Windows 10: what is the use of folders (ESD, Recovery and SWSetup)

I am posting some screenshots of files on my system . I used TreeSize tool to find the space used by files.

I want to know which of these files I can delete so that I can save space on my laptop.







The s data folder is having virtual machines 700Gb which I use.So not possible to delete them.








I want to gain more space into my laptop.I am not able to understand which files to delete and which not.

what is the use of those files inside ESD ,Microsoft and ,SWSetup,Recovery

I did checked them but I did not had the courage to delete them.

Here is one more screenshot.
I plan to use this as development machine so I think I had installed so many packages which I don't remember now.
Code:

What is the use of folders
C:\ESD,
C:\Recovery and
C:\SWSetup) can they be deleted to get space. What will be the effects post deletion.

:)

 

ESD Folder

Someone somewhere should be able to enlighten me with the purpose of this folder. From what little I know it got created from my last force-able download from Windows 10. Somehow many of my normal files disappeared from my C Drive and I am now trying to
copy and paste from the ESD folder. Windows does not support any help with this and suggested I find a good company to try and fix this horrendous problem.

My simple question is when Windows decides to drop another new installation does it delete the existing files located in my ESD file?

Does it then create new files into an empty ESD folder?

Any help or knowledge would be so appreciated before I go crazy.

 

ESD Folder

Hello Nancy,



ESD is an image of the Windows build installed on the PC. Windows uses it for installation and recovery purposes. To help you with your concern, we would like to know what exact directory path of the file/folder that you are referring to.



Thank you.

 

Missing ESD

Changes are no. They are not in the recycling bin. I have tried to copy a the esd folder to another computer but that bugged out the other computer. Im going to try to create a backup recovery disk and see if the esd files get created. With the esd file
i can run dism and point dism to the source for correcting corrupt issues. With out that folder i can not fix the issues. So far every time i fixed a computer with dism and point it towards the folder it works and i can get the updates right away. If i don't
the computer lags months behind. I got computer where the ESD files gone like they just a disappeared. So i want to see what i can do to recovery these ESD for my 1511 images.