Analyze and clean the WinSXS folder
We have talked in length about the WinSXS folder back in 2010 and how it comes up regularly as one of the largest folder on the computer when storage is analyzed using tools like WizTree.
Windows Explorer and third-party programs report a size of several Gigabyte at the very least, but the count can go up to ten and more Gigabytes depending on the system it is analyzed on.
WinSXS, the full path is c:\Windows\WinSXS\ if Windows is installed on the c: drive, contains files that are required for servicing operations such as the installation of updates, service packs or hotfixes.
According to Microsoft, the component store contains "all the files that are required for a Windows installation", and since it also holds files added by updates, it grows over time on all systems.
The size of the folder is not reported correctly however if you use Windows Explorer or third-party tools like WizTree to analyze its size.
The reason for that is that it contains hardlinks which Explorer and third-party tools don't take into consideration when calculating the WinSXS folder's size (they count the hardlinked files even though they don't reside in the WinSXS folder).
These hardlinks point to files in other Windows directories, for instance c:\Windows\system32.
Analyzing the WinSXS Folder
A proper way to analyze the Window WinSXS component store directory is to use dism.exe.
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) was introduced by Microsoft in Windows Vista and has been part of new versions of Windows ever since.
Update: Please note that the commands will only work on Windows 8 or newer machines.
Here is what you need to do to analyze the WinSXS Folder:
- Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd.exe, hold down Shift and Ctrl, and hit the enter key on the keyboard. This opens an elevated command prompt on the system. If you have troubles getting this to work, right-click on the cmd.exe result instead and select "run as administrator".
- Run the command dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
The parameter /Online refers to the current installation, and /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore is the command to analyze the current component store of that installation (the WinSXS folder).
You can list all available commands using dism.exe /?, and subsequently dism.exe /Online /? and dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /?.
The command runs a scan that takes a moment to complete. It echoes the Windows Explorer size and actual size to the command prompt window, and gives recommendations whether it makes sense to run a cleanup operation. If you proceed with the cleanup, see below for instructions, it is advised to run the analysis again after the cleanup operation completes to find out how much smaller the folder has become.
The command echoes the actual size of the folder as well which may be very useful as it highlights usually that the component store is not as large as third-party programs or Explorer make it appear to be.
Cleanup
Windows runs a cleanup regularly using the Task Scheduler. You can check if that is the case on your machine in the following way:
- Tap on the Windows-key, type Task Scheduler and hit enter.
- Navigate to Task Scheduler (local) > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Servicing > StartComponentCleanup
You can run the cleanup operation manually at any time using the following command using an elevated command prompt:
dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
It is usually not necessary to run a cleanup unless the AnalyzeComponentStore analysis recommends it.
You can however use Disk Cleanup to free up disk space, and run an analysis afterwards to remove files from the WinSXS folder that are no longer required.
Basically, if you remove previous versions of Windows then you may end up with components in the WinSXS folder that are no longer required because they were valid only for the previous version of Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the WinSXS folder so big?
Most programs report an incorrect size for the WinSXS folder because of hardlinks. Hardlinks point to other locations on the device.
Should I clean up of the WinSXS folder?
It is usually not necessary to clean up the folder manually as Windows does so automatically on schedule.
Now You: How big is your system's WinSXS folder?
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help