C:/Windows/Installer file bloated to over 38GB

[schurmann]

My computer, using WinXP Home, warned me I was short on space on Drive C.
Investigation showed the normally hidden file Windows/Installer was 38.4GB
with nearly 100 folders similar to this:
{0EFDF2F9-836D-4EB7-A32D-038BD3F1FB2A} and several hundred
msp, msi and mst files like: 1c43380.msp or 3fb10042.mst
Can anyone tell me where these have come from and can I delete them?
With thanks for any help,
Eric Schurmann

 

[JS]

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

It was created to fix software installations that failed during the
install process and thus leaving a bunch of files on your hard drive.
(including a file name that ends with a .msi extension)
(.msi = MicroSoft Installer).
For example a failed MS Office installation (note that I said "Failed").
See: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility's GUI interface has the ability to
stop an application from repeatedly trying to re-install itself as
a result of botched or incomplete install. In other words you want
to kill the application's repeated install process.

The Cleanup Utility GUI will cure the problem by removing the file the
application uses to install itself. You do this by running the Windows
Installer
Cleanup Utility and from the list of displayed applications selecting the
offending application. Cleanup will then remove the components required
to install the problem application.

Note: Cleanup will not remove any other files that are part of the
application that already has been installed on your hard drive.
Cleanup only removes the components required to install the
problem application.

Warning: An unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool GUI is when you
select and remove software that is functioning properly you then will
no longer be able to install that software as it will not be in the
Add/Remove programs list.

You WILL NOT be using the GUI (Windows Graphical Interface)
You WILL be using a command line utility named msizap

Now as to why there are there so many files in C:\Windows\Installer:
You will find a good number of these .MSI files belong to software such as
Java, AV Software, Norton Ghost, Microsoft's .NET Framework, File downloaded
during a Windows Update session and so on. It would appear that some
software applications clean up after itself and deletes the files that were
in the C:\Windows\Installer folder. A failed Windows Update will create and
leave folders and files behind each time you try to install the update and
therefore you could end up with a lot of files taking up disk space.

There also could be a lot of orphaned (no longer needed) files located in
the C:\Windows\Installer folder.
Using the msizap command (msizap g) that is part of the Windows Installer
Cleanup tool removes any cached Windows Installer data files that have been
orphaned.

So download the Windows Installer Cleanup utility and the msizap utility
that is part of the cleanup utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Warning: Do not use the GUI version of the Installer Cleanup Utility,
you will instead use the command line tool named msizap.exe
to remove the wasted space in C:\Windows\Installer

Open a command prompt
navigate to the folder where the cleanup utility is installed
and enter: msizap g! > cleanup.txt

This removes all orphaned files and generate a text file (cleanup.txt) that
contains a list of which file where deleted.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[schurmann]

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

It was created to fix software installations that failed during the
install process and thus leaving a bunch of files on your hard drive.
(including a file name that ends with a .msi extension)
(.msi = MicroSoft Installer).
For example a failed MS Office installation (note that I said "Failed").
See: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility's GUI interface has the ability to
stop an application from repeatedly trying to re-install itself as
a result of botched or incomplete install. In other words you want
to kill the application's repeated install process.

The Cleanup Utility GUI will cure the problem by removing the file the
application uses to install itself. You do this by running the Windows
Installer
Cleanup Utility and from the list of displayed applications selecting the
offending application. Cleanup will then remove the components required
to install the problem application.

Note: Cleanup will not remove any other files that are part of the
application that already has been installed on your hard drive.
Cleanup only removes the components required to install the
problem application.

Warning: An unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool GUI is when you
select and remove software that is functioning properly you then will
no longer be able to install that software as it will not be in the
Add/Remove programs list.

You WILL NOT be using the GUI (Windows Graphical Interface)
You WILL be using a command line utility named msizap

Now as to why there are there so many files in C:\Windows\Installer:
You will find a good number of these .MSI files belong to software such as
Java, AV Software, Norton Ghost, Microsoft's .NET Framework, File downloaded
during a Windows Update session and so on. It would appear that some
software applications clean up after itself and deletes the files that were
in the C:\Windows\Installer folder. A failed Windows Update will create and
leave folders and files behind each time you try to install the update and
therefore you could end up with a lot of files taking up disk space.

