Please help. How to free up my SSD c drive

Do not delete the large WinSxS or $Extend\$RmMetadata\$Txf areas shown by WinDirStat; use Windows Storage cleanup first, then let DISM determine whether the component store can safely be reduced.

The screenshot does not show Microsoft Edge as the main consumer. It reports approximately:

• C:\Windows\WinSxS: 100.8 GB
• NTFS $Extend\$RmMetadata\$Txf: 21.2 GB
• .iso files: 5.5 GB

WinDirStat can substantially overstate WinSxS because Windows uses hard links—multiple directory entries that refer to the same stored file. Microsoft warns that manually deleting WinSxS content can make Windows unbootable or unable to update.^1^

1. Run the supported Windows 11 cleanup

1. Open Start → Settings → System → Storage → Cleanup recommendations.
2. Review:
   • Temporary files
   • Large or unused files
   • Files synced to the cloud
   • Unused apps
3. Select only items you recognize, then choose Clean up.
4. Return to Settings → System → Storage, turn on Storage Sense, and open it to choose how often it runs.^2^

Be careful with:

• Downloads: delete only files you no longer need.
• Previous Windows installation(s): removing this permanently removes the option to return to the previous Windows version.^3^

2. Measure the real WinSxS size

Right-click Start, select Terminal (Admin), and run:

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore

Check these results:

• Actual Size of Component Store
• Number of Reclaimable Packages
• Component Store Cleanup Recommended

The “Actual Size” is more reliable than WinDirStat because DISM accounts for hard links.^1^

If Component Store Cleanup Recommended says Yes, run:

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Restart Windows when it finishes, and then check free space again. This is the supported method for removing superseded Windows components.^4^

Avoid adding /ResetBase initially. That option can recover more space, but after it completes, currently installed Windows update packages cannot be uninstalled.^4^

3. Do not delete the $Extend area

$Extend, $RmMetadata, and $Txf are NTFS filesystem internals; $Txf contains Transactional NTFS metadata.^5^

Do not:

• Take ownership of these entries.
• Alter their permissions.
• Delete them through WinDirStat, Command Prompt, or another utility.

Because the screenshot reports an unusually large amount there, if it remains around 21 GB after restarting and completing the supported cleanup, back up important files and open the Windows Get Help app for filesystem-specific support. The supplied information does not establish a supported manual purge procedure for that metadata.

4. Recover space from ordinary files

WinDirStat also reports about 5.5 GB of .iso files. These are disk-image files and may be personal downloads rather than Windows components:

1. In WinDirStat, select the .iso extension or expand folders outside C:\Windows.
2. Note each file’s full path.
3. If you recognize it and no longer need it, delete it; otherwise move it to another drive.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin afterward.

Also review Settings → Apps → Installed apps, sort by Size, and uninstall only applications you no longer use. Windows documents this as a supported way to reclaim storage.^6^

References

1. Determine the Actual Size of the WinSxS Folder
2. Free up space for Windows updates | Microsoft Support
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/storage-filemanagement/free-up-drive-space-in-windows)
4. Clean Up the WinSxS Folder
5. 5.3 NTFS Reserved File Names
6. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/performance-optimization/tips-to-improve-pc-performance-in-windows#solution-3-free-up-disk-space-to-boost-pc-performance)