Hey guys, I just wondered if anyone had any advice on keeping the winsxs folder on Windows 7 under control. You've no doubt been asked this question a million times but I've searched this forum for a while and to no avail. I use CCleaner, Disk Cleanup and WinDirStat at the moment. I've tried many programs in the past such as Ashampoo WinOptimizer and suchlike in the past but they never seemed to help with that particular folder.
Really would appreciate any advice you can give
Regards, Sam
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium x64Intel Core i3-2350M6GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
SAMSUNG 300E5A Series 3
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Core i3-2350M
Memory
6GB
Hard Drives
Onboard 500GB
Other Info
I'm really not too good at computer specifications and suchlike! :P
Why would you want to touch that folder to begin with? The general advice on these forums is:
Warning
Do not touch/change the winsxs directory or the subdirectories and files within. Doing so may cause irrevocable harm!! If you do tamper with those files, expect consequences as dire as Windows ceasing to function and the need for a clean re-install.
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 BitIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz6.00 GB Hundai HMT125U6BFR8C-H9ATI Radeon HD 4850
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion e9110t
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz
Motherboard
Pegatron IPIEL-LA3
Memory
6.00 GB Hundai HMT125U6BFR8C-H9
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 4850
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio/ATI High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer AL2216W
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Hitachi HDP725050GLA360 ATA Device 500 GB
PSU
Unknown/installed by HP
Case
HP generic case
Cooling
Intel Stock Cooling
Keyboard
HP Keyboard
Mouse
HP Mouse
Internet Speed
Download: 19.15 Mbps Upload: 1.67 Mbps
Other Info
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Network Adapter 802.11n Wireless PCI Express Card LAN Adapter
Ok guys, I really appreciate your advice. I just didn't want my new laptop coming to a grinding halt like the last one, damned winsxs folder on my old one was over 60gb :\ I just hope Windows 7 is better behaved hehe!
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium x64Intel Core i3-2350M6GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
SAMSUNG 300E5A Series 3
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Core i3-2350M
Memory
6GB
Hard Drives
Onboard 500GB
Other Info
I'm really not too good at computer specifications and suchlike! :P
Try to restrain your impulse to install programs that you may not keep. I think I've read that uninstalling a program still leaves behind stuff in winsxs.
Mine is under 8 GB.
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bitIntel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
WinSXS is absolutely vital in Windows; it was introduced in Vista to help prevent the so called "DLL Hell" that previous Windows versions experienced. Most of the so called entries in Winsxs are actually hardlinks to other files and don't actually occupy any space.
Windows 7 does a better job than Vista in maintaining the Sxs store. I've nearly 200 applications, games and other software installed on my system and the folder is only 6.1 GB as reported by WinDirStat....
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 x64 Professional SP1Intel C2D T9550 2.66 GHz @ 2.793 GHz (Thanks ...8 GB DDR3ATI MOBILITY RADEON 4670
All of your info is greatly appreciated. Not used to such friendly people on forums hehe. I will leave that folder well alone. I've done the things from responses I've had on here and I've just freed up 9GB. Deleted some restore points! I almost passed out in surprise at it.
Once again many many thanks for saving a lot of hassle and anxiety You all rock.
My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium x64Intel Core i3-2350M6GB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
SAMSUNG 300E5A Series 3
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64
CPU
Intel Core i3-2350M
Memory
6GB
Hard Drives
Onboard 500GB
Other Info
I'm really not too good at computer specifications and suchlike! :P
Glad we were able to provide you with good information.
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My Computer
At a glance
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 BitIntel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz6.00 GB Hundai HMT125U6BFR8C-H9ATI Radeon HD 4850
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion e9110t
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz
Motherboard
Pegatron IPIEL-LA3
Memory
6.00 GB Hundai HMT125U6BFR8C-H9
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 4850
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio/ATI High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer AL2216W
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Hitachi HDP725050GLA360 ATA Device 500 GB
PSU
Unknown/installed by HP
Case
HP generic case
Cooling
Intel Stock Cooling
Keyboard
HP Keyboard
Mouse
HP Mouse
Internet Speed
Download: 19.15 Mbps Upload: 1.67 Mbps
Other Info
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Network Adapter 802.11n Wireless PCI Express Card LAN Adapter
