CSC directory AND subdirectories
Windows XP Pro Sp2 on a domain networked workstation
Ok i've looked at the articles on this site dealing with the c:\windows\csc directory and have read that the best way to clear out this cache is to go to folder options and on the offline files tab to CTRL + Shift + LClick on delete files.
Well it doesn't clear anything I have 8 sub-folders called d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, & d8
These folders contain 60 GIGABYTES of data leaving me with less than 850 mB free, which is IMO insane.
I have to get rid of these files and free up disk space.
I have shut OFF offline files, it isn't something we want used on our network.
HOW do I clear this out? We don't have another storage volume where we can just do a move of these files, not when the directory is 60 GB.
Ok i've looked at the articles on this site dealing with the c:\windows\csc directory and have read that the best way to clear out this cache is to go to folder options and on the offline files tab to CTRL + Shift + LClick on delete files.
Well it doesn't clear anything I have 8 sub-folders called d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, & d8
These folders contain 60 GIGABYTES of data leaving me with less than 850 mB free, which is IMO insane.
I have to get rid of these files and free up disk space.
I have shut OFF offline files, it isn't something we want used on our network.
HOW do I clear this out? We don't have another storage volume where we can just do a move of these files, not when the directory is 60 GB.
From this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c06621675.mspx
Deleting Files and Folders
You can use two methods to safely remove offline files from the cache without affecting network files or folders. You can delete selected files from the Offline Files folder, or you can delete all files associated with a particular network share by using the Delete Files feature from the Offline Files property page. Do not directly delete or move any files from the systemroot\CSC folder.
Deleting Files from the Offline Files Folder
You can open the Offline Files Folder and delete files directly from the list of offline files. Deleting a file this way removes it from the cache regardless of whether it was manually or automatically cached.
Note Deleting files and folders from the cache does not delete the network copy of the file or folder.
If an offline folder is manually cached and you delete any or all offline files in the folder, the folder remains pinned. All files in the folder are cached the next time a full synchronization occurs.
To delete files from the cache using the Offline Files Folder
1.
Click a folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
On the Offline Files tab, click View Files.
3.
Click the files you want to delete, and then on the File menu, click Delete.
In this view of the Offline Files folder, you can see which files are automatically cached (temporarily available offline) and which are manually cached (always available offline). If you delete manually cached folders this way, the folders and files in them are no longer pinned. You need to pin the files or folders to make them available offline again.
To delete files from the cache on a network share
1.
Click a shared network folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
On the Offline Files tab, click Delete Files.
3.
In the Confirm File Delete dialog box, select the shared folders containing the offline files you want to delete.
4.
Click Delete only the temporary offline versions if you want to delete files that were automatically cached. Click Delete both the temporary offline versions and the versions that are always available offline if you want to delete files that were automatically cached and files that were manually cached (pinned).
Files are also deleted from the cache whenever an offline file is deleted by using a normal user path, such as Windows Explorer, My Computer, the Run dialog box, or the command prompt. When users verify that they want to delete a file, the file is removed from the cache. This is not an effective way to clean up the cache because it also deletes files in the shared network folder. However, the files are deleted immediately only if the associated network share is online. If the share is offline, the local copy is deleted and the Synchronization Conflict notification is displayed during the next interactive synchronization.
Reinitializing the Cache
During normal operation, you delete cached files by using the procedure shown in “Deleting Files from the Offline Files Folder” earlier in this chapter. However, if normal methods of deleting files are unsuccessful, you might need to reinitialize. Reinitializing deletes all offline files in the folder and resets the Offline Files database. If any files in the cache are changed and not synchronized with the network versions, the changes are lost when the cache is reinitialized. You must restart the computer to complete the reinitialization.
To reinitialize the Offline Files cache
1.
Click a folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
Click the Offline Files tab.
3.
Press CTRL+SHIFT, and then click Delete Files.
4.
Restart the computer.
Caution You cannot undo the effects of reinitialization. After the cache is reinitialized, all offline files are permanently removed from the computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c06621675.mspx
Deleting Files and Folders
You can use two methods to safely remove offline files from the cache without affecting network files or folders. You can delete selected files from the Offline Files folder, or you can delete all files associated with a particular network share by using the Delete Files feature from the Offline Files property page. Do not directly delete or move any files from the systemroot\CSC folder.
