Cleaning Up Reflect Recovery Files


  1. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    Cleaning Up Reflect Recovery Files


    I've just updated Reflect Home to the latest version and changed to using the Win RE recovery environment. I'm left with various folders in the c:/boot folder. Can I safely delete all but the WinREFiles and Drivers folders?

    Attachment 212142
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 26,416
    Windows 11 Pro 22631.3374
       #2

    Probably but I would make am image first.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31,465
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #3

    Your C:\Boot\Macrium folder is what Macrium call their 'Staging Area'. This is not where the WinPE downloads are stored, it is the place where the built media is stored. Anything you delete from there can be recreated by Macrium if it is needed again.

    When the 'Build' button is clicked files are copied from the Staging Area to the rescue media target. For the Boot menu, the Windows Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is updated to add a 'Macrium Reflect System Recovery' menu option which loads the Windows Image File (WIM) directly from the Staging Area.
    Rescue Media Builder - How It Works - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

    From the above Knowledge base page, it would appear that you can safely delete all but the WinREFiles folders if you only want to use WinRE. The others will be recreated in the Staging Area if you ever build WinPE media, even if it's only to put it on a usb.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Bree said:
    Your C:\Boot\Macrium folder is what Macrium call their 'Staging Area'. This is not where the WinPE downloads are stored, it is the place where the built media is stored. Anything you delete from there can be recreated by Macrium if it is needed again.

    Rescue Media Builder - How It Works - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase - KnowledgeBase v7.2 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

    From the above Knowledge base page, it would appear that you can safely delete all but the WinREFiles folders if you only want to use WinRE. The others will be recreated in the Staging Area if you ever build WinPE media, even if it's only to put it on a usb.
    Thanks. Do we need to keep the folders under 'Windows Kits' if using the WinRE Option - see mine below?
    Attachment 212150
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 31,465
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    Steve C said:
    Thanks. Do we need to keep the folders under 'Windows Kits' if using the WinRE Option - see mine below?
    See the Knowledge Base article I linked to earlier. It has a diagram showing what comes from where and where it ends up. In the case of 'Windows Kits' that contains the unpacked files from the Microsoft WinPE .zip download. The article will also tell you where the downloaded MS .zip files are kept.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #6

    Steve C said:
    I've just updated Reflect Home to the latest version and changed to using the Win RE recovery environment. I'm left with various folders in the c:/boot folder. Can I safely delete all but the WinREFiles and Drivers folders?

    Attachment 212142
    Yes - if you choose to use winpe, rather than winre, it will just download them again.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks for your help. I noticed more large muliple recovery files in the Program Data folder. The safest approach is probably to uninstall Reflect Home, delete any of those large files if left behind then reinstall Reflect and build the WinRE recovery environment.
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:24.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums