P3D updates filling my C: drive. Why?

[Patco Lch 1,465]

The last two updates, using the full installer, about 25 GB is eaten up in my system drive even though my install is on my D.I have searched all through my C drive to see if any duplicate files were left from version 5.2. after the upgrade to 5.3. Could find no reason for more disk space to be used after a simple upgrade for the same sim. I have a 237GB SSD for my C and went from 55GB free down to about 25GB after the upgrade.  I managed to get about 8GB back by cleaning my windows/temp folder, running my disk cleanup, optimizing tool, emptying recycle bin. I now have only 33.1 GB left. 

I did a content uninstall of version 5.2 and then used the full installer to install P3DV5.3. Before doing this, I uninstalled my ORBX global and LC stuff and reinstalled after running the P3DV5.3 installer. I wonder if ORBX is sticking back up files somewhere. If so I can't seem to find them after a very extensive search through my C drive.

Any ideas why this would be anyone?

Thanks in advance.   

[johncott 177]

The installer packages are stored in the "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache" folder when you install them. I believe this to make for quicker installations if you have to reinstall. The "ProgramData" folder may be hidden and you will have to go the folder options and check "show hidden files, folders, and drives. If you're computer savvy, you can move these files to another drive and use a program like Junction Link Magic to create a link to the drive that you moved the files to. Use Junction Link Magic with caution and care, If you're not sure what your doing do not use it.  Once the link is setup you can delete the installer package files from the C drive. I'm not sure what would happen if you just delete the installer package files, never tried.

Edit: You have to move the files from the "C:\ProgramData\Program Cache" folder to your other drive first and then delete them.  Junction Link Magic will not let you create the new link until the source drive empty. 

Cheers, John

Edited December 4, 2021 by johncott

[TomCYYZ 214]

Look at this also, I had the same concerns:

Regards,

Tom

[wyman_hd 232]

Windows already has their own version of junctioning/linking, but it needs to be done by first moving the package cache folder to the drive or folder of your choice, then running this through the command prompt; something like:

mklink /J "E:\Package Cache" "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache"

If you deleted the package cache, you would have a dud entry in your control panel, and if you tried to uninstall it, it would probably say there was an error uninstalling the product, and it would give you the option to delete the entry from registry. Of course, this won't actually uninstall anything, because the package cache contains the uninstaller, so now you'll end be having to manually delete the files yourself.

[Patco Lch 1,465]

17 minutes ago, arwasairl said:

Windows already has their own version of junctioning/linking, but it needs to be done by first moving the package cache folder to the drive or folder of your choice, then running this through the command prompt; something like:

mklink /J "E:\Package Cache" "C:\ProgramData\Package Cache"

If you deleted the package cache, you would have a dud entry in your control panel, and if you tried to uninstall it, it would probably say there was an error uninstalling the product, and it would give you the option to delete the entry from registry. Of course, this won't actually uninstall anything, because the package cache contains the uninstaller, so now you'll end be having to manually delete the files yourself.

Thank Aron, would I then not be able to uninstall with the main or individual client/content/scenery installers? 

Or, could I not delete the old uninstallers for the old versions of P3DV5.2 for example since I now have installed and using P3DV5.3?

[wyman_hd 232]

6 minutes ago, Patco Lch said:

Or, could I not delete the old uninstallers for the old versions of P3DV5.2 for example since I now have installed and using P3DV5.3?

You can remove the old package cache, as they are not necessary. However, they should be removed automatically. If they are not, you're going to have to hunt them down as everything in the cache folder is all sorted by GUIDs.

[Patco Lch 1,465]

OK, thankyou everyone.

[Sparkrite 188]

2 hours ago, Patco Lch said:

Any ideas why this would be anyone?

Thanks in advance.   

As posted above they are stored in 'Package cache', I ALWAYS delete them (many Gigs sitting there, doing nothing) and have no problem Un/installing any of the P3D components.

P3D uses 'msi' files to Un/install itself ( very different from an 'exe' file) so all information relating to it is stored in the registry and also in 'Windows Installer'.

Edited December 4, 2021 by Sparkrite

[Patco Lch 1,465]

1 minute ago, Sparkrite said:

As posted above they are stored in 'Package cache', I ALWAYS delete them (many Gigs sitting there, doing nothing) and have no problem Un/installing any of the P3D components.

P3D uses 'msi' files to Un/install itself so all information relating to it is stored in the registry and also in 'Windows Installer'.

Do you delete all the entries in the Package Cache or just the specific P3D one? If so how do you identify the specific ones to delete?

[Sparkrite 188]

13 minutes ago, Patco Lch said:

Do you delete all the entries in the Package Cache or just the specific P3D one? If so how do you identify the specific ones to delete?

No just the ones relating to P3D, I identify them by using the timestamp.

Also quite often the name of the 'msi' file is in the 'GUID' diectory. Plus it's size is usually a giveaway.

Edited December 4, 2021 by Sparkrite

[Patco Lch 1,465]

OK, I found three cache entries and saved them in a folder on my D drive in case I need to put them back in the future. This recovered around 30 GB on my C. Very good. Thanks for the help.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,947]

I've found TreeSize Pro very useful for identifying what's consuming space on a drive. There's a paid version with extra features but the free one is very good too.

https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/features.shtml

[Patco Lch 1,465]

8 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I've found TreeSize Pro very useful for identifying what's consuming space on a drive. There's a paid version with extra features but the free one is very good too.

https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/features.shtml

Thanks for that Ray. Believe I'll give it a try.

[Patco Lch 1,465]

On 12/5/2021 at 7:38 AM, Ray Proudfoot said:

I've found TreeSize Pro very useful for identifying what's consuming space on a drive. There's a paid version with extra features but the free one is very good too.

https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/features.shtml

Ray, I found this app to be very helpful. Just cleaned a lot off my C drive wiping off months of saved FMS data saved by Navigraph. Past ARACS. Almost 15 GB if you can believe it.

Edited December 6, 2021 by Patco Lch

[Ray Proudfoot 8,947]

Just now, Patco Lch said:

Ray, I found this app to be very helpful. Just cleaned a lot off my C drive wiping off months of saved FMS data saved by Navigraph. Past ARACS.

Knew it would be. The paid version has pie charts making it easier to spot where space is being used.