Over time, Windows Updates files are superseded with latest updates and the previous superseded updates remained and it takes storage space.
When the updates are stable, the superseded updates is no longer needed and we can free up the space. The Windows updates are stored in “C:\Windows\WinSxS”.
In Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2, you can use DISM.exe to perform cleanup.
Steps:
- Open Command Prompt in Administrator Mode
- Execute the following command:
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
Note on dism.exe switches:
– /StartComponentCleanup
Previous versions of updated components will be immediately deleted
(without a 30 day grace period) and you will not have a 1-hour timeout limitation.
– /ResetBase
Removes all superseded versions of every component in the component store.
References:
1. Clean Up the WinSxS Folder (Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2)