Bare with me, this is a long one!🙄

First off, I know that "wpsystem" folders are created when you used the apps section of Windows Settings to move an app from one drive to another, so I'm aware of why they exist. What I'm not sure of is why I seemingly have 2 installs of MSFS, one on the E: drive I installed it to and one on my G: drive which is one I use only for data rather than game or app installs. I don't save any data to G: which directly relates to the running of any apps or games etc - it's documents, images, videos etc.

I wonder if it's related to the fact I initially trialled MSFS on the Xbox app before buying it through the MS Store? Have I essentially got 2 installations or are the symbolic links just making it look that way?

Here's what I have:

E:\Flight Sims\MSFS\Community  [created 18 ‎August ‎2020, ‏‎00:05:56] (161GB, modified 18/08/2020 00:05)*

E:\Flight Sims\MSFS\Official   [created 18 ‎August ‎2020, ‏‎00:05:56] (167GB, modified 18/08/2020 00:05)

G:\WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3947187520-2354784913-3403033832-1002\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community [created 30 ‎October ‎2021, ‏‎23:24:54]   (145kb, modified 22/11/2021 04:36)**

G:\WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3947187520-2354784913-3403033832-1002\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official  [created 25 ‎September ‎2021, ‏‎02:48:29] (181GB, modified 25/09/2021 02:48)

*This Community folder only contains symbolic links created by AddonsLinker. My "Add-ons" folder (also on the E: drive) contains the 192GB of actual files. All the links are dated 04/10/2021 04:39

**This Community folder only contains symbolic links, totalling/representing 35.8GB of files. The files here are mainly dated 22/11/04:35 (my last day using MSFS), with the exceptions being dated between 3/11 and 09/11. The split (between Nov 22 and the exceptions is 48/27). 

Some of the files are duplicated between those 2 Community folders, but by no means all of them.

Also in G:\WpSystem\S-1-5-21-3947187520-2354784913-3403033832-1002\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\    is a 3rd folder: "Test_Community" (created 25 September 2021, 02:48:29; modified 23/10/2021 23:54) which is reported as 3.28GB but which contains 54.9GB (51.6GB of symbolic links, 3.28GB of actual folders - "AFC_Bridge"; "ah-spitfiremk1a"; "ATR72-600CVT_"; "C-17-Globemaster_CVT", "GAIST_MSFS_V1_CVT_"). I'm now trying to remember if someone on AVSim ever suggested creating a Test_Community folder at some point during troubleshooting, but even then, I wouldn't have been creating it directly in that location as I've only just realised how much was in there. Does AddonsLinker maybe even create it "behind the scenes"?

From this point on, for simplicity, I will just refer to the above locations as E:\Community, E:\Official, G:\Community, G:\Official and G:\Test Community. Please do the same in any reply if possible.

AddonsLinker has my MSFS Community folder as "c:\users\****\appdata\local\packages\microsoft.flightsimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\localcache\packages\community" which is correct for it to perform as it should. Aside from AFC_Bridge (which never seems to be green in the right-hand window of AddonsLinker can't read manifest.json), all add-ons are green. The contents of that Community folder match exactly those of G:\Community (folder size 152kb, content size 35.8GB, same creation and modified dates). That's leading me to think that perhaps the folders on G: aren't actually there and if I were to delete them (not that I feel it would be wise) that the amount of available space might not change by the full 192GB it would appear I was deleting. That Packages folder on G: also contains folders for 11 other games I had downloaded during my Xbox app trial, but those only add up to 161MB as they are no longer active (I didn't buy them after the trial ended).

I do know that I have never manually altered those folders on G:, only those on E: (i.e. putting add-ons in Community initially, then in Add-ons when I started using AddonsLinker).

 

 

It's all very confusing! I'd like to clear several unnecessary GB off my PC if I can, firstly to free up space and secondly in case it's either slowing MSFS in any way or causing other problems. but I'm not convinced exactly what could delete safely, if anything. What I do know is there are several of you who likely have a better idea than me on this one!🤞😊

I had this a while ago with the initial release back in August 2020, And then when i got a botched update in the March WU4. I could not delete the other versions. They were set to AutoStart and could not be terminated. I will post my Zendesk here. BTW i got no help. I had to do a clean OS install.

My Zendesk

 I have 3 entries under C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.
1) Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.7.12.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe dated August 2020 Size 1.4 GB
2) Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.9.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe dated October 2020 Size Empty
3) Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.14.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe dated March 2021 Size 1.4 GB
Process Lasso logs shows Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.7.12.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe continuously wants to start. I have pages and pages of error logs showing this. I have included todays log as attached. How is this happening? Why is this process set to auto start and how can i disable this and remove the problem.
I'm running W10 and it is updated with no problems.
Thanks for any help.
EDIT: MSFS 2020 runs fine. I have no issues with the simulator.

Having the other exe always wanting to start also created excess and constant CPU cycles. 

Hard to tell if your issue was the same as mine, but it does seem to suggest there are orphan files being left behind, at best using up needless disk space, at worst causing problems with sim and/or hardware. I've had a number of hard shutdowns of the PC since SU7, due to the CPU reaching its 115°C limit, which I've never experienced before, but I'd put that down to SU7 supposedly switching some load from GPU to CPU. I've yet to check if there is excess dust in my case but it looks clean enough through the side window, and it's barely 18 months old. I've never had dust issues with such a new PC.

