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WinSxs Directory

Starting with Windows Vista, the various functions of the operating system have been divided into components. A component is a collection of related files that are treated as a single object and each component is responsible for a particular task. The WinSxs directory is where all of the components are stored, including the components that have not been installed. The Installed components are then projected, through links, to create access points. What this means is that the WinSxs directory contains a large portion of the operating system within it.

So why does the WinSxs directory Grow?

When you update your computer, a new component is downloaded and saved in the WinSxs directory along side the original component. Old components are not removed so that, if an update creates problems, you can uninstall it and revert back to using the original component. As time goes on and your computer receives more updates the WinSxs directory can grow to be quite large. Luckily Microsoft provides a tool with each service pack to remove old components.

The servie pack clean-up tools are located in the Windows/System32 directory and will remove old components left behind by a service pack update.

Note: Computers that came pre-installed with a service pack, may not have the clean-up tool for that service pack, because the old components were already removed. Also you only need to run these tools once, running them again will not remove more components.

VSP1CLN.EXE: Vista Service Pack 1 Cleaner

  1. Click Start.
  2. In the search box enter vsp1cln.exe.
  3. In the search results, right click vsp1cln.exe and select Run as Admin.

COMPCLN.EXE: Vista Service Pack 2 Cleaner

  1. Click Start.
  2. In the search box enter compcln.exe.
  3. In the search results, right click compcln.exe and select Run as Admin.