Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool

How Use the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool​

   Information

This will show you how to run the Windows 7 SP1 cleanup tool to permanently remove the backed up files created during the installation of the Windows 7 SP1 to gain back more hard drive space, and remove the Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) entry in Installed Updates.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

   Note

The Windows 7 SP1 disk cleanup tool gave me back around 1.5 GB on my hard drive. This amount may vary on your computer.

To see how much space you recovered, make a note of how much free space you have on the C:/ drive in Computer before and after you run the Windows 7 SP1 cleanup tool. Afterwards, please post and let us know how much space you have recovered.

   Warning

It is recommended to wait about a week after installing SP1 to see how your Windows 7 is running with SP1 installed before deleting the SP1 backups as in the tutorial below. This way if you discover a issue, you will still have the option to uninstall SP1 if need be.

Once you delete the SP1 backup files, you will no longer be able to uninstall the Windows 7 SP1 afterwards. The only option would be a clean install or custom install.

OPTION ONE

Delete Windows 7 SP1 Backup Files Using Disk Cleanup

1. Open Disk Cleanup.

2. Select the drive (ex: C: ) that your Windows 7 is installed on, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
3. Click on the Clean up system files button. (see screenshot below)
4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

5. Select the drive (ex: C: ) that your Windows 7 is installed on, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
6. Check the Service Pack Backup Files box and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
7. Click on Delete Files. (see screenshot below)
8. The SP1 backup files will now be deleted. You will now no longer be able to uninstall the Windows 7 SP1, but have gained around 1 GB of hard drive space back.

OPTION TWO

Delete Windows 7 SP1 Backup Files Using a Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open a elevated command prompt (Run as administrator).

2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below) dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded /hidesp


3. After a few moments, you will see the The Operation completed successfully message. (see screenshot above)

4. Close the elevated command prompt. You will now no longer be able to uninstall the Windows 7 SP1, but have gained around 1 GB of hard drive space back.

OPTION THREE

Delete Windows 7 SP1 Backup Files Using a Command Prompt at Boot

NOTE: This option will also work on a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation at boot. 1. Open a command prompt at boot. (click on link for how)

2. To Verify the Windows 7 Drive Letter at Boot
NOTE: This needs to be done since the Windows 7 drive letter may not be C: if you have the 100 MB System Reserver partition created during installation, or if you multiboot with more than one operating system. A) In the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

B) In the command prompt, type list volume and press Enter.

C) Make note of the drive letter (ex: D ) that you have Windows 7 installed on.
NOTE: It helps to look at the drive size and label to help ID the Windows 7 partition/drive.

D) In the command prompt, type exit and press Enter.
E) Continue on to step 3.
3. To Delete the Windows 7 SP1 Backup Files at Boot A) In the command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute D: in the command below with the drive letter of your Windows 7 from step 2C above instead.

dism /image:[COLOR=red][B]D:[/B][/COLOR] /cleanup-image /spsuperseded /hidesp

B) After a few moments, you will see the The Operation completed successfully message. (see screenshot above)

C) Close the command prompt window, and restart the computer. You will now no longer be able to uninstall the Windows 7 SP1, but have gained around 1 GB of hard drive space back.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta, RC, and RTM
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7
• How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File
• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 FAQs and helpful links
• How to Remove Outdated Windows Updates in Disk Cleanup in Windows 7

 

[bagavan]

I still have these 980Mb of service pack backup files showing in disk cleanup and cannot either remove them or even find them.There must be a problem either with rt7 Lite or with disk clean up detecting false files with my integrated iso.Has anyone else done a clean install with a slipstreamed sp1 dvd and encountered the same.
I will be glad when the official Iso is released

Windows will imagine certain things..I am sure iso would be around the same size as well..

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

It does look that way Bagavan because ive searched the machine and can find no such files.Im dissappointed more than anything as this was the first time ive done integration and i cant get a conclusive answer as too whether its the dvd or disk cleanup thats wrong.Im gonna scrap that disk and wait for the integrated iso to be released and go with that one.

Danny

 

[Bill2]

Did you try running dism in an elevated prompt?

Also, I think the backup files would be a restore point. Check SR points before you installed SP1.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Did you try running dism in an elevated prompt?

Also, I think the backup files would be a restore point. Check SR points before you installed SP1.

Hi again Bill

Yes Bill tried that with no luck.There are no restore points prior as it was an integrated install so the sp1 went stright on.I did think along the same thing though thinking it may be a restore point but i deleted them all and the 980 Mb still shows in cleanup.There is no view files button option in disk cleanup for the back up files which is why im convinced there not there.Could it possibly be refering to a system image i made after the install??? I dont know im boggled with this one

Thanks Bill

 

[Bill2]

OK heres another idea. Does that 980 mb show up in explorer or say in windirstat/treesize/spacemonger? If it does maybe you can finger it.

Also, try rounding up all the .bak files on the computer.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

OK heres another idea. Does that 980 mb show up in explorer or say in windirstat/treesize/spacemonger? If it does maybe you can finger it.

Also, try rounding up all the .bak files on the computer.

These are the only .Bak files search found and its not among them.

Is there a way to search via file size ie over say 900Mb

 

[Bill2]

Something like size:>900 mb should work.

Also, I forgot, take a look in the dism log.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Something like size:>900 mb should work.

Also, I forgot, take a look in the dism log.

Only these over 900mb in windows
Just looking through dism log

Thats a nice trick though will remember that one

Edit Cant see anything related in dism log but it is a bit of a minefield lol

 

[Brink]

Danny,

I would recommend to create a restore point before doing that in case it causes a problem or a mistake is made. This way you can easily do a system restore to fix it.

Since you used a slipstreamed Windows 7 w/SP1, this may be why you are having this issue.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Danny,

I would recommend to create a restore point before doing that in case it causes a problem or a mistake is made. This way you can easily do a system restore to fix it.

Since you used a slipstreamed Windows 7 w/SP1, this may be why you are having this issue.

Sure thing Shaun
Im gonna wait until the iso is released and create a new sp1 disk. Im almost positive now the backup files are not there so there must be an error somewhere with Rt Lite at the point it should remove the files before finalising the slipstreamed iso.I remember the program did appear unresponsive on a couple of occasions whilst slipstreaming.
At least i can say ive had a go and to the most part it worked

Thanks all

Danny

 

[Brink]

Danny,

I would recommend to create a restore point before doing that in case it causes a problem or a mistake is made. This way you can easily do a system restore to fix it.

Since you used a slipstreamed Windows 7 w/SP1, this may be why you are having this issue.

Sure thing Shaun
Im gonna wait until the iso is released and create a new sp1 disk. Im almost positive now the backup files are not there so there must be an error somewhere with Rt Lite at the point it should remove the files before finalising the slipstreamed iso.I remember the program did appear unresponsive on a couple of occasions whilst slipstreaming.
At least i can say ive had a go and to the most part it worked

Thanks all

Danny

The first rounds of slipstreaming SP1 are bound to have a few bugs in it. At least you had fun with it though.

 

[bagavan]

The first rounds of slipstreaming SP1 are bound to have a few bugs in it. At least you had fun with it though.

Hi Brink

I had a really teribble experience of slipstreaming..RT 7 displayed it integrated successfully..when I tried it on my main system it got stuck in expanding files.So I have lost my hope in RT 7

 

[dypsis]

And how do you remove the entry from Control Panel > Programs and Features > Installed Updates?
The cleanup tool doesn't remove it.

 

[BajolCool]

Wok well for me.. Thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome BajolCool. Thanks for posting your results.

 

[mjf]

I gained extra disk space after the SP1 install this way. But found that
sfc /scannow did not detect any file errors before the removal but did file fixes after the removal.
So I suggest running sfc /scannow after doing the disk cleanup.

I made some recent images before installing SP1 so my way of "uninstalling" will be to reimage. I hope I'm not missing something?

 

[Brink]

Interesting. Thank you for the tip MJF.

 

[falconsr71]

Gained back 2.5gb!!

 

[Brink]

Hello Falcon SR, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Wow, that's a lot.

 

[essenbe]

I just ran the removal on my Dell computer. Gained back almost 3GB. But it said removing windows Ultimate files. I have Home Premium installed. It said the same on my computer which has Professional installed.

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