Either way, I'd really like to be able to remove any excess or conflicting files, if only to have a cleaner-running PC.

11 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

AddonsLinker has my MSFS Community folder as "c:\users\****\appdata\local\packages\microsoft.flightsimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\localcache\packages\community" which is correct for it to perform as it should. Aside from AFC_Bridge (which never seems to be green in the right-hand window of AddonsLinker can't read manifest.json), all add-ons are green. The contents of that Community folder match exactly those of G:\Community (folder size 152kb, content size 35.8GB, same creation and modified dates).

OK... Go to the C drive location and when you get to LocalCache, look carefully if it is a junction link.. it is on mine.

My guess is that it links to your G drive where the actual packages exist.  Check the link properties to verify.

If you open localcache, read the last line of the Usercfg.opt file. It should say something like:

InstalledPackagesPath "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages"

If it does not mention your E drive, it looks to me as if your E drive is an unnecessary duplicate..

12 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

I'm now trying to remember if someone on AVSim ever suggested creating a Test_Community folder at some point during troubleshooting, but even then, I wouldn't have been creating it directly in that location as I've only just realised how much was in there. Does AddonsLinker maybe even create it "behind the scenes"?

Addon linker does not create this.. you must have at some point.  I would suggest it is also surplus.

28 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

OK... Go to the C drive location and when you get to LocalCache, look carefully if it is a junction link.. it is on mine.

My guess is that it links to your G drive where the actual packages exist.  Check the link properties to verify.

If you open localcache, read the last line of the Usercfg.opt file. It should say something like:

InstalledPackagesPath "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages"

If it does not mention your E drive, it looks to me as if your E drive is an unnecessary duplicate..

Thanks Bert, I figured you'd have some input to share on this!👍

Have to confess, I didn't know about Junction Links, only Symbolic ones, so I did a quick read-up on them. So, they are similar to symbolic links but can only link to folder, not files. If I Right-click on the C LocalCache, Properties Shows me its path is on C and if I open it in a new window, it does indeed open in C rather than G. So, different from what you suggest.🤔

The last line in C Usercfg.opt is indeed "InstalledPackagesPath "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages" so you could well be right that the E drive entries are unnecessary. As such, it seems I could delete 

E:\Flight Sims\MSFS\Community   and    E:\Flight Sims\MSFS\Official , and obviously still keep the Add-ons folder I created in E for AddonsLinker to read from. I suppose a test would be to Start AddonsLinker, delete an add-on aircraft or airport symbolic link from E:\Flight Sims\MSFS\Community (one that is small enough to sit in the Recycle Bin, just in case it needs to go back) and see if 1) it is AddonsLinker asks for a refresh and 2) if the add-on is then missing in MSFS when I start it up.

If 1  or 2 apply, perhaps I need to double-check that said files are in my Addons folder.

 

45 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Addon linker does not create this.. you must have at some point.  I would suggest it is also surplus.

That was the more likely answer of my 2 suggestions. I'm trying to convince myself I created it (and seem to think maybe I did) but I just don't remember ever adding anything to that location.🤨 But if it's a test folder and I've not done anything to it in 2 months, I doubt I need it now.

12 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

If I Right-click on the C LocalCache, Properties Shows me its path is on C and if I open it in a new window, it does indeed open in C rather than G. So, different from what you suggest.🤔

In Properties, open Link Properties tab and look for Target.

Choose explore and see where it takes you 😉

Edited November 24, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

11 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

keep the Add-ons folder I created in E for AddonsLinker to read from

Correct

14 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

In Properties, open Link Properties tab and look for Target.

Choose explore and see where it takes you 😉

In Properties, I only see tabs for General, Sharing, Security, Previous Versions and Customize. Nothing for Link Properties and no mention of Target, just the Location on the General tan (which as I say is for the C location.

47 minutes ago, 109Sqn said:

In Properties, I only see tabs for General, Sharing, Security, Previous Versions and Customize. Nothing for Link Properties and no mention of Target, just the Location on the General tan (which as I say is for the C location.

Go to C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe

The listing for LocalCache, look carefully if it is a junction link.. is it?

37 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Go to C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe

The listing for LocalCache, look carefully if it is a junction link.. is it?

As I say, I've only just learned of junction links. Does it have a different icon to a symbolic link? Mine has a folder icon with a shortcut symbol in the bottom left corner, just as symbolic links have. Am I doing something really daft here?🙃

Edited November 24, 20214 yr by 109Sqn

Clearly it is a link... but why you do not see Link Properties is beyond me..

It looks similar to mine, but yes, I do have a different link symbol..

Edited November 24, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

11 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

I do have a different link symbol..

Interesting. Windows 10, yes? I've tried googling for a junction link icon but no luck so far. I found that enabling "Attributes" as a column in Explorer, you can confirm a file or folder type. LocalCache shows as "DL" - however, Windows being as helpful as ever, that can indicate either a symbolic or junction!🙄