What is this large folder?

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  1. Posts : 7,861
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #31

    f14tomcat said:
    Any answers yet?
    I only have the standard UEFI partitions. I'll fiddle with the Hyper-V tomorrow since it's getting late (UK). Maybe my configuration is normal but folks haven't spotted the space these files take.
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  2. Posts : 56,804
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #32

    Ok, good enough.
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  3. Posts : 7,861
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #33

    f14tomcat said:
    @Steve C

    I found this about Application Guard in one of Shawn's tutorials. Appears that Hyper-V must also be enabled, which I'm sure you did when you first started playing with Application Guard. Then, you removed Application Guard and all those folders/files remained. Perhaps disabling Hyper-V will remove them and the reg entries. That's why I asked about the Disk Management drives, to see if there were any Virtual Drives (.vhdx).

    Attachment 233992

    Turn On or Off Windows Defender Application Guard in Windows 10
    I removed Hyper V but that large folder remains. I've reinstated Hyper V since it's needed for Reflect viBoot. I just checked my vintage 2006 PC running v1803 and it doesn't have the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Containers nor has Application Guard or Hyper V ever been installed.
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  4. Posts : 56,804
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #34

    Steve C said:
    I removed Hyper V but that large folder remains. I've reinstated Hyper V since it's needed for Reflect viBoot. I just checked my vintage 2006 PC running v1803 and it doesn't have the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Containers nor has Application Guard or Hyper V ever been installed.
    Steve, I'm fresh out of ideas. I don't have a system I can test all that on. I just do not know why those folders/files are there. Sorry.
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  5. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #35

    Steve C said:
    ... I just checked my vintage 2006 PC running v1803 and it doesn't have the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Containers nor has Application Guard or Hyper V ever been installed.
    I've just checked my 1809 machine that does use Hyper-V (both for VMs and viBoot). It also has 'Windows Defender Application Guard' turned on, though I don't recall turning it on myself (a default, perhaps?). I also have that Containers folder, though mine is about 3GB.

    What is this large folder?-containers.png

    Edit:

    As it happens, I have another 1809 machine running Hyper-V. On that one 'Windows Defender Application Guard' has never been installed. That machine has no Containers folder, so it seems to just be used by Application Guard (looks like I must have chosen to install it on the first machine after all).

    What is this large folder?-no-containers.png
    Last edited by Bree; 17 May 2019 at 11:11. Reason: 2nd screenshot
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  6. Posts : 56,804
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #36

    Then there appears to be no way of removing it naturally. Once Application Guard has touched the machine, that stuff is there in perpetuity. MS may not call that a bug, but it certainly is sloppy housecleaning. Unless any of you have a better trick or other solution.......delete the folders and be done. And the .reg entries if you wish.
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  7. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #37

    f14tomcat said:
    Then there appears to be no way of removing it naturally. Once Application Guard has touched the machine, that stuff is there in perpetuity. MS may not call that a bug, but it certainly is sloppy housecleaning.....
    That appears to be the case. I have now uninstalled Application Guard on my first machine but Containers remains unchanged.


    Unless any of you have a better trick or other solution.......delete the folders and be done.
    I wouldn't try that. For a start, it's a non-trivial task....

    What is this large folder?-delete-containers.png

    ...you need to take ownership first. Even then there are some files in BaseImages that cannot be deleted because they are in use. But after deleting as much as was allowed my Start menu stopped working in all user accounts, either by clicking on it or by pressing WinKey.

    (now I'll have to restore it's Macrium image).
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  8. Posts : 56,804
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #38

    Bree said:
    That appears to be the case. I have now uninstalled Application Guard on my first machine but Containers remains unchanged.




    I wouldn't try that. For a start, it's a non-trivial task....

    What is this large folder?-delete-containers.png

    ...you need to take ownership first. Even then there are some files in BaseImages that cannot be deleted because they are in use. But after deleting as much as was allowed my Start menu stopped working in all user accounts, either by clicking on it or by pressing WinKey.

    (now I'll have to restore it's Macrium image).
    Ouch! That stuff is entwined deep down inside. TG for Macrium!
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #39

    f14tomcat said:
    Ouch! That stuff is entwined deep down inside. TG for Macrium!
    Macrium is my friend

    What is this large folder?-mr-restored.png
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 7,861
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #40

    Thank you all for your help.

    The conclusion is that once you have enabled Application Guard you are left with several GB of useless files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Containers even after disabling Application Guard. There appears to be no safe way of deleting the files.

    I'll file a feedback report and you never know Microsoft may get around to fixing their sloppy engineering.
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