How big is your Windows folder?

[Sumanji]

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 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?





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

 

[Sumanji]

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.

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

Cheers,

Su

 

[Sumanji]

Link to WICleanup, if anyone wants to check it out:

http://appnee.com/wicleanup/


[edit] This seems like a better option as it allows you to back up the removed files to an external drive.

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

 

[Sumanji]

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

Su

 

[Sumanji]

I must say, PatchCleaner has had no ill effects for me. All my programs seem to be working just fine, with no missing MSI or installer files reported.

Same here...

Adobe Reader auto update had a bit of a spazz earlier, but easily solved by manually installing and reinstalling the latest version.

(Can't be sure that was down to PatchCleaner, ofc).