Can we delete old Windows Servers update files that are located in c:\windows\installer folder we have over 30gb in here ( OS is Windows 2016 Server )

Anonymous
2023-11-29T09:21:54+00:00

Hi We have a Windows 2016 Server and can you advise if the files that are in the c:\windows\installer folder can be deleted as these all relate to Windows updates that have been automatically downloaded and installed we have over 30 GB of files in this folder

Windows for business | Windows Server | Performance | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-30T01:51:32+00:00

    Hello

    Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

    According to Microsoft, it is not safe to delete the C:\Windows\Installer folder or any files within it. This folder contains important installation files that are required for repairing, updating, or uninstalling software.

    Is it safe to delete C:\Windows\Installer on Windows 10? - Super User

    However, there are ways to manage disk space used by Windows updates:

    Server Cleanup Wizard: This tool can remove unused updates and update revisions, remove all older updates and update revisions that haven’t been approved, delete all client computers that haven’t contacted the server in 30 days or longer, and delete all update files that aren’t needed by updates or by downstream servers.

    Server Cleanup wizard | Microsoft Learn

    Disk Cleanup: You can use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete old Windows Update files. To do this, click on the Search icon on the Taskbar, type in disk cleanup, and select Run as administrator. Use the drop-down menu to select your primary drive and click on OK. Tick the ‘Windows Update Cleanup’ and ‘Delivery Optimization Files’ checkboxes. Then, click on OK.

    Top 3 Ways to Delete Old Windows Update Files From Windows 10 and Windows 11 - Guiding Tech

    PowerShell Script: With the WInstCleaner.ps1 PowerShell script, you can manually dig into the C:\Windows\Installer folder and determine which files are orphaned and should be safe to delete.

    www.thewindowsclub.com

    Please note that these actions should be performed with caution and it’s always a good idea to back up your data before making any changes to system folders.

    Best Regards,

    Wesley Li

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-30T08:18:44+00:00

    Thank you for your reply

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-01T01:55:12+00:00

    I am glad I was able to help you resolve this concern. To help other customers who may be facing the same issue, please choose ‘Yes’ underneath the post that had the solution for you.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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