Simple solution... Get a Mac.
My Windows Installer folder is enormous. How do I shrink it?
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Anonymous
My Windows Installer folder is 30 GB. I have a 128 GB SSD where my C drive lives, and I do not have many programs installed. I am now left with ~20GB free space, and I don't think that is enough for another major update. I noticed that my Windows Installer folder contains huge files pertaining to microsoft office. These patches look like they're old and orphaned. Is there a microsoft tool to check whether any of these files are necessary? If most of the folder is junk, then they need to be removed for future updates. Are there any tools that can help me, and is microsoft doing anything to remove old installer patches? I searched the community and for every similar question there was a generic response from microsoft stating not to delete anything as that could screw something up. My other newer computer's Installer folder is tiny, so this is a problem on your end.
I should note that I did run Disk Cleanup as an admin and clicked every option. It only found 73 MB to free up.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage
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Anonymous
2018-02-21T22:11:16+00:00 -
Anonymous
2017-11-28T18:02:07+00:00 We are volunteers willing to help you try to resolve this issue.
If you remove that folder some programs might need to be re-installed.
Can you safely delete files in the %windir%Installer directory?
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/joscon/2012...
Some copy it to other media so it can be restored if needed.
If you want to do so anyway :
PatchCleaner - Free
http://www.homedev.com.au/Free/PatchCleaner
Please let us know the results and if you need further assistance.
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Anonymous
2017-11-28T18:23:12+00:00 Is there a microsoft update in the works to fix this then? A proper system clean up of old unnecessary files. I literally have no space for another major update and over 70% of my harddisk is taken up by the OS.
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Anonymous
2017-11-28T18:36:32+00:00 Will do , and please do the same yourself if this is a major concern for many other users. I figure you are in a better position than me to pass this message along. Efficient data management should be at the top of Windows' priorities.
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Anonymous
2017-11-28T18:29:17+00:00 Microsoft no longer (since XP) supports an Installer Cleanup Folder utility and there is no present update to do this. And to my knowledge, Microsoft has not released any information about possible plans to make changes to their handling of this folder.
Please post in the Feedback Hub so the developers will see your concerns.
Start - type in --> Feedback Hub ........ Find at top and click on.
Sure wish there was more I could tell you as many of us share your concern and have the same problem.