C:/Windows takes up 75 GB, but Temp and Logs folders are tiny...

[nufsty2]

My 128 GB SSD is almost full and I am trying to free up space. By right clicking each folder and hitting properties, I found out that the Windows folder is 75 GB by itself which doesn't seem right, as it's supposed to be about 30 GB:
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What's weirder is that I tried other solutions to this like deleting the contents of the Temp folder and moving Logs somewhere else, but they are both only like 20 MB each. And what's even weirder, when I go into Windows and hit CTRL+A and then view the properties of every folder in the Windows folder, it says it only takes up 30.2 GB:
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So it's almost like there's like 40 GB hidden in the Windows folder somewhere. Any ideas?

 

[androbourne]

Download TreeSize and run a scan on your C:\ it will further break down the folders and tell you exactly what is taking up all the space in the Windows folder. it could be old downloaded updates that never removed it's self once it was applied. etc...

 

[nufsty2]

Download TreeSize and run a scan on your C:\ it will further break down the folders and tell you exactly what is taking up all the space in the Windows folder. it could be old downloaded updates that never removed it's self once it was applied. etc...

Aha! The "Installer" folder is taking up 44 GB. Am I safe to delete the contents of it?

 

[androbourne]

Technically it can "be" removed. But its not recommended. See below. The folder can also be moved if you have another drive to put it on.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files-winpc/is-it-safe-to-delete-windows-installer-patch-files/4ccb5bfc-5241-41c7-82fe-76cb17042d76

 

[nufsty2]

Thanks to androbourne. I used PatchCleaner to move the unused contents of C:\Windows\Installer to a different drive. That did the trick!

 

[androbourne]

Awesome, happy to hear!