Abnormally large Windows folder, size reduction possible?

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  1. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #1

    Abnormally large Windows folder, size reduction possible?


    Hi,

    For a while now my Windows folder has been taking up more space on my 60GB SSD than I think it should. The size breakdown goes like this:

    C:/Windows - 28 GB

    - winsxs - 11.65 GB
    - System32 - 8.45 GB
    - Assembly - 1.63 GB
    - SysWOW64 - 1.30 GB
    - Installer - 1.17 GB
    - Microsoft.NET - 1.03 GB
    - SoftwareDistribution - 0.85 GB

    I do regular registry fixes and temp file cleans, and I do regular inspections on my drives to remove unnecessary files and programs. However, the large increase in my Windows folder which happened about 6 months ago is really bothering me.

    Is there any way get rid of some excess files? Or is this just a case of Windows inaccurately showing the actual amount of free space due to hard links?

    Help is appreciated, thanks :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,025
    Linux Lite 3.2 x64; Windows 7, 8.1
       #2

    Have you run disk cleanup?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Yeah I do it often, and I also remove the old windows updates.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Is system32 supposed to be that big?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,025
    Linux Lite 3.2 x64; Windows 7, 8.1
       #5

    I have a fully updated, but minimal, home premium x64 system here. Only bare windows updates. System32 is 3.1GB. WinSxS is 9.8gb.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    So do you reckon the fact that I've installed every windows update available to me has caused both folders to expand?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,025
    Linux Lite 3.2 x64; Windows 7, 8.1
       #7

    If you've installed Recommended updates, that's going to affect it. Peripherals will affect it. And if the install has a long history of program installations, that's going to affect winsxs. Depending on the shell version, Disk Cleanup may offer system file cleanup as a separate function. This can add up to 3GB to the slimming, when it includes the service pack files, etc. But it sounds like you've hit that.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Yeah I've done all Disk Cleanup can do.

    I'm just a bit annoyed, as somehow the windows folder has grown about 6 GB in 6 months.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,485
    W7 Pro SP1 64bit
       #9

    ProfPepper said:
    ...I do regular registry fixes...
    Why?
    Let me know if you ever come across this situation:
    computer was working fine
    cleaned? fixed? registry
    computer now works noticeably better


    Including the patches/updates offered yesterday, the Windows folder is 19GB (17.2GB after disk cleanup). This was gathered from a W7pro64bit virtual machine that has very little else installed:

    Abnormally large Windows folder, size reduction possible?-win.png

    As you mentioned, these values are impacted by hard links.

    There are tools that let you see the size of folders as a column in a explorer like view. I just don't use tools like that - so I cannot suggest one. If you find one that you like, let me know and I'll see about installing it into that same virtual machine. Then we can locate which folder is abnormally high. That said, the Windows folder on this laptop is 27.8GB.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    I use Folder Size (Folder Size - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com) to see the usage of my folders.

    As for the registry files, it's just something I've always done thinking that it maintains optimal performance.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Abnormally large Windows folder, size reduction possible?-foldersize.png  
      My Computer


 
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