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Windows XP - Get rid of hundreds of megabytes: Delete the SFC folder

November 25, 2013
Updated: December 6, 2021
Quick overview:

System File Protection scans all Windows files every time the system is started and repairs or restores them if they have been damaged or deleted. The original files are hidden in the Windows folder so that they can be retrieved if necessary. Unfortunately, this folder takes up a lot of space (in my case it was 370 MB). If you want to take the risk and empty this folder, proceed as follows:

Conserve system resources - get rid of SFC files

Click one after the other on Start > Execute and type it into the command line sfc /purgecache in. After pressing Enter, the folder is cleaned and the system files are checked. You now have more hard disk space available.

If you now want to know how you can restrict the folder for the future, click here. You can find more information about Windows file protection in this knowledge base article: Description of the "Windows file protection" feature

WARNING: There have been individual problems in the forum in the form of error messages with this tip. Back up your system with a suitable tool and then carry out the instructions.

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.

Founded Windows Tweaks as a teenager in 2001, his helpful PC tricks made it Germany's most visited Windows site (at the time Sandro looked like this). He then went on to write for international publications such as PC-Praxis, Computerbild, PCWorld in the USA, IMTEST.de and Hifi.de. Sandro's main job is as Global Product Marketing Lead and Consultant for various global tech companies, including Microsoft, AVG, Avast, Nero, TeamViewer, Swiss IT Security Group and now currently in the fintech sector for Gendigital. But he can't get rid of his passion and shares his tweaks here again. Privately, he enjoys traveling the world and loves Asia, especially Japan, Singapore and Korea, but also natural places like Iceland and the Nordics. You can reach Sandro via e-mail.

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