Aug 02, 2020 Device Cleanup Tool is a portable tool that lists all non-present devices and then allows for easy removal. Video tutorial and a command-line version are available. Every time you attach a device to your machine, it leaves an entry within Windows device management. Jul 29, 2017 In Windows 10 / 8.1, there is a more convenient tool to delete earlier driver versions — familiar Disk Cleanup tool (cleanmgr.exe) that also allows to delete deprecated updates. In Windows 10 and Windows 8 Upd 1, there is an opportunity to export all third party drivers from the system to a separate directory using PowerShell.
-->Starting with Windows Vista, the driver store is a trusted collection of inbox and third-party driver packages. The operating system maintains this collection in a secure location on the local hard disk. Only the driver packages in the driver store can be installed for a device.
When a driver package is copied to the driver store, all of its files are copied. This includes the INF file and all files that are referenced by the INF file. All files that are in the driver package are considered critical to the device installation. The INF file must reference all of the required files for device installation so that they are present in the driver store. If the INF file references a file that is not included in the driver package, the driver package is not copied to the store.
The process of copying a driver package to the driver store is called staging. A driver package must be staged to the driver store before the package can be used to install any devices. As a result, driver staging and device installation are separate operations.
A driver package is staged to the driver store by being verified and validated.
Verifying the driver package integrity
Software integrity has become a top priority for Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Concerned by the increase in malicious software on the Internet, these customers want to be sure that their software has not been tampered with or corrupted.
Windows 10 Driver Update
Before a driver package is copied to the driver store, the operating system first verifies that the digital signature is correct. For more information about digital signatures, see Driver Signing.
Validating the driver package
The operating system validates the driver package in the following ways:
- The current user must have permission to install the driver package.
- The INF file of the driver package is syntactically correct, and all files referenced by the INF files are present in the driver package.
After a driver package has passed integrity and syntax checks, it is copied to the driver store. Afterwards, the operating system uses the driver package to automatically install new devices without requiring user interaction.
Once files are staged to the driver store, they should not be removed or modified in any way. Additionally, new files should not be added to the driver store outside of the staging process. This includes files being added, removed, or modified directly through programmatic calls, or indirectly through INF directives that will be processed at a later time.
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This topic is about the different ways to reduce the size of the WinSxS folder on a running version of Windows 10.
One commonly asked question is, 'Can I delete the WinSxS folder to regain some disk space?' The short answer is no. You can, however, reduce the size of the WinSxS folder using tools built into Windows. For more information about the WinSxS folder, see Manage the Component Store.
Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 automatically reduce the size of the WinSxS folder by using methods similar to the ones described in this topic, in addition to internal processes, such as uninstalling and deleting packages with components that have been replaced by other components with newer versions. Previous versions of some components are kept on the system for a period of time, allowing you to rollback if necessary. After a period of time, these older components are automatically removed from the installation.
You can also reduce the size of a Windows image using some of the same techniques, as discussed in Reduce the Size of the Component Store in an Offline Windows Image.
To learn about finding the size of your WinSxS folder, see Determine the actual size of the WinSxS folder.
Warning
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.
In Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, you have a number of ways to start the cleanup of the component store, which use a combination of package deletion and component compression to clean up the WinSxS folder:
Task Scheduler
The StartComponentCleanup task was created in Windows 8 to regularly clean up components automatically when the system is not in use. This task is set to run automatically when triggered by the operating system. When run automatically, the task will wait at least 30 days after an updated component has been installed before uninstalling the previous versions of the component.
If you choose to run this task, the task will have a 1 hour timeout and may not completely clean up all files.
Run the StartComponentCleanup task in Task Scheduler to clean up and compress components
- If Task Scheduler is not open, start the Task Scheduler. For more information, see Start Task Scheduler.
- Expand the console tree and navigate to Task Scheduler LibraryMicrosoftWindowsServicingStartComponentCleanup.
- Under Selected Item, click RunNoteThe StartComponentCleanup task can also be started from the command line.
Dism.exe
The /Cleanup-Image parameter of Dism.exe provides advanced users more options to further reduce the size of the WinSxS folder. For more information, see DISM Operating System Package Servicing Command-Line Options.
Use the /StartComponentCleanup parameter
- Using the /StartComponentCleanup parameter of Dism.exe on a running version of Windows 10 gives you similar results to running the StartComponentCleanup task in Task Scheduler Event id 1146 microsoft windows failover clustering tools. , except 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.From an elevated command prompt, type the following:
Use the /ResetBase switch with the /StartComponentCleanup parameter
- Using the /ResetBase switch with the /StartComponentCleanup parameter of DISM.exe on a running version of Windows 10 removes all superseded versions of every component in the component store.From an elevated command prompt, type the following:WarningAll existing service packs and updates cannot be uninstalled after this command is completed. This will not block the uninstallation of future service packs or updates.
Use the /SPSuperseded parameter
- To reduce the amount of space used by a Service Pack, use the /SPSuperseded parameter of Dism.exe on a running version of Windows 10 to remove any backup components needed for uninstallation of the service pack. A service pack is a collection of cumulative updates for a particular release of Windows.From an elevated command prompt, type the following:Warning The service pack cannot be uninstalled after this command is completed.
Win 10 Driverstore Cleanup
Disk Cleanup
You can use Disk Cleanup to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives, which can help your PC run faster. It can delete temporary files and system files, empty the Recycle Bin, and remove a variety of other items that you might no longer need. The option to cleanup updates helps reduce the size of the component store.
Ithaca model 51 featherlight serial numbers. Run Disk Cleanup to delete system files
- To delete system files run the steps as provided in Delete files using Disk Cleanup.