winsxs\Backup folder

[rdsu]

Hi,

After read this site: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7hardware/thread/450e0396-6ba6-4078-8ca0-b16bf4e22ccf

I think we could add "winsxs\Backup" to SpaceHog section.

What do you think?

Regards

[jeroen]

The standard MyDefrag scripts already place files in the winsxs folder in zone 6 (the spacehogs) if they have not been accessed in the last month. Other files in the winsxs folder are placed in zone 3 (booting), zone 4 (most used programs), and zone 5 (regular files), depending on how they are used.

[rdsu]

So you can remove all the directories defined for SpaceHog, because they will be covered by the last month rule...

I think you understand what I mean on first post...

1. The WinSxS\Backup folder:

 

In previous versions of Windows, such as XP there was a component called 'Windows File Protection' which was used to make sure that all of the many system files were protected and backed up. These files were backed up in the %systemroot%\System32\dllcache folder. If you had a problem and lost a system file or one of these files had been corrupted, you could run the 'sfc /scannow' command and the files would be replaced with the backed up copy in the dllcache folder. The dllcache folder was typically 500MB or larger.

 

In Vista, 'Windows File Protection' has been replaced with 'Windows Resource Protection' which, essentially performs the same function. The 'dllcache' folder no longer exists in Vista, it has been replaced with the

%systemroot%\Winsxs\Backup folder. This folder is NOT 'a backup of a backup', it exists only to make sure that files required for Vista to boot and operate are protected.

[jeroen]

Ah, I see I made a little mistake. I have never heard of a "winsxs\Backup" folder and don't have such a folder myself, so I assumed you were talking about the "winsxs" folder. My previous answer was for "winsxs", not for "winsxs\Backup".

I don't know what kind of files the "winsxs\Backup" folder contains. The name would suggest a copy of other stuff, and that it will never be used. If that is the case then yes, it would be good to include this folder in the list of spacehogs.

So you can remove all the directories defined for SpaceHog, because they will be covered by the last month rule...

No. Many files will already be selected by the last month rule, but not all of them. The list of windows spacehogs folders is there to make sure that very infrequently used Windows files are still seen as spacehogs. Also, the list is a fallback in case the last-access times are not recorded (see LastAccessEnabled for more information).

[rdsu]

Thanks

[lh]

Hi,

After read this site: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7hardware/thread/450e0396-6ba6-4078-8ca0-b16bf4e22ccf

I think we could add "winsxs\Backup" to SpaceHog section.

What do you think?

Regards

I do not think that would help much.  As the way SxS works is by using linking.  There is 1 file with many links to it.  It is similar to using the ln command in unix.  The backup folder is a 'fail safe' for the system32 dir.  So if you get a botched load it will try to load things out of that directory.  I got that out of the link you sent.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382503%28VS.85%29.aspx

So in effect you could be moving files that should be near the front of the drive over to spacehogs.  Good idea but may not work in practice.

Honestly MS has been rather 'secretive' about this folder.  With little more than 'dont mess with it' and conflicting reports about what each directory is and no answers on the 'growing' issue inside of it.  Even the link you put here shows how little they are willing to say how it works.  When most people are just looking to clean it up by getting rid of things they uninstalled ages ago.  So you could be correct in doing what you are doing or I could be correct in that it is not such a good idea.  Give it a test and see what you get.