Server 2008: WinSxS Folder - Large Size Prevents Service Pack Inst

Hi,
Does anyone know of a Server 2008 utility to clear out the WinSxS folder?
On many of our 2008 Servers, this folder has grown to a very large size,
almost 10GB on average.

On one 2008 SP1 server here, the WinSxS directory is 10GB and the total
Windows directory size is about 16GB; but the partition is only 20GB. We
tried installing SP2, but it requires at least 5GB of free space to install.
20GB is within MS published requirements for a 2008 installation.

20GB partition + 16GB Windows Directory + 10GB WinSxS Directory + 5GB Free
Space Needed = SCREWED!

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve

Hello SteveJHU,

See here about the WinSXS directory and what maybe can help:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...3-1da9545b0818

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Hi,
> Does anyone know of a Server 2008 utility to clear out the WinSxS
> folder?
> On many of our 2008 Servers, this folder has grown to a very large
> size,
> almost 10GB on average.
> On one 2008 SP1 server here, the WinSxS directory is 10GB and the
> total Windows directory size is about 16GB; but the partition is only
> 20GB. We tried installing SP2, but it requires at least 5GB of free
> space to install. 20GB is within MS published requirements for a 2008
> installation.
>
> 20GB partition + 16GB Windows Directory + 10GB WinSxS Directory + 5GB
> Free Space Needed = SCREWED!
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Steve

Hello SteveJHU,

Forget this one:
http://blog.tiensivu.com/aaron/archi...-20032008.html

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Hi,
> Does anyone know of a Server 2008 utility to clear out the WinSxS
> folder?
> On many of our 2008 Servers, this folder has grown to a very large
> size,
> almost 10GB on average.
> On one 2008 SP1 server here, the WinSxS directory is 10GB and the
> total Windows directory size is about 16GB; but the partition is only
> 20GB. We tried installing SP2, but it requires at least 5GB of free
> space to install. 20GB is within MS published requirements for a 2008
> installation.
>
> 20GB partition + 16GB Windows Directory + 10GB WinSxS Directory + 5GB
> Free Space Needed = SCREWED!
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Steve

Thanks for your reply Meinolf.

Yeah, I actually saw those posts. They didn't really have a fix though,
just confirmed that it is an issue. I tried one of the ideas from the
Comments section of one of those posts to use Disk Cleanup, but it didn't
reduce the size of the WinSxS directory. In fact, it barely made a dent in
the disk usage.

Do you know how others are addressing this and do you know if SP2 or R2
addresses this issue?

Thanks again,
Steve

Hello SteveJHU,

You can only choose bigger diskspace for the system partition to address
this. The WinSXS directory contains all system files needed for installation,
so you can not remove anything from it. This is the same in the R2 version.

Windows server 2008 Sp2 includes a cleanup option to Clean up Old RTM & SP1
Backup Files that are serviced by SP2. Run "Compcln.exe" in a command prompt,
if you are sure that SP2 shouldn't be uninstalled.

Unfortunal this will not help you to reduce the size now. Also using only
20 GB for the system partition is not that big, recommended is at least 15
GB by default, personal i would choose at least 50GB only for the system
and if additional applications must run then use more space.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Thanks for your reply Meinolf.
>
> Yeah, I actually saw those posts. They didn't really have a fix
> though, just confirmed that it is an issue. I tried one of the ideas
> from the Comments section of one of those posts to use Disk Cleanup,
> but it didn't reduce the size of the WinSxS directory. In fact, it
> barely made a dent in the disk usage.
>
> Do you know how others are addressing this and do you know if SP2 or
> R2 addresses this issue?
>
> Thanks again,
> Steve