I think it's the opposite, actually. The windows system files are projections FROM winsxs.
The problem with winsxs is that it contains all components for the OS plus every version ever released in a patch for uninstallation purposes. You can clean it up somewhat after a service pack by running: dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded But, the bottom line is that manually modifying this folder is unsupported and generally frowned upon. Windows 8 and Server 2012 will include options for uninstalling components that you'll never need, thereby shrinking winsxs considerably. Lots more info on this blog: The Windows Servicing Guy http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/ How to reclaim space after applying Windows 7/2008 R2 Service Pack 1 http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2011/02/15/how-to-reclaim-space-after-applying-service-pack-1.aspx Should you delete files in the \WinSXS directory? And what's the deal with VSS? http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2010/08/06/should-you-delete-files-in-the-winsxs-directory-and-what-s-the-deal-with-vss.aspx -----Original Message----- From: Michael B. Smith [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 2:08 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Where did my HD space go? It's all links. Ignore it. -----Original Message----- From: Heaton, Joseph@DFG [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 2:27 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: Where did my HD space go? OMG I hate that directory. Joe Heaton ITB - Enterprise Server Support -----Original Message----- From: James R Rankin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 11:01 AM To: Heaton, Joseph@DFG; NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Where did my HD space go? What about the winsxs folder in %windir%? ---Blackberried -----Original Message----- From: David Lum <[email protected]> Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:52:51 To: NT System Admin Issues<[email protected]> Reply-To: "NT System Admin Issues" <[email protected]>Subject: RE: Where did my HD space go? Shadow copies? -----Original Message----- From: Bill Humphries [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 10:48 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Where did my HD space go? Ok, I have a strange one. This is a 64 bit 2008 server with SP2. It is complaining about the C drive being full. The C drive is 98.5 GB in disk management and explorer. Both claim there is only 400 MB of free space. When I use windirstat to look at the drive and see where the space hog is, it shows only 23 GB of files on the drive. Shadow copies shows as disabled and there are no previous versions listed under the previous versions tab. I have emptied the recycle bin. Any ideas? Bill ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
