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Reduce size of Windows/Installer folder in Windows 7

Anonymous
2011-05-09T17:07:49+00:00

I have found numerous posts touting the benefits of a utility MS formerly offered to reduce the size of the Windows/Installer folder for prior versions of Windows called MSIZAP.exe.  Evidently this is no longer recommended and has been replaced with a FixIt.

My primary disk has grown to use 60gb!  I install most anything I am able to install on other drives.  Of the 60gb, the Windows Folder uses 23.6 gb.

I have already reduced the Windows/winsxs folder to 6.1 gb from 10.6gb with the DSIM utility.

How am I able to reduce the Windows/Installer folder from it current 7.33gb size?!?  This folder consumes almost 1/3rd of the already massive amount of the Windows folder?

Thanks in advance!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-05-10T07:05:38+00:00

    Hi,

    Installer folder may be located at C:\Windows\Installer folder. (Installer folder is a hidden folder).

    We can delete the files in the folder, But, they will be needed when trying to uninstall some programs which installed with Windows Installer. So after delete these files, we will need to reinstall or repair a related program if they cannot be uninstalled with error "requires the previous installation to be uninstalled".

    However, instead of deleting the Windows Installer folder, I'd have you delete them by using disk cleanup.

    Also, reduce the space for System Restore.

    Refer:

    How much disk space does System Restore require?

    Warning: If you decrease the disk space to be smaller than the space that is currently being used by system protection, older restore points, including previous versions of files, will be deleted.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-10-24T16:08:43+00:00

    Hi

    We can delete the files in the folder, But, they will be needed when trying to uninstall some programs which installed with Windows Installer. So after delete these files, we will need to reinstall or repair a related program if they cannot be uninstalled with error "requires the previous installation to be uninstalled".

    What consequences are of this action? Let's say I delete the whole folder. Now I want to uninstall some software, it will tell me that it requires previous installation. Then I will be unable to uninstall programs correctly altogether? Is there anything, that can be done afterwards? Or is this like an irreversible action, that is slowly corroding the system for it is impossible to uninstall software anymore?

    However, instead of deleting the Windows Installer folder, I'd have you delete them by using disk cleanup.

    This advice does not help. Disk cleanup functionality does not deal with this particular folder.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-28T01:01:01+00:00

    my main drive is also running out of space, mostly because the installer folder contains 67GBytes of data.

    I have followed your instructions using disk cleanup. This made absolutely no difference, installer folder is still 67GBytes.

    Can you give me some alternative way of reducing the size of this folder cleanly.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-14T19:43:38+00:00

    I'd recommend PatchCleaner from http://www.homedev.com.au/

    Only utility I've found that actually does the job and thus far I haven't run into any issues from using the software; YMMV.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-25T11:43:37+00:00

    You can also set the folder maximum size setting a registry key or GPO.

    By default the maximum size is a 10% of the drive where Windows is installed.

    Registry key to set to 5%:

    Reg Add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer /v MaxPatchCacheSize /t REG_DWORD /d 5 /f

    Restart service:

    Net Stop msiserver /Y

    Net Start msiserver /Y

    Source:

    http://www.sysadmit.com/2016/02/GPO-Reducir-tamano-C-Windows-Installer.html

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