Windows folder is 365 GB

[mickiedev]

So I ran a file folder program today to see what folders are at what size and it says my Windows folder is 365 gb. I'm no computer genius, but this seems very odd to me. The files that contain the most stuff are named the following:




Any idea of what these would be and if I could delete them??

Thanks for any help!

Mickie

 

[pparks1]

What folder are these in? Your Windows folder should not be that big. 30GB+ is large.

 

[karlsnooks]

Mickie,
Welcome to SevenForums.

An answer to PParks question will be very helpful.

You may find this program helpful.
TreeSizeFree: JAM Software - Windows Freeware

One cause of what you are seeing is malware of the worst kind. A normal online anti-malware program will not be able to remove the malware.

this why you need to run WDO, Windows Defender Offline, Link in my signature.
WDO will run a quick scan by default. Be sure to run a FULL scan over all drives.

 

[mickiedev]

These large files are right in the windows folder, not any other sub folder of that. I just ran windows defender last week, a full scan and other than some tracking cookies it came out fine. I also ran my norton 360 at a full scan and it came out fine too and these files are all older. Do you think its for sure malware? My computer is running really slow and with 12 gb ram I would think it would be faster.

 

[mickiedev]

Is the offline version different? I will try that tonight. Also I have a program similiar to the jam software, which is how I found this.

 

[karlsnooks]

Tell me what procedure you used to

ran windows defender last week

 

[karlsnooks]

Is the offline version different? I will try that tonight. Also I have a program similiar to the jam software, which is how I found this.

Yes, the offline "version" is not really a version. MS has once again made a very poor choice of names.

Click on the WDO link in my signature.
Install to USB.
When you run WDO, then automatically a quick scan will be run. When that finishes, then run a FULL scan over ALL drives.

 

[mickiedev]

I ran the one right in windows last week, so I will try this tonight and report back tomorrow. Thanks for all your help!

 

[mickiedev]

So I ran WDO and it said my computer had no threats. Any ideas where to go from here?

Thanks!

 

[windude99]

So I ran WDO and it said my computer had no threats. Any ideas where to go from here?

Thanks!

Did you run a full scan or a quick scan? Also try running Malwarebytes:Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Download.com Be sure to run the full scan in Malwarebytes.

 

[gregrocker]

Type Backup in Start Search box. Do you have scheduled backups? I recently deleted a series of those on an External which appeared to be old scheduled backups.

If not they could be Windows Update staging files that are normally cleaned up by Disk Cleanup. Someone will know for sure.

I would run CCleaner disk and Registry tabs now to clean up unneeded temporary files. It often finds 1-5gb of schmutz when I run it on a dirty computer.

Then I would perfectly organize your disk by running Puran Defrag Free Edition
Boot Time Defrag with Full Disk Check and Intelligent optimizer enabled on the Add'tl Operations tab.

 

[windude99]

Those look like Windows Update staging files which are normally placed in the C root and removed during Disk Cleanup. Where are they located exactly?

You can copy the name and google it to find out for sure since someone else has almost always asked google before.

I would run CCleaner disk and Registry tabs now to clean up unneeded temporary files. It often finds 1-5gb of schmutz when I run it on a dirty computer.

Then I would perfectly organize your disk by running Puran Defrag Free Edition
Boot Time Defrag with Full Disk Check and Intelligent optimizer enabled on the Add'tl Operations tab.

I don't recommend the use of registry cleaners, but you can use the normal cleaner with caution. Also, go to the temp folder that is in your c: drive and right click on the temp folder and select properties. Tell us how big it is.

 

[mickiedev]

it ran the quick scan first then I ran the full scan. I'll try the malwarebytes now. Where exactly is the Temp folder I don't see it directly under the c drive is it in a sub folder of that?

 

[FuturDreamz]

What application do you have running? anything that you know would download or generate a lot of data?

I'd say to delete all of those files an see if a program complains.

 

[windude99]

What application do you have running? anything that you know would download or generate a lot of data?

I'd say to delete all of those files an see if a program complains.

One thing I've learned from experience is to just leave system files alone. Only delete them throught safe programs like the built in disk cleanup. I have learned to not mess around with Windows so much. Then, I won't have to reinstall Windows a bunch.

 

[FuturDreamz]

To the best of my knowledge part of Windows creates billions of random files in the root directory, except as temporary files that you can delete no problem.

Checking my computer all I have is the following folders:
Intel
PerfLogs
Program Files (x86)
Program Files
Users
Windows

You may have folders used for some programs, but otherwise everything important should get it's own folder.




Or at least it should.

 

[karlsnooks]

To delete temp files:
WIN | type %TEMP% | ENTER
CTRL+A to select all
CTRL+D to delete your selection

empty the Recycle bin after deleting temp files.

WIN = key with micorosoft logo on top.

To remove temp files from other locations, the very best program is:
TFC - Temp File Cleaner by OldTimer - Geeks to Go Forums

 

[whs]

Those files look like some log files. Make a restore point and/or an image of the system and delete them. If there is a problem, you can always restore but I don't think that there will be a problem.

 

[karlsnooks]

+1
Agree

 

[mickiedev]

malwarebytes came out clean. I deleted the files in my temp folder which was over 100 gb, I have disk cleanup scheduled to run weekly which I thought deleted these, but apparently not. Any recommendations for keeping my temp files down, should I just run the temp file cleaner once a week?

Anyway I'm going to backup my computer and then try to delete those files in the windows folder. I'll let you know if that works okay. Again thanks for all the help!