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C:\Windows folder huge (11 GB !)

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Jérémie08 -  
 natsu -
Hello,

My C:\Windows\ folder contains 11.8 GB of data, which is abnormally high (especially since my C:\ partition is only 20GB...). I need to free up some space, does anyone know what I can safely delete? I'm running Windows 7 32-bit.

(I've already tried using CCleaner)

Thank you for your help :-)

Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 4.0.1

4 answers

  1. Jérémie08
     
    Otherwise, although my disk space issue has been resolved, after searching extensively, I managed to find the directories in C:\Windows\ that can be cleaned without messing up the system in Windows 7:

    Folder: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
    Description: Contains the installation files for updates (Windows does not delete them after installation) and can be emptied safely if no updates are currently installing. -> Yay, I saved 450MB

    Folder: C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs
    Description: Contains event logs (what happens on the system, allows you to see security alerts, etc.). It's possible to reduce the size of this folder by running eventvwr (Win+R -> Type "eventvwr" -> OK). In the left pane, right-click on Application, System, Security logs (the 3 biggest) and choose Clear Log. You can also reduce the maximum size of these logs by clicking on Properties (I set it to 2048 KB instead of 20MB) -> I saved 57MB

    Folder: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
    Description: Contains installation files for many drivers. It's possible to delete some large drivers here but be careful, these drivers won't be installable afterward. It's relatively safe to remove printer drivers as they typically come on a CD with the printer. -> I'm deleting the Nvidia and HP drivers as I have them on CD, as well as Canon and Epson since I don't intend to use them -> Yay, I saved 670MB

    Folder: C:\Windows\winsxs
    Description: The largest of all. Contains different versions of files and .dlls that accumulate over time, and these do not disappear even if we no longer use them. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know which files are unused, so no cleaning is possible. This folder fills up little by little with no way to do anything about it :-/ Mine is over 5GB but it can exceed 10, 15, or even 20!

    So that's still 1.177GB saved :-)
    I hope my research will help someone!
    38
  2. morganch
     
    Hello.

    There is nothing abnormal here, it's the system folder, especially do not delete

    anything.

    Mine is 13 GB.
    0
    1. Jérémie08
       
      But before it wasn't as bulky and Windows was running very well!
      I deduce that there must be unnecessary files that have accumulated...
      Thank you for the quick response though.
      0
    2. natsu
       
      My drive is 42 GB, but when I enter the Windows folder and check the size of the files contained in it, it shows me 18 GB. So where have the other 22 GB gone? Help me, I'm running out of free space.
      0
  3. morganch
     
    Yes, but you have to take the updates into account. If your computer encounters

    problems, it is certainly not due to the size of the Windows folder.

    You can possibly use Driver Sweeper to remove

    old drivers such as NVIDIA, for example.
    0
    1. Jérémie08
       
      I have no issues with my computer except for low disk space.
      If it's the updates, knowing that I'm not having any problems with them, I might be able to delete the backup files that allow for uninstalling them?
      My Nvidia driver takes only about 100MB of disk space and the others much less.
      0
    2. Jérémie08
       
      Well, too bad, it's a shame because on Windows XP there were files that could be deleted without risk and it helped me a lot to free up space. I thought it was possible to do the same on Windows 7...
      Thank you for your help and have a good evening.
      0
  4. morganch
     
    Regarding restore points, you can use Ccleaner to

    delete some of them, you can recover a few GB, but it's

    always the same, it's at your own risk.

    (Tools\System Restore option, right-click on the points).
    0
    1. Jérémie08
       
      Thank you, that has freed up enough disk space. My Windows folder is still as large, but now I have enough space on my partition, it has gone back to blue!
      So my problem is resolved, thank you for your patience!
      0