Question:

How can I resolve the disk space issue caused by sfc /scannow on Windows 10? >
> I have a Windows 10 system that was running smoothly until recently, when the Windows Explorer became sluggish. I ran the sfc /scannow command in the command prompt to check and repair system files, but it did not fix the problem. Instead, it filled up my C: drive (the boot drive) with no free space left. I tried to clear the cache with the sfc /purgecache command, but it did not work either. What can I do to solve this issue and free up some disk space?

Answer:

How to Fix Disk Space Issue Caused by sfc /scannow on Windows 10

The System File Checker (sfc) is a useful tool that can scan and repair corrupted or missing system files on Windows 10. However, sometimes running the sfc /scannow command can cause more problems than it solves, such as filling up your disk space with unnecessary files. In this article, we will explain why this happens and how you can fix it.

When you run the sfc /scannow command, it creates a backup of the original system files in a hidden folder called WinSxS (Windows Side-by-Side) in the C: drive. This folder contains multiple versions of the same files, which are needed for compatibility and stability reasons. The sfc /scannow command also creates a log file called CBS.log in the C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder, which records the details of the scan and repair process.

The problem is that these files can take up a lot of disk space, especially if you run the sfc /scannow command multiple times or if your system has many corrupted or missing files. The WinSxS folder can grow to several gigabytes in size, and the CBS.log file can also become very large over time. This can leave you with little or no free space on your C: drive, which can affect the performance and functionality of your system.

How to clear disk space after running sfc /scannow?

There are a few ways to clear some disk space after running the sfc /scannow command. Here are some of the most common and effective methods:

• Use Disk Cleanup: This is a built-in tool that can help you delete temporary files, system files, and other unnecessary data from your C: drive. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and right-click on your C: drive. Select Properties. 2. Click on the Disk Cleanup button. Wait for the tool to calculate how much space you can free up. 3. Click on the Clean up system files button. Wait for the tool to scan your system files. 4. Check the boxes next to the items that you want to delete, such as Windows Update Cleanup, Windows Defender, Temporary Windows Installation Files, Previous Windows Installations, etc. You can also click on each item to see a description and the amount of space it occupies. 5. Click on OK and confirm the deletion. Wait for the tool to complete the process.

• Use Storage Sense: This is a feature that can automatically delete temporary files, recycle bin items, and downloads that you don’t need. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and click on System. 2. Click on Storage and turn on the Storage Sense toggle. 3. Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now. 4. Adjust the settings according to your preferences, such as how often you want Storage Sense to run, how long you want to keep your files in the recycle bin or the downloads folder, etc. 5. Click on Clean now to run Storage Sense immediately, or wait for it to run automatically according to your schedule.

• Use DISM: This is a command-line tool that can help you clean up the WinSxS folder by removing the unused or superseded versions of the system files. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. To do this, type cmd in the search box, right-click on the Command Prompt app, and select Run as administrator. 2. Type the following command and press Enter: `DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup` 3. Wait for the tool to complete the process. This may take several minutes or longer, depending on the size of your WinSxS folder. 4. Optionally, you can also run the following command to reduce the size of the WinSxS folder further: `DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase` 5. Note that this command will remove all the backup files that are needed to uninstall the updates or roll back to a previous version of Windows 10. Therefore, you should only use this command if you are sure that you don’t need to do that.

Conclusion

Running the sfc /scannow command can sometimes cause disk space issues on Windows 10, as it creates backup files that can take up a lot of space. To fix this issue, you can use Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, or DISM to delete the unnecessary files and free up some disk space. However, you should also make sure that you have enough free space on your C: drive before running the sfc /scannow command, as it may need some space to perform the scan and repair process. You can also use a third-party tool or an external drive to backup your important files and data, in case you need to restore them later.

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