Deletes Windows Installer configuration data for a specified installation.This parameter deletes the folders, files, registry subkeys, and registry entries in which Windows Installer stores configuration data for the installation (except for rollback data and the InProgress registry subkey, which are specified separately).
Jan 18, 2012 And so on. Get your programmers to write a Readme.1st in every folder of Windows and other OS folders to explain what this folder is, and why you can’t delete anything from it, and we’ll see how quickly they can consolidate. In short, the Windows folder is one-big-mess. (to not even start on capitalization consistency). You cannot under any circumstances delete files from this folder manually as this not only may but most likely will break software that is installed using MSI files, or Windows Installer files. The%SYSTEMDRIVE% Windows Installer folder is a cache for installation files and patches (MSP files) and removing those will cause you to not being able to repair or uninstall applications, and in some cases not removing patches or applying new patches to software.
I wonder how this particular folder can get up to 60GB ? Mine is @ 8GB, which even seems a bit much. My Win10 Windows folder
is currently 28GB total (and it's certainly never been bigger in the past decade).
- Is your Win10 an upgrade, or clean install ?
Can I Delete The Windows Installer Folder
- Have you run Disk Cleanup w/ Cleanup System files yet ? Was there no benefit ?
As this is a Windows system folder dealing with patch and updates for Windows functions I would also be very wary of messing with it.
I believe you will have already read SpiritX's comments on the other thread. His suggestions are is as good as you will get.
- Due to the large number of very small files in this folder, weeding them out manually is not really an option. Even if you did know
what they all do.
- The WinSxS folder has brought on similar complaints in past. It also seems to get bloated on some peoples machines.
- The WinSxS folder has brought on similar complaints in past. It also seems to get bloated on some peoples machines.
'a third party comes up with a free solution that lots of people use so they can bring their computers back to life, but Microsoft warns against using it, not because it has been shown to cause problems, but because it could possibly cause an unknown problem.'
Yay for 3rd party developers.. Too bad MS is making life harder for them on Win10. They've been important since day one Windows.
Regarding this particular folder. Experiment with due diligence, and at your peril. Think Murphy's Law.
Being the official MS Forums, this site is probably more conservative than some forums are on that level.
Windows Installer Files Delete
If someone here has actually used Patch Cleaner with no long term issues and reads your thread they may pop in with a - 'Go for it.. '.
You'd have to be lucky though, so if you have an external HDD with adequate space you could clone your Win10 to that before
taking the leap with Patch Cleaner. Then you at least have a solid base to go back to should something stuff up in a major way.
This issue is similar to 'cleaning' the Registry. Many people use Registry 'cleaners' for years with no ill side effects (and no real benefit),
Age of empires 3 download full version. but others find their Windows has been made unusable after a Registry 'clean'.
.