currently on my work PC this folder on its own is 10.5GB

my windows folder is 26GB in total

try running disk clean up and tick the option to clean windows updates as well, this may free up some space and a new feature added to windows.

check the volume information folder, this is where system restore points are stored so this maybe taking up a lot of space too. (hidden folder) this can be done through disk clean up as well and removing old restore points
 
Wow I never heard of Spacesniffer, I downloaded and ran it.

Amazing tool, I can zooming into all folders and files.

On my 2TB hard drive, my Windows folder is only 21.1GB but it very odd your are 40GB which is nearly twice bigger than mine. Think you will need a good look inside your 3.8GB DriverStore. I found 6 NVidia driver folders totaled 1.6GB I really don't needed inside my 2GB DriverStore.

Here 2 pics below what my 2TB hard drive look like.

C:\

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C:\Windows

K4k2irm.jpg
 
A lot of programs you install cache the .msi (these can be large) to C:\Windows\Installer (hidden system folder)for use in repairs/uninstalls etc. If you've installed a lot of programs many can be cleaned out if you no longer use them.
 
43GB on my Windows 10 Pro, upgraded from 8.1, that was upgraded from 8.

My C drive.

C%20Drive_zpsglid7paq.jpg

Windows.

Windows_zpsqvc8wo12.jpg

Will delete that dump file later, my TV card driver causes 10 to BSOD around once a week. They have not updated there driver since 2012 :(
 
try running disk clean up and tick the option to clean windows updates as well, this may free up some space and a new feature added to windows.

Yeah I tried running all the standard Windows tools, and they returned a couple of GB.


Wow I never heard of Spacesniffer, I downloaded and ran it. Amazing tool, I can zooming into all folders and files.

Yeah it's a great tool for hunting random space hogs. That's how I found the 6 GB worth of Chrome installers.

Chrome btw is bloody horrible for wasting space - I thought it was supposed to be a "resource lean" browser?!


A lot of programs you install cache the .msi (these can be large) to C:\Windows\Installer (hidden system folder)for use in repairs/uninstalls etc. If you've installed a lot of programs many can be cleaned out if you no longer use them.

I think this is what the "wicleanup" tool that I mentioned earlier does... it seems a bit scattergun though, because after running it, 90% of programs you try to uninstall or update will throw up .msi related errors.

So I'm trying to avoid using that program again... (although it does say it can delete around 11GB).


Hmmm you also will need to look into your system32\spool folder contain printer drivers, it is massive 583.8MB. :eek:

I guess I've used a lot of printers in my time :p I don't want to randomly delete stuff in that folder in case it fubars my printers though...

Cheers,

Su
 
The Windows Update cleanup within Disk Cleanup has helped a lot and was way over due. Mine is 31GB and has been installed for just over 3 years.
 
Just came across this tool:

http://www.homedev.com.au/Free/PatchCleaner

It found less orphaned installers than WIcleanup (10.5 GB vs. 7.5 GB), which makes me think it's doing a better job of determining which files are actually needed by the OS. Also, it allows you to move the files to another disk or drive, rather than just deleting them.

I've just run it and a moved the 7.5 GB off onto an external, so I'll report back if anything funny starts to happen :p

Su
 
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Just came across this tool:

http://www.homedev.com.au/Free/PatchCleaner

It found less orphaned installers than WIcleanup (10.5 GB vs. 7.5 GB), which makes me think it's doing a better job of determining which files are actually needed by the OS. Also, it allows you to move the files to another disk or drive, rather than just deleting them.

I've just run it and a moved the 7.5 GB off onto an external, so I'll report back if anything funny starts to happy :p

Su
Are you programs still in tact? If so, I might give this a go. :cool:
 
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