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    Slimming down an old Windows 10 install?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Peon, May 14, 2017.

  1. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    A clean install of the Creators Update only takes up about 9 GB of disk space.

    However, my oldest Windows 10 VMs have bloated themselves up to 20-25 GB, as it seems each major update eats up an additional ~5 GB of (valuable SSD) space.

    How can I get rid of all the junk from previous all those old versions of Windows 10 and slim my VMs back down to the ~9 GB of a clean install?
     
    Peon, May 14, 2017
    #1
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  2. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Tinderbox (UK), May 14, 2017
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  3. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Sorry, but I don't see the relevance?

    Phoenix is targeting people who are doing clean installs, whereas I want to reduce disk space on an existing installation without reformatting.
     
    Peon, May 14, 2017
    #3
  4. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

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    There is no 1-way to answer you.

    It all depends on your programs installed, services, cache and maybe you even have a large page file.

    You might want to add more information.
     
    jaug1337, May 16, 2017
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  5. OverTallman

    OverTallman Notebook Evangelist

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    The good old Disk Cleaner should help you get some valuable space back ;) Trimming down to 9GB may be impossible without a lot of hassles, but down to 11-12GB is easy.

    Right click on the C drive in My Computers and you'll see it, remember to clean system files and restore points as well. It'll also remove "Windows.old" folder which will appear if you've upgraded from an earlier Windows version.
     
    OverTallman, May 16, 2017
    #5
  6. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    This is the verbal "Chicken and the Egg" that can't be answered as each system and install and drivers and hardware unless they are identical twins well vary to some degree and some could be more then others. So unless others know exactly your system hardware and drivers there is by no certain degree anyone can give a answer that will fit what your asking.
     
    StormJumper, May 16, 2017
    #6
  7. steberg

    steberg Notebook Evangelist

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    Have you tried the DISM commands to clear out old files from WinSXS folder?
    Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
    Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
    Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /SPSuperseded
    Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore

    Running these commands take some time but it will clean out at least a gig or two if not more.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2017
    steberg, May 17, 2017
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  8. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

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    What magic is this.

    12GB cleaned. Lol thanks :p
     
    jaug1337, May 17, 2017
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  9. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Precisely what I needed :) Thanks!
     
    Peon, May 22, 2017
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