Very BIG size, "windows folder"

[sandhee]

I am use my windows 7 enterprise for my notebook. my current folder windows size is almost 15 GB. I always update my win 7, use my windows update. whats the problem?what's I should be check?thanks before.

 

[richc46]

Welcome

I do not see the problem, my window folder is almost 13gb. If you want to get back some HD space, go to c drive, >right click>properties>disc clean up, including system files.

Windows 7 uses space for back up, system image, and back up and restore, plus shadow copies.

 

[whs]

I don't think you are outside the norm. But if you think there is a problem, you have to be more specific. Run WinDirStat and post the upper left pane. Then run vssadmin list shadowstorage in elevated Command Prompt and post the results. Only then will we be able to see whether you have a problem.

 

[valtonray]

thats pretty normal. as mentioned you can run disk clean up if you want but there isn't anything to worry about here.

 

[karlsnooks]

OK people, you made me curious. Windows Explorer shows me with 9.17 GB.

I do delete old restore points, use cleanmgr.exe (otherwise known as Disk Cleanup) and also CCleaner.

karl

 

[richc46]

Karl,

It is my hunch that the big difference is due to shadow copies, which you clean with your version of disc clean.

If the OS version of disc clean is used and you include the system files, do regular maintenance you will get results like yours.

 

[sandhee]

OK guys.thanks for all ur advice, i'm new in windows 7..thank again for all your post, its very helpfull.

 

[whs]

OK guys.thanks for all ur advice, i'm new in windows 7..thank again for all your post, its very helpfull.

If you use the tools I have posted above, you will get a better insight of how the disk space is being used.

 

[Plitter]

You guys are talking how its not out of norm, I would like to know what is concidered to be the norm for the Windows folder, as mine is now 21.2GB.

Thanks in advance.

 

[whs]

You guys are talking how its not out of norm, I would like to know what is concidered to be the norm for the Windows folder, as mine is now 21.2GB.

Thanks in advance.

If you install and uninstall programs very often, you may get a bloated winsxs folder. Check with WinDirStat where the biggies are.

 

[Plitter]

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:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[whs]

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]

Read my post for more information about WinSXS. It's very misleading, at best
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...folder-not-actually-consuming-lots-space.html

 

[whs]

Read my post for more information about WinSXS. It's very misleading, at best
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-...folder-not-actually-consuming-lots-space.html

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