What is WinsxsLite and How to Download and Run It on Windows 10
What is WinsxsLite and Why You Need It
If you have been using Windows for a while, you may have noticed that your system drive is getting full over time. One of the reasons for this is the WinSxS folder, which contains all the components that make up Windows. The WinSxS folder is used to support the functions needed for the customization and updating of Windows, such as enabling or disabling features, adding or removing roles, moving between editions, recovering from corruption or boot failures, uninstalling updates, and running programs using side-by-side assemblies.
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While the WinSxS folder is essential for Windows to operate properly, it can also grow very large over time. This is because Windows keeps older versions of components in case you need to roll back or restore them. However, in most cases, you don't need these older versions anymore and they just take up valuable disk space. This is where WinsxsLite comes in handy.
WinsxsLite is a tool that can help you reduce the size of the WinSxS folder by deleting unnecessary files and compressing components. It can work on both online and offline Windows systems, meaning you can use it on your running system or on a .wim image file. By using WinsxsLite, you can free up some disk space, improve your system performance, and avoid potential errors caused by low disk space.
How WinsxsLite Works
To understand how WinsxsLite works, you need to know some basic concepts about the component store and hard links. The component store is a collection of files that are organized into components and packages. Components are objects that track files, directories, registry keys, services, etc. Packages are groups of components that are used by Windows Update and DISM to update Windows. The component store is processed by Windows to determine which components are needed for your system.
The WinSxS folder is the location for the component store files. However, not all files in the WinSxS folder are actually stored there. Many files are hard links, which are file system objects that allow two files to refer to the same location on disk. This means that more than one file can point to the same data and changes to that data in one file are reflected in the other file. Hard links are used to save disk space and avoid duplication of files.
WinsxsLite works by scanning the component store and identifying files that can be safely deleted or compressed. It uses different methods to clean up the component store, such as removing superseded components, deleting backup files, compressing components, and removing hard links. WinsxsLite also allows you to customize the cleanup options and parameters according to your needs and preferences. WinsxsLite can save you a lot of disk space by removing unnecessary files and reducing the size of the component store.
How to Download and Use WinsxsLite
Now that you know what WinsxsLite is and how it works, you may be wondering how to download and use it. In this section, we will guide you through the steps of downloading and using WinsxsLite on both online and offline Windows systems.
Downloading WinsxsLite
The first step is to download WinsxsLite from its official website. You can choose between the 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your system architecture. The download file is a zip archive that contains the executable file and some other files. You need to extract the zip archive to a folder on your system or on a removable drive.
Before you run WinsxsLite, you need to verify its integrity and authenticity. You can do this by checking the digital signature of the executable file. To do this, right-click on the file and select Properties. Then, go to the Digital Signatures tab and select the signature from the list. Click on Details and then View Certificate. You should see that the certificate is issued by Let's Encrypt Authority X3 and that it is valid until a certain date. You can also check the SHA-256 hash of the file and compare it with the one provided on the website. If they match, then you can be sure that the file is genuine and has not been tampered with.
Using WinsxsLite on a Running Windows System
If you want to use WinsxsLite on your running Windows system, you need to have administrator privileges. You also need to make sure that your system is not pending any updates or reboots. To check this, you can run the following command in an elevated command prompt:
DISM /Online /Get-Packages /Format:Table
If you see any packages with a state of "Install Pending" or "Staged", then you need to install them or reboot your system before using WinsxsLite.
To run WinsxsLite on an online system, you need to double-click on the executable file or run it from an elevated command prompt. You will see a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to configure and run the tool. The GUI has four tabs: General, Cleanup Options, Advanced Options, and Log.
The General tab shows some information about your system and the component store. It also has a button to scan your system for potential disk space savings. The Cleanup Options tab allows you to select which cleanup methods you want to use and which parameters you want to apply. The Advanced Options tab allows you to customize some settings such as logging level, compression algorithm, hard link removal mode, etc. The Log tab shows the progress and results of the tool.
To use WinsxsLite, you need to follow these steps:
Click on the Scan button on the General tab to estimate how much disk space you can save by using WinsxsLite.
Select which cleanup methods you want to use on the Cleanup Options tab. You can hover over each option to see a tooltip that explains what it does. You can also click on each option to see more details and parameters.
Optionally, adjust some settings on the Advanced Options tab if you want more control over how WinsxsLite works.
Click on the Start button on the General tab to begin the cleanup process.
Monitor the progress and results of WinsxsLite on the Log tab. You can also view or save the log file for future reference.
Reboot your system when prompted by WinsxsLite or when finished.
