Folder Limit

Uh.... do not touch the winsxs folder or move it or try to do ANYTHING with it what so ever. Only pain and suffering will result. :)

If your AV software is choking on it then my advice is to upgrade to a Windows 7 compatible version or jump to one that can handle it.

Wouldn't it be easier to create a virtual hdd? http://technorati.com/technology/it/...hard-drive-in/

I only want the default system setting to be in it, and for it never to add anything else. I'd much rather DLL hell than winsxs...

This sounds like a case of not really understanding the purpose or benefits of the side by side dll handling mechanism.

There is actually considerably LESS chance of program failure due to missing DLLs.

If you don't allow any programs to install any more CRT/MFC DLLs into winsxs then the programs simply won't work. There's nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by going back to the old XP way of letting programs install dozens of copies (identical copies) of the same common DLLs all over your HD. MORE disk usage and LESS security are two of the biggies.

Hmm...true...I just hope Microsoft will think up another way to deal with DLL's... And my winsxs folder does not change at all when i uninstall programs, so obviously programs uninstallers are not removing what they installed into there...I'd rather the old XP way because it's easier to manage than having winsxs. Plus, even if you do not install anything the winsxs folder grows in size...I am using Avast Antivirus, and it takes WAY too long to get through the winsxs folder... (plus if I get a SSD, winsxs will kill it)

Well programs cant uninstall anything from that folder becuase other programs may have become dependent on it after the original install. The common libs really are common. Uninstalling them after some period of time might break any number of other programs.

Eliminating the hibernation folder and VM or moving them to another drive will provide a considerably higher benefit for space reduction :)

Here is a good page on the entire winsxs folder:

The Secret Of Windows 7 / Vista Winsxs Folder.


That hard linking is why it can look like the windows folder is twice the size it really is to older AV programs or backup software end up checking all files twice (or more). The total contents of the windows folder is not really as large as it can look like sometimes. And av software and backup software should be able to avoid double checking hardlinks, but older stuff doesn;t.

[Edit]
Hmm, maybe that link isn't the best one, has some conflicting info. Though overall it's basiclly right.

Here is one straight from the horses mouth:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2...isk-space.aspx
[/edit]

Thanks =P
I use both hibernate and VM though.
It isn't really space I am concerned about however, just that Avast takes too long to scan the hard drive.
'Hmm, maybe that link isn't the best one, has some conflicting info. Though overall it's basiclly right.'
lol , my school has blocked that site saying that it is ' malicious' ...a very annoying thing to pop up...