How to remove one folder from C:\Windows\winsxs?

Question

I've installed: Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)

and got the following folders: x86_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.21022.8_none_bcb86ed6ac711f91 x86_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.4926_none_508ed732bcbc0e5a

I allready uninstalled the redistribute package but they continue overthere.

I want to remove them because I want to test my program without installing nothing (I've included those dll's when building it in another computer).

So, how can I remove those folders from C:\Windows\winsxs?

Thanks in advance :D

Answer 1

Modifying the registry or filesystem directly is a bit dangerous, since there's a lot of extra configuration data associated with installed assemblies.

The fact that those files are still present doesn't do great harm (WinSxS is a cache), what's important is whether the system treats them as installed or not. I've blogged about how to accomplish this here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/talagrand/archive/2010/03/02/9973115.aspx

Answer 2

You should try to remove them via (Administrator) Command Line using the rem command.

Answer 3

You can remove some unneeded things from WinSXS using dism that comes with Windows. In my case, it left one copy of vc90 behind but perhaps others will be luckier:

1. Open Powershell as administrator

2. dism /online /Cleanup-image /StartComponentCleanup