Disk Cleanup was supposed to delete files that took over 2.11 GB


  1. Posts : 2
    windows 10
       #1

    Disk Cleanup was supposed to delete files that took over 2.11 GB


    My free space was at 10.5 GB and after i used the Disk Cleanup it changed only to 10.6 GB. I was wondering since Disk Cleanup supposedly deleted files that took up over 2.11 GB why wouldn't my free space increase to at least 12 GB? I also checked through Disk Cleanup again just in case something happened and it didn't change anything, but whatever was taking up that space wasn't there anymore. If someone can help me figure this out I would really appreciate it.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 56,808
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #2

    shadezapata said:
    My free space was at 10.5 GB and after i used the Disk Cleanup it changed only to 10.6 GB. I was wondering since Disk Cleanup supposedly deleted files that took up over 2.11 GB why wouldn't my free space increase to at least 12 GB? I also checked through Disk Cleanup again just in case something happened and it didn't change anything, but whatever was taking up that space wasn't there anymore. If someone can help me figure this out I would really appreciate it.
    Not all files are physically deleted during a disk cleanup. Some are compressed, like old patches and such. If you were to look at a list of them, they would be blue lettering, to indicate compressed. Right up front, when disk cleanup is calculating potential space to be recovered, there is no practical way for it to know for certain the final outcome. At best, it is a S.W.A.G. - space recovered will virtually always be less than calculated. Not an exact science. Hope that helps a little......
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #3

    Some files are also just junction points and symbolic links, meaning that a file or folder might be physically stored in just a single place, but is linked to from multiple addresses. This is true for Windows upgrade files, which should remove about 15-25GB during disk cleanup on my device, but in reality I can only physically get rid of about 1-2GB.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 56,808
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #4

    slicendice said:
    Some files are also just junction points and symbolic links, meaning that a file or folder might be physically stored in just a single place, but is linked to from multiple addresses. This is true for Windows upgrade files, which should remove about 15-25GB during disk cleanup on my device, but in reality I can only physically get rid of about 1-2GB.
    A good example just to show your point is Explorer. It's physically in WinSxS, with a hardlink in Windows dir.

    Disk Cleanup was supposed to delete files that took over 2.11 GB-2018-03-24_12h23_02.png
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #5

    @f14tomcat

    Great example!
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 31,480
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    Welcome to TenForums @shadezapata

    slicendice said:
    Some files are also just junction points and symbolic links, meaning that a file or folder might be physically stored in just a single place, but is linked to from multiple addresses. This is true for Windows upgrade files, which should remove about 15-25GB during disk cleanup on my device, but in reality I can only physically get rid of about 1-2GB.
    Correct, although in the case of the WinSxS folder (where the update backups are kept) it's hard links that cause this effect.

    Determining the size of the Windows Component Store is complicated by the fact that many of the files are used by Windows from directories outside the Windows Component Store using a technique known as hard linking. In such cases, the files from a component version appear both inside and outside the Windows Component Store.
    Analyze Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 10

    In fact sometimes there are so many hard links in WinSxS that Disk Clean-up can't count them all and gives up at 3.99TB for Windows Update Clean-up (which comes as a bit of a surprise if it's only a 500GB drive).

    Disk Cleanup was supposed to delete files that took over 2.11 GB-14.png
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #7

      My Computers


  8. Posts : 2
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thank you all for the help, guess I could use the compress files option to help make more space then I could play Neverwinter again on my tablet :)
      My Computer


 

  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 01:18.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums