I'm new to managing Windows servers and I've noticed that my Azure server is filling up every month. Specifically, the CAB files are taking up around 181 GB, and the WINSXS folder is using 29 GB. I've read that it might be okay to delete these files, but I'm concerned about the impact on my system. Is there a way to manage and control the size of these folders in Windows? Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Avoid manually deleting anything in the WINSXS folder! If you do, you might run into serious issues. Instead, refer to proper guidelines to clean up that folder: [here's a Microsoft guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/clean-up-the-winsxs-folder?view=windows-11).
Make sure you're using a reliable disk space scanner. Sometimes, tools just report file sizes without accounting for allocated space. You can also use `cleanmgr` to remove unnecessary updated Windows packages, similar to the DISM command. Also, check what kind of CAB files you're dealing with; they shouldn't accumulate under normal circumstances.
You can try using the DISM command to clean up components: run this in your command prompt: `Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase`. It helps in managing the WINSXS folder without breaking anything.
Thanks for the link! Definitely going to check it out before I do anything myself.