Windows 10: Clean File Repository - Save Valuable Disk Space With This Trick

*This trick/tutorial is only viable for those who had their system setups for a while and had been constantly updating their drivers to the latest.

So while I was lately focused on fixing a crash caused by windows update service attempting to force update my graphics driver to buggy version , I managed to come across an interesting finding that has saved me around 25 gigs of valuable disk space I wasn't aware they were consumed by pure rubbish .

If you had been constantly eager to keep your windows drivers up to date specially if you are a gamer windows manages to do a very interesting yet absurd practice of keeping an entirely intact copy of your older driver for roll back purposes . This might sound reasonable but for only a couple of rollbacks behind but not for as old as the system goes !

Most GPUs drivers including Intel lately come in packed size of not less than 300 mbs and unpacked one close to 500 mbs so windows storing like 20 of primary + 20 of secondary unpacked drivers for those enthusiastic enough to keep drivers up to date + whatever other Wifi drivers that aren't coming any compact lately and you may end up with a huge amount of disk space stolen from you , you wouldn't even notice was gone (who'd rollback 20 times really!) .

So while there is a mean using windows command prompt to remove these one by one (pnputil.exe) , it can be a pain to do the procedure for as many drivers as these may have compiled over time . so the best next solution would be :

Driver Store Explorer a free open source program that attempt to manage driver store with ease , so you start by:

So next step is brainless , you just multi select all these drivers you are not interested in keeping (ex: all Nv_ and Intl_)



then hit Delete Package button on the right panel and you are done .

You shouldn't be worried about losing your current graphics driver since windows will not allow it to delete (not unless you tick "Force Deletion" from Driver Store Explorer right panel which you shouldn't be doing anyway) .

On a side notice if you use removable peripherals (ex: USB / Thunder Bolt Devices) windows may allow deletion of their drivers if not plugged in , so just stick to deleting what you know (Preferably GPUs Drivers) and apply caution with the rest .

Cheers *Cool

:)

 

Tablet PC won't shut down after deleting Windows.old folder

Disk Cleanup did the trick on your issue since it has most likely removed the unwanted or incomplete files to save space. This is designed to free up disk space on a computer's hard drive. This has also been proven to resolve storage errors
since it scans and analyzes the hard drive for files that are no longer in use.

Feel free to write again if you need additional assistance.

 

Driver Store-File Repository using huge disk space. How can I reduce it?

amazing

 

Had the same experience few days ago after WU. My C drive became almost full.
After some digging, i found that my filerepository under windows /driver... was about 35GB wtf
Found tons of Nvidia drivers 500mb each +lots more
+1for that program and thxx for sharing. It took care of that phat in no time.

 

I found this quite useful. Note you can just use the button on the rhs to select old drivers - but double check you do have a newer driver before you delete any.