Is there a way to clean up the WinSXS folder without rebooting first?
Windows Server 2008 R2
Everything I've read says you have to download Desktop Experience and then reboot, but I'm pretty sure I already have the Disk Cleanup utility it would provide anyway. But, it does nothing to clean up that folder. Ideas?
Everything I've read says you have to download Desktop Experience and then reboot, but I'm pretty sure I already have the Disk Cleanup utility it would provide anyway. But, it does nothing to clean up that folder. Ideas?
John
What it does not clean up needs to stay. This is a folder that cannot be reduced by much as it is a necessary Windows Folder. Perhaps look elsewhere to save disk space.
SOLUTION
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Besides the cleanup wizard, you also need KB2852386. Once that is installed the cleanup wizard will also be able to remove old Windows update files from the WinSXS folder:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2852386
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2852386
As John and jmac asked, what is it you are trying to do? or what problem are you trying to solve?
If your problem is space on your system disk, then run something like Windirstat (windirstat.net) (NB run it as system so it sees EVERYTHING) to locate what is consuming your disk space, and if that doesnt help post a screen dump of disk manager so we can see how your disk is partitioned.
If your problem is space on your system disk, then run something like Windirstat (windirstat.net) (NB run it as system so it sees EVERYTHING) to locate what is consuming your disk space, and if that doesnt help post a screen dump of disk manager so we can see how your disk is partitioned.
ASKER
I already had that update, and I see the checkbox for update files, but it finds none that it can get rid of.
Goal is to just free up OS drive space... it's down to about 1GB.
Goal is to just free up OS drive space... it's down to about 1GB.
ASKER
I use something called Size Explorer which catalogs all folders and their size... the WinSXS folder is at about 11 GB on a 12GB partition.
That is a normal size for WinSXS on that server.
ASKER
Right, but friggin Dell sent me this box a few years ago with a 12 GB OS partition, totally stupid. I guess they had no idea that the WinSXS folder would get so big. So, it's normal but unworkable. Any solutions?
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If you have that KB, and the cleanup wizard won't cleanup further, then that's it, your done.
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