The WinSxS folder is taking up a lot of space on some of our machines and I don't plan to revert to old service packs or uninstall any updates so if possible I would like to reduce the size of WinSxS.
I found this article:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Dn251565.aspx
But this only works in Windows Server 2012
R2. The machines I have are non-R2 and these commands do not apply.
Is there a method for reducing the size of the WinSxS folder on Server 2012? (non R2), and if so is the method supported by Microsoft officially?
Also curious about Server 2008.
I tried the
disk cleanup tool but it doesn't have a button for cleaning "system files". This might be because I didn't install the Desktop Experience feature, I copied over these files to the System32 and System32/en-US folders instead:
C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_mi
crosoft-wi
ndows-clea
nmgr_31bf3
856ad364e3
5_6.2.9200
.16384_non
e_c60dddc5
e750072a\c
leanmgr.ex
e
C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_mi
crosoft-wi
ndows-clea
nmgr.resou
rces_31bf3
856ad364e3
5_6.2.9200
.16384_en-
us_b6a0175
2226afbb3\
cleanmgr.e
xe.mui
I'm trying not to install the entire desktop user experience feature on a server, just to get access to this cleanup tool, so unless you know that installing the desktop experience feature will enable the tool to also delete system files I'd rather not install it.
Thanks in advance.