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The Daily Insight

Can I delete WinSxS folder Server 2008 R2?

Author

John Peck

Updated on April 05, 2026

Once either option is selected, you should see the options to cleanup Service Pack Backup Files and Windows Update Cleanup like listed below. These two options will “safely” remove items from the WinSXS folder and free up space.

What is the WinSxS folder Server 2008 R2?

The winsxs folder is designed to replace the traditional installation media (e.g. DVD) and it is what allows you to install extra features, software and roles on your Server 2008 machine without having to provide the installation media.

What is C :/ Windows WinSxS?

The Windows component store (C:\Windows\winsxs) directory is used during servicing operations within Windows installations. The component store contains all the files that are required for a Windows installation. And, any updates to those files are also held within the component store as the updates are installed.

Is it OK to delete WinSxS files?

Don’t delete the WinSxS folder, you can instead reduce the size of the WinSxS folder using tools built into Windows. Deleting files from the WinSxS folder or deleting the entire WinSxS folder may severely damage your system so that your PC might not boot and make it impossible to update.

What is the WinSxS folder used for?

Windows uses a system folder called WinSxS to store files that are needed for your Windows installation, as well as backups or updates to those files. It’s a space hog, however, taking up several gigabytes of space and growing with each Windows Update you perform.

Is it safe to delete WinSxS?

How big is WinSxS?

That’s where you might stumble upon the WinSxS folder. It has a size of almost 5–10GB, and for many users, it’s like a black box in the Windows world.

Can WinSxS be deleted?

How do I clean up WinSxS?

To clean up the WinSxS folder with Storage sense, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click on Storage.
  4. Under the “Local Disk” section, click the Temporary files item.
  5. Clear the default selection.
  6. Check the Windows Update Cleanup option.
  7. Click the Remove files option.

How much disk space does the WinSxS folder consume?

We were faced a disk space issue on this server which is showing only 19.1 MB free space on its C drive. While checking the Winsxs folder, it consumes around 12 GB of size as shown in the below image: While using the disk cleanup it showing around 4.71 GB of Windows update cleanup data.

How do I clean up Windows Server 2008 SxS files?

The article linked above applies to Windows Server 2008 R2 /Win7 and later, but for Server 2008/Vista the options are much more limited. There is a tool compcln.exe which can clean up leftover Service Pack files, but other than that there is no other supported method to clean-up WinSxS for these ‘older’ OSs.

Is there a way to clean up WinSxS?

There is a tool compcln.exe which can clean up leftover Service Pack files, but other than that there is no other supported method to clean-up WinSxS for these ‘older’ OSs. More details HERE. Was this post helpful? Thanks for your feedback! did your google fu give much for 2008.

Can I delete the WinSxS folder in Windows Server 2016?

It is not recommended to delete the winsxs folder directly. Deleting this folder may cause BSOD error and OS may crash permanently. The disk cleanup utility will be added by installing the Desktop Experience feature from Windows Server manager.