Installer folder becomes bigger everyday, is already 25gb in size


  1. gorgor
    Posts : 194
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Installer folder becomes bigger everyday, is already 25gb in size


    Hello,

    I have the following problem on my desktop PC (newest stable Windows 10 64bit 1703 15063.296). I noticed, that the space on c: became less and less, started since I upgraded Windows 10 to creators update. Before creators update I had about 30gb disk space free on c:, and today, just only about 10gb.

    Of course I did everything possible, used disk cleaning tool from Windows, selected everything (old windows, setup files, temp , ect), and all was already cleaned right after I upgraded to creators update. Shadow-backups are deactivated in system controls system on all hard drives.

    But the space on c: became lower and lower, everyday. And it took me a while to find out, what was causing it:

    c:\windows\installer

    I found out, that the folder was about 25gb in size. I compared it with all my other PCs, where it was just about 1-2gb in size.

    I googled about the folder, and it seems a lot of people have the same problem, but the official answer by MS is, you are NOT allowed to delete anything in that folder...

    The content of the folder is also not shown up by the disk clean-up tool.

    I found this tool: PatchCleaner - safely clean your windows installer directory | homedev - software development out of the box

    Which seems to be for this reason, to delete the content of the folder, but on your own risk.

    Question:

    What is causing the grow of the folder on my desktop, why is it growing since creators update, only one one of my pcs, grew to already 25gb... This obviously seems like a problem or bug.

    Any way of finding out whats causing it and to fix it? Thank you
      My Computer
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  3. topgundcp
    Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       New #2

    This Installer folder is hidden (need to set folder option to "Unhide protected Operating system files" to see it) and contains info about softwares that you installed in your PC such as setup/repair/uninstall/modify and also put an entry into the registry database.

    PatchCleaner, when run will compare the info in this folder with the entry in the registry, if it does not exist in the registry then it is orphan and the program will advice to move/delete it.

    The problem is caused by either
    1. If the software is badly written and did not remove the entry in both registry and file(s) in this folder when uninstall it.
    2. User manually delete the software without going thru the normal uninstallation procedure.


    Run Patch Cleaner and click on "Details". You'd get a list of description of each software installed in your PC and decide if it is orphan or not then you can manually delete the file(s) in this folder.

    WARNING:     be careful when deleting the file(s) in this folder, without it/them, you won't be able to uninstall the related software and would need to re-install it.
      My Computer
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  4. gorgor
    Posts : 194
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Dear topgundcp,

    thank you for your answer. Yes, of course it is hidden, and I also know what it contains... the question still is in the room:

    Why is it growing everyday, withouth doing anything, and why doesn't Windows clean it up. PatchCleaner indeed identified about 98% of the files as "orphan" which are about 23gb of the 25gb.

    What would happen, if I delete them through PatchCleaner?

    But I am more interested in, why Windows doesn't do anything about it. This obviously seems like a bug. Would I need to re-install Windows?

    I have three other Windows 10 PCs, and on everyone of them, the installer folder is just about 1-2GB in size... not 25GB.
      My Computer
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  6. topgundcp
    Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       New #4

    But I am more interested in, why Windows doesn't do anything about it. This obviously seems like a bug. Would I need to re-install Windows?
    Windows does not have control over what third party software you installed. To be safe, run patch cleaner and move file(s) recommended by it to an external HD or somewhere else. Personally, I use Patch Cleaner quite often, delete everything when making backup image. IMO, you need not to re-install Windows.
      My Computer
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  7. Badabing
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 64 Pro
       New #5

    Well, THAT (PatchCleaner) was exactly what I'm looking for. From 18 GB to 6 GB - what's ok thinking of all the stuff I got.
      My Computer
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  8. EdTittel
    Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       New #6

    Yes, PatchCleaner can be a real space-saver. I do hope you moved rather than deleting your orphans, though, as topgundcp suggested. That's what I do, except for older versions of Macrium Reflect which because it gets updated frequently leaves lots of orphans behind. But because I'm current as can be, and know where to download a free copy any time I should need it, I don't keep those around.
    HTH,
    --Ed--
      My Computers
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  9. Badabing
    Posts : 12
    Windows 10 64 Pro
       New #7

    Sure, I moved them because that was I wanted to do in the first place: Move the Installer folder to another partition, because most of its content is hardly used. :/
      My Computer
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