Windows 7 systems has 54,524 files and is using up 11.1 GB of hard disk The WinSxS folder on this system contains 58,739 files and takes up 6.89 GB of hard disk space. That began as a Windows 7 system and then upgraded to Windows 8. Many files, really old files or files that are no longer necessary can stillįor instance, Figure A shows the WinSxS folder on a system Gets compounded by the fact that, because the WinSxS folder is used to store so While this is a pretty simplified description of the WinSxSįolder, the general idea I want to convey is the WinSxS folderĬan grow so large that it takes up a good chunk of hard disk space. If they do cause unanticipated compatibility problems, they can be uninstalled, and the files can be reverted back to a previous state. Furthermore, many Windows updates are designed such that Make sure the updates don't cause compatibility problems, all kinds ofĭuplicate files get stored in the WinSxS folder so that everything can continue Problems (just to name a few of the reasons for the regular updates). Updates every month to keep up with bugs, new applications, and security Place to store files added to the operating system by Windows Update.

WinSxS is short for Windows Side-by-Side and refers to using files with the same nameīut with different version numbers at the same time in the operating system.Īs things evolved, the WinSxS folder also became the perfect Uses a folder called the WinSxS folder that allows the operating system to storeĪnd keep track of all kinds of operating system files (DLLs included) with the The application would act strangely or crash altogether.īy the time Windows Vista was introduced, Microsoft solved the problem by creating a new technology called componentization, which That was recently updated by another program. For example, anĪpplication would look for a specific version of a DLL file, but find a newer version Wreak havoc with applications and the operating system. With the same name as files already on the system. Programs that included updated versions of Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files This situation arose when you installed different If you used the Windows operating system back in the Windowsĩx days, you're familiar with the term DLL Hell. Of those Windows versions, though all of the example screen shots are from a Windows In Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. Note: Disk Cleanup and the Windows Update Cleanup feature works the same Give you a little background on the Windows update leftovers that this tool is Tool and then focus on the new Windows Update Cleanup feature. I'll take a closer look at the Disk Cleanup The Windows Update Cleanupįeature is designed to help you to regain valuable hard disk space by removingīits and pieces of old Windows updates that are no longer needed. Disk Cleanup's new feature called Windows Update Cleanup is standard in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 and was added to Windows 7 by an update that was madeĪvailable in October 2013.

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