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In order to minimize WinSxS folder you can use the following DISM commands:

  1. dism /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

    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/ResetBase switch with the /StartComponentCleanup parameter of DISM.exe on a running version of Windows 10 removes all superseded versions of every component in the component store.

  2. dism /online /Cleanup-Image /SPSuperseded

    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.

My questions:

  1. What is the difference between removes all superseded versions and remove any backup components?
  2. Which of them should I use in order to minimize the WinSxS folder?
  3. In a case if I have to use both of them, in which order should I execute these programs?
Mike
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1 Answers1

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The /SPSuperseded was only relevant for Windows Vista and Windows 7. Those Windows versions got Service Packs (for Windows 8, 8.1 is treated as service pack, but both are different versions and not a classic service pack). Here The Service Packer installer keeped the older Windows version (Vista RTM, Sp1 or Windows 7 RTM) to be able to uninstall the service pack. When you now run the DISM command with the /SPSuperseded option, those files got removed and you can't uninstall the Service Pack.

This /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase removes all replaced normal updates (superseded updates) and also removes the RTM data. So if you run the ResetBase, the last installed cumulative update is fixed and can't be removed via control panel. So if you install installed KB4088876 on Windows 8.1, run the /ResetBase option, you can't uninstall older updates. If you get issues, you have to wait for next month update to fix them.

magicandre1981
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