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Clean File Repository - Save Valuable Disk Space With This Trick
*This trick/tutorial is only viable for those who had their system setups for a while and had been constantly updating their drivers to the latest.
So while I was lately focused on fixing a crash caused by windows update service attempting to force update my graphics driver to buggy version , I managed to come across an interesting finding that has saved me around 25 gigs of valuable disk space I wasn't aware they were consumed by pure rubbish .
If you had been constantly eager to keep your windows drivers up to date specially if you are a gamer windows manages to do a very interesting yet absurd practice of keeping an entirely intact copy of your older driver for roll back purposes . This might sound reasonable but for only a couple of rollbacks behind but not for as old as the system goes !
Most GPUs drivers including Intel lately come in packed size of not less than 300 mbs and unpacked one close to 500 mbs so windows storing like 20 of primary + 20 of secondary unpacked drivers for those enthusiastic enough to keep drivers up to date + whatever other Wifi drivers that aren't coming any compact lately and you may end up with a huge amount of disk space stolen from you , you wouldn't even notice was gone (who'd rollback 20 times really!) .
So while there is a mean using windows command prompt to remove these one by one (pnputil.exe) , it can be a pain to do the procedure for as many drivers as these may have compiled over time . so the best next solution would be :
Driver Store Explorer a free open source program that attempt to manage driver store with ease , so you start by:
So next step is brainless , you just multi select all these drivers you are not interested in keeping (ex: all Nv_ and Intl_)1 - Downloading it from link given above
2 - Extract
3 - Right clicking Rapr.exe from extracted folder > Run As Administrator
4 - Hit the size column head to sort drivers by size
(Then weep like I did finding how much useless drivers were in store taking over 500 mbs of disk space each)
then hit Delete Package button on the right panel and you are done .
You shouldn't be worried about losing your current graphics driver since windows will not allow it to delete (not unless you tick "Force Deletion" from Driver Store Explorer right panel which you shouldn't be doing anyway) .
On a side notice if you use removable peripherals (ex: USB / Thunder Bolt Devices) windows may allow deletion of their drivers if not plugged in , so just stick to deleting what you know (Preferably GPUs Drivers) and apply caution with the rest .
Cheers
Last edited by nIGHTmAYOR; 23 Oct 2017 at 08:28.