Very BIG size, "windows folder"

Plitter · 15 Dec 2010

You still didn't answer my question:

What is considered the norm for the Windows folder?

But anyway, I ran the program you suggested, and the upper left pane(I hope) is in attachments.

And here is the results of the cmd line you told the other guy to do:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>vssadmin list shadowstorage
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Shadow Copy Storage association
   For volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{afdc53ff-c967-11de-a3ce-806e6f6e6963}\
   Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{afdc53ff-c967-11de-a3ce-806e6f6e69
63}\
   Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 229.887 MB (0%)
   Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 320 MB (0%)
   Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 320 MB (0%)


C:\Windows\system32>

whs · 15 Dec 2010

I see you ran WinDirStat but did not highlight C before you clicked OK. Thus you did not get the details of C. I suggest you run it again, highlight C and then you will get a list down to the last byts. And you can explore all folders in great detail.

As to your question of what is "normal" - that is impossible to answer because there is no normal. It highly depends how and what you do with your system. But with WinDirStat you will find the folders that take all the space and why. Once you have this information, we can discuss the possible reasons.

Plitter · 15 Dec 2010

Ok, I ran it again and clicked on C: this time, the result is, one again, in the attachment.

I also added whats inside the Windows folder after editing.

whs · 15 Dec 2010

As I suspected, it is the winsxs folder that takes a chunk of the space. Winsxs is a very strange folder (it is actually more like a container). Rather than me going thru a lengthy explanation, I suggest you read this excellent article: Ghacks Technology News

You never answered my earlier question whether you installed and uninstalled programs frequently. That could be one of the causes of the large winsxs (because it keeps all the "old" stuff around).

Btw: My winsxs is 4.7GB, but it could be anything. I have seen as large as 15GB in Vista.

Plitter · 15 Dec 2010

I don't know whether I do install/uninstall things frequently, I don't think I do it more than I should, but I have installed and then uninstalled things here and there, but I don't think its too frequent, then again, who knows...

Is there a connection between the size of the program installed/uninstalled and the size the winsxs folder growth? If so then it might be caused by the big games I've played but then uninstalled once I'm done with them.

whs · 15 Dec 2010

Plitter said:

I don't know whether I do install/uninstall things frequently, I don't think I do it more than I should, but I have installed and then uninstalled things here and there, but I don't think its too frequent, then again, who knows...

Is there a connection between the size of the program installed/uninstalled and the size the winsxs folder growth? If so then it might be caused by the big games I've played but then uninstalled once I'm done with them.

Yeah, big games may do that. E.g. a great number of .dlls can cause the growth. If you open winsxs in WinDirStat (click on the + of the box in front), you will see all the little files framed in the color picture below. As you open it further (or click on the little color dots below), you can find out what is in there.

Plitter · 15 Dec 2010

So all in all there really is no safe way to make the folder smaller is there?

whs · 15 Dec 2010

Plitter said:

So all in all there really is no safe way to make the folder smaller is there?

I would not touch it - not with a ten foot pole. Do you really need that space on the disk? You could make an easy gain of a few GBs if you delete the hiberfile (provided you do not use hibernation). The Command Prompt (run as admin) command is powercfg -h off Then press Enter.

pparks1 · 15 Dec 2010

Read my post for more information about WinSXS. It's very misleading, at best
WinSXS Folder not actually consuming lots of space

whs · 15 Dec 2010

pparks1 said:

Read my post for more information about WinSXS. It's very misleading, at best
WinSXS Folder not actually consuming lots of space

Right, winsxs itself does not consume the space, but the underlying files do. That's why I said it is a "container".