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Win8.1 WinSxS folder hogging disk space and can't delete

Anonymous
2018-11-09T13:30:37+00:00

My Intel ComputeStick running Win8.1 has 32 GB of with only 29 GB available for the OS and onboard storage.  The WinSxS folder is hogging about 7GB and I can not trim it down using any of the methods I have found here or using the Disk Cleanup tools. When I try to run DISM from the command prompt with Admin privileges, even to do an analysis, it fails with the following error msg. Also tried running in Task Manager but fails there too. Not 3rd party AV or malware apps installed, no other apps running. Logged in using Admin account.

Please help. The Compute Stick is a handy portable computer that I can put in my pocket and plug into any TV with an HDMI port and using a wireless KB and mouse have my computer with me anywhere. I use it (or at least I used to use it) many times a week. This problem I have not been able to solve for months now.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]

(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Error: 112

An error occurred accessing the temporary folder C:\Users\sparc\AppData\Local\Te

mp\A7B113F9-1671-452F-907B-E9E54205A185.

Ensure that the path to the temporary folder exists and that you have Read/Write

 permissions on the folder.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32>Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Error: 112

An error occurred accessing the temporary folder C:\Users\sparc\AppData\Local\Te

mp\5CB38A1A-4FCD-4151-8701-0D7C7122FAB6.

Ensure that the path to the temporary folder exists and that you have Read/Write

 permissions on the folder.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-11-25T20:41:20+00:00

    It has been a source of many questions over many years with Windows operating systems.

    Can't help you firther.

    That's all you've got? It's been a problem for years and no one can figure it out? Is it any wonder people are leaving Windows for other operating systems.

    Bill Smithers - Microsoft MVP July 2013 - June 2019

    I don't see how you'll continue to qualify for MVP until June of next year if this is the best you can offer.

    You are one of 1,000s of people I give assistance to year it, year out.

    And you are but one of 1,000s of people who don't like the way Windows is designed.

    It's your choice what type of operating system you use.

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

    You refuse to accept the advice that I gave you.:

    If you were to delete it, your device would not work.

    Be very careful what you delete from it:

    Deleting files from the WinSxS folder or deleting the entire WinSxS folder may severely damage your system so that your PC might not boot and make it impossible to update.

    Clean Up the WinSxS Folder - TechNet - Microsoft

    How to Reduce the Size of the WinSxS directory and Free Up Disk ...

    If you are going to continue with personal attacks, you will be reported for Abuse.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-11-14T15:00:36+00:00

    Bump.

    No one can offer any help with this?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-11-09T14:11:44+00:00

    Yes, I had read that multiple times in previous threads on this subject.

    Just tired the Disk Cleanup tool again. It takes a long time to analyze and reports that it can remove about 4GB of files. I say yeah, go for it, get rid of that junk. About 8 minutes later when it finishes its 'cleaning' only 140 MB were deleted, and the WinSxS folder has not been touched.

    I never 'gain' the 4.18 GB, only a few MB. After which it won't be long before I get the nag about running low on disk space.

    Above is after running Disk Cleanup, 152 MB free. Free space on C:\ has dropped as low as 76 KB. In the past I moved the My Docs, Downloads, My Pictures, One Drive, and any other folder I could off to the D drive which is a micro SD card. The Compute Stick only has as you see 21.9 GB available to me. I think I said 29 GB earlier but that is the total disk size.

    Just ran CHKDSK in read only and found some errors.

    Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...

    Errors detected in sparse file record segment 24955.

    Errors detected in sparse file record segment 29480.

    Errors detected in sparse file record segment 38950.

    Errors detected in sparse file record segment 43619.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2018-11-14T22:03:56+00:00

    It has been a source of many questions over many years with Windows operating systems.

    Can't help you firther.

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-11-09T13:43:23+00:00

    If you were to delete it, your device would not work.

    Be very careful what you delete from it:

    Deleting files from the WinSxS folder or deleting the entire WinSxS folder may severely damage your system so that your PC might not boot and make it impossible to update.

    Clean Up the WinSxS Folder - TechNet - Microsoft

    How to Reduce the Size of the WinSxS directory and Free Up Disk ...

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