Microsoft Windows disk filling up?

If you've been using your Windows computer for more than a year, you may have noticed that the free disk space gradually dwindles, or perhaps you're encountering issues installing updates. Don't panic, there's a way to address this by using couple of commands.

There are two tools that will likely clean things up for you. The first is DISM, short for Deployment Image Servicing and Management.

I suggest you run this tool once to clean up and a second time to perform a health check on windows. Before continuing, save all work and close all applications. With everything closed out the next step is to launch an Administrator command prompt to run these commands.

Click on the Start Menu and type "cmd" into the search bar.
In the search results, you'll see "Command Prompt." Right-click on it and select "Run as administrator."

Next you will need to copy and paste or type in the commands. You will run them one after the other. Be patient as they will take a few minutes or longer to complete and sometimes the progress will appear to be stalled but trust me, the computer

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

When those two are done running, you can use the second tool, the windows disk cleanup tool. In the same command window you used for dism.exe, you can launch the disk cleanup tool with this command:

cleanmgr.exe

There will be a new window that appears, along with an application on the taskbar. Many times the Disk Cleanup window "pops under" another window and you will need to minimize your command prompt window or select the Disk Cleanup tool from the taskbar. The Disk Cleanup tool will give you a series of checkboxes and one of them is for the "Recycle Bin". I am mentioning the Recycle Bin only because some people are foolish enough to "store" files in there. Feel free to take 2 minutes to see the process with the slow parts sped up.

I highly suggest you restart your computer after you complete these operations.

Now, let's get down to what each command does if you want to learn more:

1. Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

This command performs a thorough cleanup of your system's component store, also known as the WinSxS folder. The /ResetBase switch removes all superseded versions of every component in the store, resulting in significant space savings. It's a more aggressive cleanup that helps reduce the size of the WinSxS folder. But remember, using this command removes the ability to uninstall any currently installed updates, service packs, and versions of the .NET Framework.

2. DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

After you've cleaned up your boot disk, it's a good practice to check the health of your system image. This command checks for any corruption in the system image, logs the corruption, and automatically fixes it using Windows Update. It's an excellent way to maintain the integrity of your operating system.

In summary, these two commands allow you to clean up your boot disk and check the health of your system image, ensuring that your Windows operating system runs smoothly and efficiently. Regularly using these commands can help keep your PC in tip-top shape and could save you from potential headaches down the line.

Remember: a clean and healthy computer helps your productivity.