Deleting Files from the Offline Files Folder
You can open the Offline Files Folder and delete files directly from the list of offline files. Deleting a file this way removes it from the cache regardless of whether it was manually or automatically cached.
Note Deleting files and folders from the cache does not delete the network copy of the file or folder.
If an offline folder is manually cached and you delete any or all offline files in the folder, the folder remains pinned. All files in the folder are cached the next time a full synchronization occurs.
To delete files from the cache using the Offline Files Folder
1.
Click a folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
On the Offline Files tab, click View Files.
3.
Click the files you want to delete, and then on the File menu, click Delete.
In this view of the Offline Files folder, you can see which files are automatically cached (temporarily available offline) and which are manually cached (always available offline). If you delete manually cached folders this way, the folders and files in them are no longer pinned. You need to pin the files or folders to make them available offline again.
To delete files from the cache on a network share
1.
Click a shared network folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
On the Offline Files tab, click Delete Files.
3.
In the Confirm File Delete dialog box, select the shared folders containing the offline files you want to delete.
4.
Click Delete only the temporary offline versions if you want to delete files that were automatically cached. Click Delete both the temporary offline versions and the versions that are always available offline if you want to delete files that were automatically cached and files that were manually cached (pinned).
Files are also deleted from the cache whenever an offline file is deleted by using a normal user path, such as Windows Explorer, My Computer, the Run dialog box, or the command prompt. When users verify that they want to delete a file, the file is removed from the cache. This is not an effective way to clean up the cache because it also deletes files in the shared network folder. However, the files are deleted immediately only if the associated network share is online. If the share is offline, the local copy is deleted and the Synchronization Conflict notification is displayed during the next interactive synchronization.
Reinitializing the Cache
During normal operation, you delete cached files by using the procedure shown in “Deleting Files from the Offline Files Folder” earlier in this chapter. However, if normal methods of deleting files are unsuccessful, you might need to reinitialize. Reinitializing deletes all offline files in the folder and resets the Offline Files database. If any files in the cache are changed and not synchronized with the network versions, the changes are lost when the cache is reinitialized. You must restart the computer to complete the reinitialization.
To reinitialize the Offline Files cache
1.
Click a folder, and then on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
2.
Click the Offline Files tab.
3.
Press CTRL+SHIFT, and then click Delete Files.
4.
Restart the computer.
Caution You cannot undo the effects of reinitialization. After the cache is reinitialized, all offline files are permanently removed from the computer.
ASKER
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear.
This procedure does NOTHING.
Viewing Offline files shows NOTHING there are NO files in offfline files.
There are over 60 Gigabytes of files in the following directories:
C:\windows\csc\d1
C:\windows\csc\d2
C:\windows\csc\d3
C:\windows\csc\d4
C:\windows\csc\d5
C:\windows\csc\d6
C:\windows\csc\d7
C:\windows\csc\d8
all of these files are named with what appears to be a Hexidecimal nomenclature and have no extension.
This procedure does NOTHING.
Viewing Offline files shows NOTHING there are NO files in offfline files.
There are over 60 Gigabytes of files in the following directories:
C:\windows\csc\d1
C:\windows\csc\d2
C:\windows\csc\d3
C:\windows\csc\d4
C:\windows\csc\d5
C:\windows\csc\d6
C:\windows\csc\d7
C:\windows\csc\d8
all of these files are named with what appears to be a Hexidecimal nomenclature and have no extension.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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If you worry about this solution, just rename the folder to "cscbackup", reboot the machine and if the system boots up perfectly, delete the folder ;) But make sure to disable the whole offline files function before.
When using the Microsoft method, are you logged in as the user that created the offline files?
SOLUTION
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Updated version of LeeTutor's link:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457104.aspx - text shown is about 1/3rd way down.
i had this prob on a laptop, and Unticking all the Use Offline Files boxes did not remove the files. Instead, I had to REtick the Use Offline Files, and then click the Delete Files button.
this is all under Explorer.. Tools.. Options.. Offline Files tab, of course.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457104.aspx - text shown is about 1/3rd way down.
i had this prob on a laptop, and Unticking all the Use Offline Files boxes did not remove the files. Instead, I had to REtick the Use Offline Files, and then click the Delete Files button.
this is all under Explorer.. Tools.. Options.. Offline Files tab, of course.
ASKER
Offline Files is UNchecked ... when I check the box and then click <View Files> its empty.