Windows 10 System Files Growing

I have searched high and low for an answer to this issue. My Windows 10 System Files size is over 22GB. I'm running on a Toshiba netbook, with CompactOS running. What's more odd is that my wife uses an HP netbook. Same specs for both, and hers is also running CompactOS. Her System Files is only about 19.7GB. I cannot figure out why mine is so much larger than hers. I've ran Disk Check as well as CCleaner, and nothing seems to shrink the size. I should also mention that I have removed almost all built in apps, where as she has not.

A difference of 3GB + or - between computers really isn't much. A couple of things I do is press Windows Key + R and type %temp% and press Enter, delete all the files there. A few will not be deleteable. Another thing is to open Internet Options in Control Panel or Settings, type Internet Options in the dialog box and delete the TIFs/Temporary Internet Files [leave the other things on that panel alone].

When 32gb is all you have, 3gb between systems is a lot. And you're completely missing the point. I maintain deleting temp files far more than my wife. Why is one install bigger than another?

DustinCox said:

When 32gb is all you have, 3gb between systems is a lot. And you're completely missing the point. I maintain deleting temp files far more than my wife. Why is one install bigger than another?

I don't think any one's missing the point: I don't see how it was known that 32GB is all you have up front.
--- In your case, the 22GB equals about 68.75%
Does your wife also have only 32GB available?
--- I know you've said that the specs are the same for each netbook, but I can't assume everything is exactly the same without know more information.
--- In her case the 19.7GB equals about 63.56% of 32GB if that is what she has.
I'm not an expert by any means, but the difference between how a Toshiba vs. an HP handle their computer systems probably needs to be taken into account even though the basic specs are the same.
From the Toshiba's I've seen they have quite a few dashboard utilities available.
My HP's have HP Support Assistant available if/when I want them.
I'm interested in the issue you want to address and I don't blame you for wanting to know what's going on as I have questioned similar issues myself over the years. And in searching high and low I imagine there were some expert opinions mentioned.

A thought that just came to my mind is if you haven't done so:
Compare the size of the WinSxS folders.
Compare Disk Cleanup for items that can be removed but are not checked to do so.

It isn't clear what you mean by system files. Do you mean Windows directory or are you including page file and so on? 19GB is massive if you mean just compressed windows. It should be less than half that.

Run TreeSize Free and see.

If you look at mine (with compression of Windows folder about 40%) only 7.7GB is allocated for Windows directory and 9.5GB overall. I don't have many programs installed though.



Assuming you can see what is taking the space then it can be either compressed or deleted.

DustinCox said:

My Windows 10 System Files size is over 22GB. I'm running on a Toshiba netbook ... my wife uses an HP netbook. Same specs for both... Her System Files is only about 19.7GB.

First, are both systems 32-bit? (or 64-bit?) A 32-bit system is smaller than a 64-bit one, you can't compare the two.

Second, it isn't clear what you define as 'System Files'. I'm assuming you mean the reported used space when you look at the Properties of your System Drive C:

There are a number of things that can use up space without being immediately obvious (or visible). One is 'restore points'. These are stored in the hidden 'System Volume Information' folder on the root of the C: drive. Another would be the Windows update backup files, Windows stores copies of previously installed updates in the Component Store and these can eat up a lot of space.

Both can be cleaned out using Disk Cleanup. Run it and click the 'clean up system files' button. You can delete all but the latest restore point on the 'More options' tab, and the update backups will appear in the list of things you can tick to delete on the 'Disk Cleanup' tab.

The space allowed for restore points can be controlled, all restore points deleted, or you can even turn of restore points completely in the System Protection settings.
Turn On or Off System Protection for Drives in Windows 10


If you are prepared to do without the option of uninstalling previous updates, the Component Store can be shrunk further with DISM's /ResetBase option.
Clean Up Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 10

System Files is a classification in the Storage section of Setting. Whenever you go to Storage, and go the section marked System and Reserved, you get a breakdown of different categories, System Files, Paging, Hibernation and Restore. That's all I have to look at right now. Both computers are set to automatically size the paging system (the default for Windows), and both have Hibernation and Restore deactivated, so those take no space. I have checked, and although my paging files is slightly larger than hers (1.1GB vs. 950MB), I have less programs, so it balances out. I have ran Disk Cleanup, and have never gotten anything except a few MB to clear up. I have also tried CCleaner, and had the same results. As of last night, the folder for downloading updates was empty as well. I cannot figure out what is taking the space. I have heard rumors that Toshiba computers contain some adware that is difficult to remove, but even after viewing all regular and hidden folders, I can't even find where it would be.

DustinCox said:

As of last night, the folder for downloading updates was empty as well. I cannot figure out what is taking the space.

That folder is only populated while downloading and installing updates. The final destination for storing previous updates is %systemroot%\WinSxS. Due to extensive use of hardlinks in this folder, File Explorer will report a larger size for this folder than the actual physical storage in use. You need to use DISM in an elevated command prompt to get the true size (and see if there's any space you can reclaim).
Analyze Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 10

DISM's 'ResetBase' option reclaims the maximum possible space.

Note
Using the /ResetBase switch with the /StartComponentCleanup parameter of DISM.exe on a running version of Windows 10 removes all superseded versions of every component in the component store.



Warning
All existing service packs and updates cannot be uninstalled after this command is completed. This will not block the uninstallation of future service packs or updates.

Clean Up Component Store (WinSxS folder) in Windows 10

The DISM has worked the best of anything. Cleared up a little over 1GB of space.

Another thing to bear in mind is that older versions of Windows 10 will have had more updates and take up more disk space.
If you check the version of windows you are running , are they both the same version?