Member Avatar for mdk2k4

My daugthers Pc has a 20gb hard drive, and windows sent a message, hard drive running out of space, used the clean up utility to gain space. so I did, but only got back a few hundreds mb, and still low on space. used ccleaner and SBMAV CLEANER too; helped but still having the same problem. The C:Windows/installer still 12.2GB and only got 871mb free in drive C, hoping anybody could help so I won't have to format the disk.
Thanks
Mike Gee
:'(

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

Dani AI

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A brief expert note for and others seeing a very large C:\Windows\Installer on a small disk: that folder is the Windows Installer cache (mainly .msi and .msp packages). Its purpose is to support repair/uninstall operations and to hold update/hotfix backups. Because those files are used by installers, deleting them at random can break program uninstalls, repairs, or update rollback.

A safe way to proceed:

  • Inspect what's actually using space with a disk-usage viewer (for example, WinDirStat or TreeSize Free) so the biggest files are obvious. These tools are read-only by default and make identification fast.
  • Correlate large .msi/.msp names with installed programs and updates. Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs (enable "Show updates") can help determine whether a package is still referenced.

A cautious cleanup workflow:

  • Copy suspected orphaned installer files to external media (create a folder named InstallerBackup) before removing anything from C:\Windows\Installer. Deleting the originals will free space immediately; keep the external backup for at least two weeks while using the system. If an uninstall or repair fails, restore the needed file from the backup.
  • Prioritize other safe space wins first: remove unused programs, move media to external storage, and remove old System Restore points (Disk Cleanup -> More Options). If Windows Update cache is huge, rename the SoftwareDistribution folder after stopping the Automatic Updates service so the cache can be rebuilt.

was right that hotfix/update backups commonly bloat the folder; apply any hotfix-cleanup method only after making the installer backup described above. This remove-and-test approach typically recovers space without resorting to a reformat.

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Member Avatar for jbennet

use ATF Cleaner, Disk Cleanup and CCLeaner - ensure that remove hotfix backups is checked - thats what makes the installer folder big

Also worhtwhile removing old system restore points from the second tab of disk cleanup.

Member Avatar for mdk2k4

Thanks for the fast reply, I'm going to give a try, let you know how it went.

Member Avatar for mdk2k4

Thanks for the help, but the installr folder still the same size. I mean what else can I do....thanks again

Member Avatar for jbennet

Member Avatar for mdk2k4

hate to bug much, but, the folder still the same it did free up about 200 to 300mb on the hard disk, but that installer folder still 12.2gb. You have been a big help. Listen have to go to work, what I'll do is take some snap shots and post them, only thing is, the next day I'm available is monday. Guess I'll post any results on monday. thanks a lot Jbennet again for being there.
see you Monday.

Member Avatar for jbennet

no problem. I think the last link i posted ( ) may help. It fixed a similar issue i had on windows server, where the update cache grew tremendusly due to orphaned hotfix backups.

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