Is it smart to clean WinSxS Folder ?

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by endbase, Mar 9, 2014.

  1. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    I'm looking @ my WinSxS folder i windows and it is 9 GB big !!

    Is is wisely to delete the contens of that folder and if so how can I do it the easy way :p

    Greetz Base
     
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  2. lbt

    lbt MDL Novice

    Feb 27, 2011
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    No, you should not manually remove files in there. Instead, use the Windows disk cleaning utility to clean system files: h**p://i.imgur.com/ybTY0IY.png
    This might remove 1 or 2GB if you have never run it before.
     
  3. alexxf

    alexxf MDL Addicted

    Feb 9, 2008
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    In Windows 8 - 8.1 you can run this command: "dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup"
     
  4. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    I've been looking @ that but update files are only 257 mb so that is not real big time i guess
     
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  5. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    #5 endbase, Mar 9, 2014
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2014
    (OP)
    Running it right now and it is @ 50 % and cleaned up 3.2 GB nice !!

    But what does it realy do ? I don't know the command never heard of it :p

    Update: NVM looked it up
     
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  6. burfadel

    burfadel MDL EXE>MSP/CAB

    Aug 19, 2009
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    You could even go one step further:
    dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase

    But this will mean you can no longer uninstall existing installed updates unless they become replaced by a newer update.
     
  7. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    Yeah that is one step beyond what i want :rolleyes:
     
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  8. acyuta

    acyuta MDL Expert

    Mar 8, 2010
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    Run cmd as administrator

    For windows 8
    dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

    For windows 8.1
    dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase

    Please note that the process is faster in 8.1 than in 8. In 8, even on a SSD, if you run it a first time, it might take an hour. If you cancel it during the cleanup and then restart, then it will go into `preparing to configure...' and that could take an hour.
    So if you run the command, be sure to let it complete. On a conventional hard disk, if it takes 60-90 mins in 8, it may take <10 mins on 8.1. 8.1/ssd is only 3-4 mins.
    Then restart and see the difference.
     
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  9. naseap

    naseap MDL Senior Member

    Jul 25, 2009
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    I ran this command to do a cleanup and found a component store corruption.

    CSI Payload Corrupt(Fixed)amd64_prncacla.inf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_9590ba64d5b91f79\Amd64\CNBJ2530.DPB

    I ran "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth", it fixed the problem. What exactly is this file.
     
  10. abbodi1406

    abbodi1406 MDL KB0000001

    Feb 19, 2011
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    Because the first command delta-compress the superseded components, and that will require time and processing resources

    whereas the second command actually remove the superseded components entirely, so faster :D
    and you can use the first command on Win8.1 also
     
  11. acyuta

    acyuta MDL Expert

    Mar 8, 2010
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    From your post, it looks like second command is better in freeing up more space. OK, so can I use the second command on win 8 too.

    In win 8, I usually do disk cleanup, and then clean up system files. Whether I go this way or thru cmd, it can take an hour to complete on first cleanup. Through some hard knocks, I learnt that it is far better to be patient and let it complete rather than cancelling disk cleanup/cutting or stopping cmd before it is 100%.
    In win 8.1, I use cmd and it is very fast perhaps 2-3 mins on first install.
     
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  12. murphy78

    murphy78 MDL DISM Enthusiast

    Nov 18, 2012
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    9GB is fairly large. Mine is lil over 5GB
    I suspect you have a lot of outdated updates just sittin there.
    You have 2 options:
    dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

    or

    dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase

    resetbase variant will completely remove the KB uninstall information and change the current files to permanent status
    Running without resetbase will just recompress the folder and only remove duplicate superceded updates (think I'm saying that right)
     
  13. acyuta

    acyuta MDL Expert

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    Mine is 5.88 GB on 8.1 with resetbase command used regularly say a week and then after all updates.
     
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  14. carbotpc

    carbotpc MDL Novice

    Sep 22, 2012
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    i can use this for win 7 sp1?
     
  15. murphy78

    murphy78 MDL DISM Enthusiast

    Nov 18, 2012
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    No, but win7 doesn't have the huge winsxs problem that 8 has because the win7 hotfixes are actually pretty small
     
  16. acyuta

    acyuta MDL Expert

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  17. carbotpc

    carbotpc MDL Novice

    Sep 22, 2012
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    Thank you Murphy and Acyuta
     
  18. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    Thx Everybody I now have shrinked the WinSxS folder to 4.5 GB seems to be legit :p
     
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  19. abbodi1406

    abbodi1406 MDL KB0000001

    Feb 19, 2011
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    Yes it's better, but it will make updates uninstallables until they are fully superseded and you run the command again

    no, resetbase is exclusive to win8.1