There also could be a lot of orphaned (no longer needed) files located in
the C:\Windows\Installer folder.
Using the msizap command (msizap g) that is part of the Windows Installer
Cleanup tool removes any cached Windows Installer data files that have been
orphaned.

So download the Windows Installer Cleanup utility and the msizap utility
that is part of the cleanup utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Warning: Do not use the GUI version of the Installer Cleanup Utility,
you will instead use the command line tool named msizap.exe
to remove the wasted space in C:\Windows\Installer

Open a command prompt
navigate to the folder where the cleanup utility is installed
and enter: msizap g! > cleanup.txt

This removes all orphaned files and generate a text file (cleanup.txt) that
contains a list of which file where deleted.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com







JS

Thank you very much indeed for your very helpful explanation. I'm going to
try it and will let you know how I get on.
Eric Schurmann

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 10/31/2008 4:47 PM, and on a whim, schurmann
pounded out on the keyboard:

My computer, using WinXP Home, warned me I was short on space on Drive C.
Investigation showed the normally hidden file Windows/Installer was 38.4GB
with nearly 100 folders similar to this:
{0EFDF2F9-836D-4EB7-A32D-038BD3F1FB2A} and several hundred
msp, msi and mst files like: 1c43380.msp or 3fb10042.mst
Can anyone tell me where these have come from and can I delete them?
With thanks for any help,
Eric Schurmann

Hi Eric,

This is not directed to you, but is just a couple comments about the
Installer folder.

How many users wind up buying new computers because they've run out of
storage space (those with little or no computer experience)? How many
users wind up buying additional hard drives (those with a little
experience)? Eric had almost 40 gigs of wasted space available. I've
read about some that are over 100 gig. And we're just talking about ONE
issue here with Windows.

One ridiculous thing I have found about the Installer folder. For some
reason, a lot of programs have the Start Menu shortcuts looking to files
in the Installer folder. Someone please explain why that is. WHAT does
it have to do with Installing? Almost all Windows executables have
their icons embedded into the files, so this is completely unnecessary.
I'm guessing someone at MS was responsible for this idiotic function
and/or programming requirement. Removing the useless files in the
Installer folder doesn't affect the function of the program, you'll just
wind up with the generic DOS icon for a good portion of your shortcuts
in the Startup folders. And you CAN'T modify the shortcuts. One would
have to create new ones that are directed to the executables.
Programming genius, eh? Not counting that many of the required files
are hundreds of times larger than a little ICO file! But really, if the
icons are in the executable to begin with, why do this idiotic thing?

So, some programs store installation files in a users Application Data
folders (yes, another dumping ground), some store in the Installer
folder, some in Windows subfolders, some in ALL those locations. What
sloppy programming and a waste of hard disk space. Who cares if hard
drives are large enough?

The more I dig into the guts of Windows, the more I realize how much
better the OS could be. Too many bandaids have been applied to Windows,
and the injury is becoming infected. And MS ignores things like this
and offers us what? An Aero interface...

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[schurmann]

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

It was created to fix software installations that failed during the
install process and thus leaving a bunch of files on your hard drive.
(including a file name that ends with a .msi extension)
(.msi = MicroSoft Installer).
For example a failed MS Office installation (note that I said "Failed").
See: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility's GUI interface has the ability to
stop an application from repeatedly trying to re-install itself as
a result of botched or incomplete install. In other words you want
to kill the application's repeated install process.

The Cleanup Utility GUI will cure the problem by removing the file the
application uses to install itself. You do this by running the Windows
Installer
Cleanup Utility and from the list of displayed applications selecting the
offending application. Cleanup will then remove the components required
to install the problem application.

Note: Cleanup will not remove any other files that are part of the
application that already has been installed on your hard drive.
Cleanup only removes the components required to install the
problem application.