Using WinsxsLite on an Offline Windows Image
If you want to use WinsxsLite on an offline Windows image, you need to have a .wim file that contains the Windows installation. You can obtain a .wim file from a Windows installation media, a recovery partition, or a backup image. You also need to have enough disk space to extract and process the .wim file.
To run WinsxsLite on an offline system, you need to follow these steps:
Extract the .wim file to a folder on your system or on a removable drive. You can use a tool such as 7-Zip or DISM to do this.
Run WinsxsLite from an elevated command prompt and specify the path to the extracted folder as an argument. For example:
WinsxsLite.exe C:\WindowsImage
You will see a text-based user interface (TUI) that allows you to configure and run the tool. The TUI has three sections: General, Cleanup Options, and Log.
The General section shows some information about the image and the component store. It also has a button to scan the image for potential disk space savings. The Cleanup Options section allows you to select which cleanup methods you want to use and which parameters you want to apply. The Log section shows the progress and results of the tool.
Use the arrow keys and the Enter key to navigate and select options on the TUI. You can also press F1 for help or F9 for advanced options.
Click on the Scan button on the General section to estimate how much disk space you can save by using WinsxsLite.
Select which cleanup methods you want to use on the Cleanup Options section. You can hover over each option to see a tooltip that explains what it does. You can also click on each option to see more details and parameters.
Optionally, adjust some settings on the Advanced Options section if you want more control over how WinsxsLite works.
Click on the Start button on the General section to begin the cleanup process.
Monitor the progress and results of WinsxsLite on the Log section. You can also view or save the log file for future reference.
Recapture the .wim file from the folder using a tool such as DISM or ImageX. For example:
DISM /Capture-Image /ImageFile:C:\WindowsImage.wim /CaptureDir:C:\WindowsImage /Name:Windows
Delete the extracted folder if you don't need it anymore.
Tips and Tricks for Using WinsxsLite
WinsxsLite is a powerful tool that can help you save disk space and improve your system performance by cleaning up the component store. However, it is also a risky tool that can cause problems if not used properly. In this section, we will share some tips and tricks for using WinsxsLite safely and effectively.
Backup Your Data Before Using WinsxsLite
The most important tip for using WinsxsLite is to backup your data before using it. This is because WinsxsLite modifies critical system files that are essential for Windows to function properly. If something goes wrong during or after the cleanup process, you may end up with a corrupted or unbootable system. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you create a restore point or a backup image of your system before using WinsxsLite.
To create a restore point, you can use the System Restore feature in Windows Settings or Control Panel. To create a backup image, you can use a tool such as Backup and Restore, Macrium Reflect, or Acronis True Image. By having a backup of your system, you can easily restore it in case of any problems caused by WinsxsLite.
Choose the Right Cleanup Options for Your Needs
The next tip for using WinsxsLite is to choose the right cleanup options for your needs. WinsxsLite offers various cleanup methods and parameters that can affect how much disk space you can save and how your system will behave after the cleanup. Some of these options are more aggressive than others and may have some trade-offs or side effects. Therefore, you should carefully review each option and select only those that suit your needs and preferences.
For example, one of the cleanup methods is to remove superseded components, which are older versions of components that have been replaced by newer ones. This can save a lot of disk space, but it also means that you will not be able to uninstall or roll back any updates that depend on those components. This may affect your system stability or compatibility with some programs or devices. Therefore, you should only use this option if you are sure that you don't need to uninstall or roll back any updates.
Another example is the compression option, which allows you to compress the component store files using different algorithms. This can also save a lot of disk space, but it may also increase the CPU usage and the boot time of your system. Therefore, you should only use this option if you have a fast processor and enough RAM to handle the compression and decompression of files.
WinsxsLite provides tooltips and details for each cleanup option and parameter, so you can easily understand what they do and how they affect your system. You can also use the scan feature to estimate how much disk space you can save by using different options and parameters. You should always choose the options and parameters that match your needs and expectations.
Monitor the Progress and Results of WinsxsLite
The last tip for using WinsxsLite is to monitor the progress and results of the tool. WinsxsLite can take a long time to complete the cleanup process, depending on the size of your component store and the options and parameters you have selected. Therefore, you should be patient and wait for the tool to finish its work.
While WinsxsLite is running, you can check the log section of the GUI or the TUI to see what the tool is doing and how much disk space it is saving. You can also view or save the log file for future reference. The log file contains detailed information about the actions and errors of WinsxsLite. You can use the log file to troubleshoot any problems or issues that may occur during or after the cleanup process.
After WinsxsLite finishes its work, you should reboot your system as soon as possible. This is because WinsxsLite may have modified some files that are in use by Windows and they need to be refreshed by a reboot. You should also check your system for any errors or issues that may have been caused by WinsxsLite. You can use tools such as System File Checker, DISM, or Windows Update Troubleshooter to scan and repair your system if needed.
