Windows server 2019 - Folder C:\windows\installer take 160GB space disk

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AntonyESPERN-6097 asked May 2, '20 saldana-msft edited Jun 1, '20

Windows server 2019 - Folder C:\windows\installer take 160GB space disk

Hi,

i saw today the folder c:\windows\installer take 160GB space disk.
This server has AD roles and an SQL express for sage application install on it, that s it.
All updates has been install.

I don't understand why this folder take so much place on this server ?
Any one has an answer ? is it a bug ?

Regards

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Answer 1 · 2020-05-02T07:44:49.173Z

LeonLaude answered May 2, '20

Hi,

When applications are installed and updated on the Windows Operating System a hidden directory "C:\Windows\Installer" is used to store the installer (.msi) files and the patch (.msp) files.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/archive/blogs/joscon/can-you-safely-delete-files-in-the-windirinstaller-directory

You might also try the following:

Disk Cleanup.
Cleanup the SxS folder by running the dism /online /cleanup-image command (Clean Up the WinSxS Folder).

(Please don't forget to mark helpful replies as answer)

Best regards,
Leon

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Answer 2 · 2020-05-04T19:02:42.14Z

AntonyESPERN-6097 answered May 4, '20 LeonLaude edited May 4, '20

Hi,

Thank you for your help,
this is a production server and for now there is now need to perform cleanup.
But for information : Disque cleanup will free 5Gb ( 4.65G windows updates)
and their is 12G on WINSXS.

The day i posted this question, their was than 2100 msi files on the installer folder and they make almost all 80,5mo, this is not normal !
No install was perform and today, three day after 5G was lost again and their is 66 new msi file. Something goes wrong !
i need to find a fix before there won't be more free space

Regards

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LeonLaude · May 04, 2020 at 07:09 PM

Make sure to check the "Cleanup system files" when performing a Disk Cleanup, this will give you options to cleanup more items.

Here's a good post that goes through some steps on how you can clean up as well:
https://serverfault.com/questions/642177/how-can-i-eliminate-the-huge-cached-msi-files-in-c-windows-installer

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Answer 3 · 2020-05-04T19:34:44.527Z

AntonyESPERN-6097 answered May 4, '20

Hi,

yes i did it. it is not enough.

I check the files after read this post : https://community.kaspersky.com/kaspersky-corporate-products-27/kaspersky-flooding-clients-with-msi-files-4954
All files i mentionned are signed by kaspersky.
So i uninstall kaspersky and i am moving all file to another network folder before being sure i could deletes them.

Let see.

Thank you for your help.

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