While browsing one of my Virtual Machines, I came across the WINSXS folder in the Windows folder. Since I have only set up 20 GB hard drives on my virtual machines, I should also handle this storage space carefully.
Before I start deleting the files, I start a backup beforehand to restore my data to the virtual machine in the WORST CASE scenario. If you do this on your PC or notebook, you should also make a backup before deleting.
Now let’s start the backup…
Coffee break…
finally finished
Now let’s start with the deletion process… I mark all files and folders with Ctrl+A that are in the WINSXS folder and then enter SHIFT+ENTF, so the files are deleted directly without first being moved to the trash.
Now comes the first error message –> The file cannot be deleted … –> I click Skip to delete the files where there are currently no accesses.
After the first normal deletion process, only a few MB were removed. I now start a takeover of the complete folder and set the rights to Everyone has full access. Now I start a deletion process again, it is now removed over 3 GB. I have now deleted the size of my WINSXS folder.
I now start the safe mode again to delete further content.