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Freeing Disk Space on C:\ Windows Server 2008

By Will Beattie

 

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

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