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Freeing Disk Space on C:\ Windows Server 2008

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I just spent the last little while trying to clear space on our servers in order to install .NET 4.5. Decided to post so my future self can find the information when I next have to do this.

I performed all the usual tasks:

  • Deleting any files/folders from C:\windows\temp and C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Temp

  • Delete all EventViewer logs

    • Save to another Disk if you want to keep them

  • Remove any unused programs, e.g. Firefox

  • Remove anything in C:\inetpub\logs

  • Remove any file/folders C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles

  • Remove any file/folders from C:\Users\%UserName%\Downloads

  • Remove any file/folders able to be removed from C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop

  • Remove any file/folders able to be removed from C:\Users\%UserName%\My Documents

  • Stop Windows Update service and remove all files/folders from C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

  • Deleting an Event Logs
  • Run COMPCLN.exe
  • Move the Virtual Memory file to another disk

However this wasn’t enough & I found the most space was cleared by using the Disk Cleanup tool “cleanmgr.exe” but of course this isn’t installed by default on Windows Server 2008. 


In order to get the Disk Cleanup you need to go to Server Manager > Add Features > and turn on “Desktop Experience”

desktop_experience

After running the Disk Cleanup I found this gem “Hibernation File Cleaner” was using almost 7.45 GB, I’m pretty sure I don’t need Hibernate functionality on an always on Web Server.

hibernation_file_cleaner

This was a big win & I could continue installing .NET 4.5

Comments

  1. Hi
    I have windows server 2008 rr2
    I have been gathering information about delete C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download. I have read that there won't be any problem if I delete the content of Download Folders, also found that I won't be able any more to rollback updates, is that right?

    Thanks

    Laura

    ReplyDelete

  2. From http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?p=23679173#p23679173

    Ardax wrote:

    It's a download cache, nothing more. LorDaMan's link is correct about stopping the Automatic Update service after a clean restart before deleting it, but it has nothing to do with rollback.

    Yeah, there's a separate spot for that: the WinSxS folder. Whee! (Do NOT just delete that one.)

    Quote:

    Generally speaking it's supposed to clean up after itself, but I've seen systems where that wasn't happening for some reason or another.

    I've seen it once in a great while but never did figure out why it didn't get cleaned up. All the systems I saw it get too big on were actually running surprisingly well. Just my odd luck, or something, I suppose.

    ReplyDelete

  4. Thank you!

    The Disk Cleanup asked me to restart, so I did not proceed.

    What I did is below, and cleared about a gig.

    "Stop Windows Update service and remove all files/folders from C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution"

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