C_Windows_Temp folder is using up all the spare disk space

[philipavery]

I upgraded to Win10 v. 1803 yesterday. Soon after I booted my machine today, I had a warning that I was low on disk space. In fact, I had 903 Mb. Having run WinDirSat, I found that the Windows\Temp folder was using over 160Gb. Most of the files are AppXDeploymentServer, AppXPackaging and AppxErrorReports. They are being added at the rate of about 80 a minute. A sample report is:

Package full name = microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2015.9226.21485.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe
AppXDeploymentServer version = 10.0.17134.48
Result code = 0x80073CF6
Component failure code = 0x80070005
ETW Event ID = 5252
Deployment Operation = 4294967294
Package Manager State = 19
OSIM state = 3
Failed component name = windows.stateExtension

The reports are almost identical.

I have been unable to identify what process is creating these files and why.

Does anybody have an idea why this is happening and what will solve it?

 

[viles]

You could use the built-in Windows Resource Monitor to view disk activity and identify the process. Though, it will likely be just a 'system' process. After Windows 10 v 1803 finishes downloading and installs, you can cleanup the Windows Update files that are no longer needed.

cleanmgr.exe

> Choose system C:
> Choose clean system files

From there options to remove temporary Windows Update files and previous installations of Windows will be available. I've seen it as high as 30GB of files to remove.

 

[philipavery]

Thanks, Viles

The update was completed yesterday. I did a general 'clean' today of the system files which produced some disk space but which disappeared very quickly. I tracked it down to these AppX files in the Windows\Temp folder. Although each is small, they are spawning fast. The folder now stands at 87Gb and rising! As you say, Resources Monitor helpfully tells me the files are associated with svchost.exe. Can't see what is generating them, though.

 

[rgd1101]

might be the windows store.

 

[philipavery]

I think you may be right, but what? I must admit that I have as little to do with it as possible but, having turned of automatic updates, paused the queued updates and stopped all internet traffic, I assumed the file creation would stop. Unfortunately, not so. It's bizarre and very frustrating.

 

[rgd1101]

look like there a windows store service, if you don't use it, try disable it.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_store/windows-store-service-wsservice-always-stops/dc311e7b-e984-4c69-94bb-35792911a172

 

[philipavery]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, it didn't work. It's a bit like Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. Having turned off the store process, so far as I was able, I looked at the Temp folder - 'But still they come'. I think it's about time that the Microsoft tech people earned their wages. I will report back when I have an answer.


Thanks for trying, guys.

 

[rgd1101]

microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_2015.9226.21485.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe

window communication app is the Mail, and Calendar

https://mspoweruser.com/here-is-how-to-fix-mail-calendar-and-people-apps-on-windows-10-build-10041/

 

[philipavery]

Thanks for the steer. In fact, most of the Microsoft apps have that numerical suffix. I started uninstalling them one-by-one through PowerShell but, as the files were still flooding in, I took the plunge and uninstalled all of them. And the files stopped! So I have no idea which was the culprit but at least I have some disk space. Your post came just as I had dug out the Microsoft tech contact details. I can't imagine how long THAT would have taken.