You should also check how much disk space you have saved by using WinsxsLite. You can do this by looking at the log file or by checking the properties of your system drive. You should see a significant reduction in the size of your component store and your system drive. You can also compare the before and after screenshots of your WinSxS folder to see how much it has shrunk.
Alternatives to WinsxsLite
WinsxsLite is not the only tool or method that can help you clean up the component store. There are some other alternatives that you can use if you don't want to use WinsxsLite or if you want to try something different. In this section, we will introduce some of these alternatives and compare them with WinsxsLite.
Windows Update Cleanup Tool
The Windows Update Cleanup Tool is a built-in feature in Windows Settings or Disk Cleanup that allows you to delete files that are no longer needed after installing updates. These files include superseded components, backup files, temporary files, etc. The Windows Update Cleanup Tool is easy to use and does not require any additional downloads or installations.
To use the Windows Update Cleanup Tool, you need to follow these steps:
Open Windows Settings or Disk Cleanup and select your system drive.
Click on Clean up system files and select your system drive again.
Select Windows Update Cleanup from the list of options and click OK.
Wait for the tool to finish its work and reboot your system when prompted.
The Windows Update Cleanup Tool is a simple and safe way to clean up some of the unnecessary files in your component store. However, it is not as effective or comprehensive as WinsxsLite. It does not compress components, remove hard links, or delete other types of files that WinsxsLite can handle. It also does not offer any customization or configuration options for the cleanup process.
DISM Command-Line Tool
The DISM Command-Line Tool is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to service and manage Windows images. It has a parameter called /Cleanup-Image that allows you to clean up the component store by removing superseded components, backup files, temporary files, etc. The DISM Command-Line Tool is more powerful and flexible than the Windows Update Cleanup Tool, but it also requires more technical knowledge and skills to use it.
To use the DISM Command-Line Tool, you need to follow these steps:
Open an elevated command prompt and type the following command:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
Wait for the tool to finish its work and reboot your system when prompted.
The DISM Command-Line Tool can clean up more files than the Windows Update Cleanup Tool, but it still cannot compress components, remove hard links, or delete other types of files that WinsxsLite can handle. It also does not offer any customization or configuration options for the cleanup process, except for some flags that you can add to the command. For example, you can add the /ResetBase flag to remove all superseded versions of every component in the component store, or the /SPSuperseded flag to remove any backup components needed for uninstallation of a service pack.
Manual Deletion of WinSxS Folder Contents
The last alternative to WinsxsLite is to manually delete some of the contents of the WinSxS folder. This is not recommended for most users, as it can be very dangerous and risky. You may end up deleting some files that are needed by Windows or other programs, causing errors or crashes. You may also damage the integrity of the component store, making it impossible to update or repair your system. Therefore, you should only use this method if you know what you are doing and if you have a backup of your system.
To manually delete some of the contents of the WinSxS folder, you need to follow these steps:
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\WinSxS.
Locate and delete some of the files or folders that you don't need. For example, you can delete the folders that start with "Backup", "ManifestCache", or "Temp". You can also delete some of the files that have a .manifest or .mum extension.
Empty the Recycle Bin and reboot your system.
Manual deletion of WinSxS folder contents can save some disk space, but it is also very risky and unreliable. You may not be able to delete some files that are in use or protected by Windows. You may also delete some files that are important for your system or other programs. You may also not be able to compress components, remove hard links, or delete other types of files that WinsxsLite can handle. You also have no way of knowing how much disk space you are saving or what impact you are having on your system.
Conclusion
In this article, we have introduced WinsxsLite, a tool that can help you reduce the size of the WinSxS folder by deleting unnecessary files and compressing components. We have explained what WinsxsLite is, how it works, how to download and use it on both online and offline Windows systems, and some tips and tricks for using it safely and effectively. We have also compared WinsxsLite with some other alternatives that can help you clean up the component store.
WinsxsLite is a powerful and flexible tool that can save you a lot of disk space and improve your system performance by cleaning up the component store. However, it is also a risky tool that can cause problems if not used properly. Therefore, you should always backup your data before using WinsxsLite, choose the right cleanup options for your needs, monitor the progress and results of WinsxsLite, and check your system for any errors or issues after using WinsxsLite.
If you are looking for a tool that can help you clean up the component store, we recommend that you give WinsxsLite a try. You can download it from its official website and follow our guide to use it on your system. You will be amazed by how much disk space you can save and how much faster your system will run after using WinsxsLite.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about WinsxsLite:
What is the difference between WinsxsLite and WinReducer?
WinsxsLite and WinReducer are two different tools that have different purposes and functions. WinsxsLite is a tool that can hel