Warning: An unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool GUI is when you
select and remove software that is functioning properly you then will
no longer be able to install that software as it will not be in the
Add/Remove programs list.

You WILL NOT be using the GUI (Windows Graphical Interface)
You WILL be using a command line utility named msizap

Now as to why there are there so many files in C:\Windows\Installer:
You will find a good number of these .MSI files belong to software such as
Java, AV Software, Norton Ghost, Microsoft's .NET Framework, File downloaded
during a Windows Update session and so on. It would appear that some
software applications clean up after itself and deletes the files that were
in the C:\Windows\Installer folder. A failed Windows Update will create and
leave folders and files behind each time you try to install the update and
therefore you could end up with a lot of files taking up disk space.

There also could be a lot of orphaned (no longer needed) files located in
the C:\Windows\Installer folder.
Using the msizap command (msizap g) that is part of the Windows Installer
Cleanup tool removes any cached Windows Installer data files that have been
orphaned.

So download the Windows Installer Cleanup utility and the msizap utility
that is part of the cleanup utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Warning: Do not use the GUI version of the Installer Cleanup Utility,
you will instead use the command line tool named msizap.exe
to remove the wasted space in C:\Windows\Installer

Open a command prompt
navigate to the folder where the cleanup utility is installed
and enter: msizap g! > cleanup.txt

This removes all orphaned files and generate a text file (cleanup.txt) that
contains a list of which file where deleted.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[schurmann]

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

It was created to fix software installations that failed during the
install process and thus leaving a bunch of files on your hard drive.
(including a file name that ends with a .msi extension)
(.msi = MicroSoft Installer).
For example a failed MS Office installation (note that I said "Failed").
See: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility's GUI interface has the ability to
stop an application from repeatedly trying to re-install itself as
a result of botched or incomplete install. In other words you want
to kill the application's repeated install process.

The Cleanup Utility GUI will cure the problem by removing the file the
application uses to install itself. You do this by running the Windows
Installer
Cleanup Utility and from the list of displayed applications selecting the
offending application. Cleanup will then remove the components required
to install the problem application.

Note: Cleanup will not remove any other files that are part of the
application that already has been installed on your hard drive.
Cleanup only removes the components required to install the
problem application.

Warning: An unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool GUI is when you
select and remove software that is functioning properly you then will
no longer be able to install that software as it will not be in the
Add/Remove programs list.

You WILL NOT be using the GUI (Windows Graphical Interface)
You WILL be using a command line utility named msizap

Now as to why there are there so many files in C:\Windows\Installer:
You will find a good number of these .MSI files belong to software such as
Java, AV Software, Norton Ghost, Microsoft's .NET Framework, File downloaded
during a Windows Update session and so on. It would appear that some
software applications clean up after itself and deletes the files that were
in the C:\Windows\Installer folder. A failed Windows Update will create and
leave folders and files behind each time you try to install the update and
therefore you could end up with a lot of files taking up disk space.

There also could be a lot of orphaned (no longer needed) files located in
the C:\Windows\Installer folder.
Using the msizap command (msizap g) that is part of the Windows Installer
Cleanup tool removes any cached Windows Installer data files that have been
orphaned.

So download the Windows Installer Cleanup utility and the msizap utility
that is part of the cleanup utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Warning: Do not use the GUI version of the Installer Cleanup Utility,
you will instead use the command line tool named msizap.exe
to remove the wasted space in C:\Windows\Installer

Open a command prompt
navigate to the folder where the cleanup utility is installed
and enter: msizap g! > cleanup.txt

This removes all orphaned files and generate a text file (cleanup.txt) that
contains a list of which file where deleted.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

Dear JS
Just to let you know that I followed your instructions and recovered 28GB. I
am most grateful to you for your help.
Eric Schurmann

 

[JS]

You're welcome.

JS

Dear JS
Just to let you know that I followed your instructions and recovered 28GB.
I
am most grateful to you for your help.
Eric Schurmann