Optimizing WinSXS folder

I noticed the Windows Side By Side folder is growing. How can I optimize it or move it to its own partition?

The quick non-technical answer is you cant do either option.

That sucks.

It is mainly used to repare software installations (Micro$oft and Others)
If you delete it or part of it, WIndows will still run, but if you go into problems, you have to run the original cd/dvd of each software used, etc...
Also, you cannot run SFC /scannow anymore.

You can use Windows Installer CleanUp to clean it, but don't expect to save more than 200 MB, maybe more if you're lucky.

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Download:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...sicuu2.exe

BTW, if you reinstall a prog in another location that the previous one, you have twice the dlls and other stuff in this folder

I don't remember the last time I used sfc/scannow on a workstation. I really just want apps installed were I want it not in a second folder.

Yep, but i am not really convinced that "all" the Micro$oft apps will work without it.

EDIT:
I've been a bit deeper with SXS and apparentely it is "called" by almost all Micro$oft progs, except maybe Internet Explorer.
So my advise would be not to touch this folder.

Maybe this proggy could optimize it better: http://www.vizioncore.com/vOptimizer.html

I don't need a way to repair apps. If they break, I uninstall and reinstall them. I will be loading over 130 A/V and CAD apps over the next few months. Duplicate files just waste space. They should give advanced users the option of not using this method.

Every single last Microsoft Windows based program uses the WinSxS folder, they created it because some programs do need multiple versions of one .dll file to run properly...

Microsoft knew if they updated something like XP with a new version like Vista that prevented every current program from using it there would be major backlash from the community, The answer was Windows Side-by-Side.

This works by redirecting system-calls to the older version of the file located in WinSxS so the program would always work regardless if they completely changed its API.

It just does not allow O&O defrag to keep C: clean. I do Complete/name defrag and its in three areas.

Set O&O to offline defrag on next reboot then it can defrag SxS and other locked files.

Steven