Just thought I'd post this amazing tool for those like me that couldn't figure out why our C:\ was growing when FS was installed on a secondary drive.

TreeSize Free | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

Using this tool I found Dell had a backup feature that was running and creating logs/snapshots that kept data growing on my drive.

Another issue is with two of our top add-ons, no matter what drive you designate the installer to target for install.  These products I'm sure most of us use put large files on our C:\.

1. PMDG - 737 - There's a full backup to all 737 packages stored on the C:\ from the OPS center even if you choose your FS drive for install (proceed with caution in deleting these files, I left them in place until this get's addressed with PMDG support).

2. Fenix - places large log files on your C:\ even if you've chosen another drive for install (another set of files I left alone until support from Fenix can address putting all files/configs on the drives we designate)

Cleaning up useless log files and other items not needed is possible when you can see the problem.  I'm seeing this is not a one time check, you have to do this as you see your drive space growing.  Finding these files can't be done with the basic Windows clean-up utility. 

Just thought I'd share, hope it helps someone.  I was able to retrieve 40gigs of space on my C:\. 😏

Edited April 9, 20233 yr by Dillon

I uninstalled over 17GB of files the other day from MSFS such as the landing challenges and aircraft and liveries I will never use.

Edited April 9, 20233 yr by shamrockflyer

Just now, shamrockflyer said:

I uninstalled over 17GB of files the other day from MSFS such as the landing challenges and aircraft and liveries I will never use.

Problem with doing this from the main MS folder is it can sometimes screw up the application updating.  I had to do a complete uninstall/reinstall after monkeying with anything outside the community folder.  It's best to have FS on a separate drive as most add-on installers respect users not wanting to fill up their C:\. 

It's amazing only two developers still bypass this request.  Asobo puts some files on the C:\ but they don't grow and are not a problem. If you have the whole 737 series and DC6 you can rest assured something large is on your C:\ even when the main files are in your community folder.  PMDG needs to fix this.  Have the back-ups on the volume with MSFS. 

I'm running out of room a 2 TB drive.  I've tried to manage everything, but I'm finding myself having to uninstall entire large games from steam.  Iniscenes is ridiculous with these small airports that are 6GB.  Flytampa Boston is 3.3GB and FlightBeam Auckland is 3.7 but 6.5GB for OKC and San Antonio is crazy.  It would be nice if inibuilds gave you an option to download the SD or HD version only.  I'm guessing they have both sets of textures or something.  I'm losing HD real estate at an alarming rate.

 

I currently doing an upgrade and while at it growing my SDD's. I have x2 2TB SSD's now, an 850 Pro and a 980 Pro from Samsung. Putting the OS on a 990 Pro, MSFS on a separate 990 Pro and keeping the 980 Pro for all my community Addons. 

Edited April 9, 20233 yr by B777ER

This a great post.  Just wondering, I have MSFS installed on an NVME drive separate to my NVME drive for Community Folder.  I use addon linker to point everything over to this drive/community folder.  Can I move my MSFS install over to this other NVME without too many issues?

Jase

Cool reminder. Thank you. It's still valuable that everyone share his heath tool and process (Windows Update, Update Microsoft Store, update drivers & Bios...)

TreeSize is great and I personnaly also used Space Sniffer to look for unexpected space used on my drives : https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spacesniffer.html

Edited April 10, 20233 yr by vbazillio

17 hours ago, Dillon said:

1. PMDG - 737 - There's a full backup to all 737 packages stored on the C:\ from the OPS center even if you choose your FS drive for install (proceed with caution in deleting these files, I left them in place until this get's addressed with PMDG support).

This is a non-issue.
If you don't want these files, just open the PMDG Operations Center and select Help/Support at the top and then Delete Updater Cache.

56 minutes ago, Reader said:

This is a non-issue.
If you don't want these files, just open the PMDG Operations Center and select Help/Support at the top and then Delete Updater Cache.

Thanks for this tip.  I still stand by my comment nothing should be in the C:\ like this is you specifically told the installer to place relevant files on the MSFS partition/drive.   If users don't catch threads like this their running down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what's going on with loss of space on their OS drive.  Most internet searches tell you to just run Windows Clean-up which doesn't resolve the issue.😶

1 minute ago, Dillon said:

I still stand by my comment nothing should be in the C:\ like this is 

I agree,
Lockheed Martin do the same with their P3D installation.
Another good way to get back around 12 GB of C drive space is to disable Windows Hibernation.
Unless you need it of course.

1 hour ago, Reader said:

This is a non-issue.
If you don't want these files, just open the PMDG Operations Center and select Help/Support at the top and then Delete Updater Cache.

Wow!  Thanks for this info.  I did exactly as you said and when I rechecked my C: drive I found I had 7.5GB more space.  I never even knew those files were there.