Primary Drive space being eaten away

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Schneider
  • Start date Start date
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George Schneider

Guest
I noticed this weird problem the other day. My primary C drive which has
nothing installed on it but Windows is runnign out of space. I have 3 GB of
30 GB free at this point. ITs a SQL 2005 DB server. I've traced the problem
to the C:\windows\installer directory which is 20 GB in size. I looked at
the files and have noticed that I think everytime I try to run the Visual
Studio 2005 SP1 it fails to installed I beleive the space gets used then. I
wondering if the install files are being dumped here and not removed since
the install never finishes. How can I resolve my space issue and second how
can I get this update installed. I'm niot sure where visula studio 2005
comes form. Is this part of SQL server 2005? Also the C:\windows\installer
directory I can't naviagte to other than by unc even though I'm showing
hidden files and folders, why is this?
 
Re: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello George,

Maybe this helps you, but alos see the WARNING section:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> I noticed this weird problem the other day. My primary C drive which
> has nothing installed on it but Windows is runnign out of space. I
> have 3 GB of 30 GB free at this point. ITs a SQL 2005 DB server.
> I've traced the problem to the C:\windows\installer directory which is
> 20 GB in size. I looked at the files and have noticed that I think
> everytime I try to run the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 it fails to
> installed I beleive the space gets used then. I wondering if the
> install files are being dumped here and not removed since the install
> never finishes. How can I resolve my space issue and second how can I
> get this update installed. I'm niot sure where visula studio 2005
> comes form. Is this part of SQL server 2005? Also the
> C:\windows\installer directory I can't naviagte to other than by unc
> even though I'm showing hidden files and folders, why is this?
>
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello,

Thank you for your post and as well as to Meinolf for sharing the
information.

Yes, as Meinolf mentioned, the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility may help.
In addition, Heath gave the reason why this folder would grow and, listed
some methods to clean the folder. This blog is just for your reference:

http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/31/how-to-safely-delete-orphane
d-patches.aspx

Again, pay more attention when you do this as you may reinstall some
programs.

Sincerely,
George Yin
Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

So running WIndwos Installer Cleanup Utility should clear up the space issue?
I thought this blog recommended not to run this to remove fialed attempts of
visual studio sp1?

How do I get Visuual Studio 2005 PS 1 installed since everytime I run the
windows update process I receive a error 1603 in the event logs?

"George Yin(MSFT)" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Thank you for your post and as well as to Meinolf for sharing the
> information.
>
> Yes, as Meinolf mentioned, the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility may help.
> In addition, Heath gave the reason why this folder would grow and, listed
> some methods to clean the folder. This blog is just for your reference:
>
> http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/31/how-to-safely-delete-orphane
> d-patches.aspx
>
> Again, pay more attention when you do this as you may reinstall some
> programs.
>
> Sincerely,
> George Yin
> Microsoft Online Support
> Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
>
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> =====================================================
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
 
Re: Primary Drive space being eaten away

To answer your question about where Visual Studio 2005 comes from: I'm not
an expert on SQL Server 2005, but I did notice that when I installed it
recently on a Windows Server 2008 64 bit computer, it also installed
"Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Premier Partner Edition - ENU" and "Microsoft
Office 2003 Web Components". I deduce that these are bundled with and
required by some component of SQL Server 2005.

After that, Windows Update indicated that these updates are "Important"

Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3)
Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1
Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Windows Vista

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.



"George Schneider" <georgedschneider@noemail.noemail> wrote in message
news:496D525F-2340-432D-BD7E-B13CBFECE3B1@microsoft.com...
>I noticed this weird problem the other day. My primary C drive which has
> nothing installed on it but Windows is runnign out of space. I have 3 GB
> of
> 30 GB free at this point. ITs a SQL 2005 DB server. I've traced the
> problem
> to the C:\windows\installer directory which is 20 GB in size. I looked at
> the files and have noticed that I think everytime I try to run the Visual
> Studio 2005 SP1 it fails to installed I beleive the space gets used then.
> I
> wondering if the install files are being dumped here and not removed since
> the install never finishes. How can I resolve my space issue and second
> how
> can I get this update installed. I'm niot sure where visula studio 2005
> comes form. Is this part of SQL server 2005? Also the
> C:\windows\installer
> directory I can't naviagte to other than by unc even though I'm showing
> hidden files and folders, why is this?
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello,

The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility should help as it also contains the
MSIZAP.EXE, which is used to safely delete orphaned patches as Heath
mentioned in his blog. This information is included in the Readme.txt
shipped with the utility.

This Windows Installer error code "1603" is a generic error code.
Typically, this error code means that the update was not installed. I think
the root cause might probably be the unfinished installation or
insufficient disk space. I would suggest that you first clean the folder
and then try to re-install the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 to see how it goes.

Some additional information on the error code 1603:
==========================================

You receive an "error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation"
error message when you try to install a Windows Installer package:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/834484

Additionally, the Error 1603 may appear in cases:

A file is locked and cannot be overwritten.
The Microsoft Windows Installer Service is not installed correctly.
The Windows Temp folders are full.
The setup was corrupted after installation and, therefore, fails with this
error during uninstallation.
An older version of InstallShield Developer is being used.
A general error occurred during the installation.

However, if the installation still fails, I would suggest taking a look at
the following blog. There may be an error 1718 occurring, and the root
cause may be insufficient contiguous virtual memory to verify that the .msi
package or the .msp package is correctly signed.

http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/11/known-issues-with-visual-stu
dio-2005-service-pack-1.aspx

Sincerely,
George Yin
Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

I ran the windows cleanup utility for visula studio 2005 and it made no
difference. Iknow down to 458 mb. I looked in the temp directory and found
that one issue is size since it can't created a temp copy of the update. Wat
should I do ? Should I not have used the cleanup utility against visula
studio 2005?

"George Yin(MSFT)" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility should help as it also contains the
> MSIZAP.EXE, which is used to safely delete orphaned patches as Heath
> mentioned in his blog. This information is included in the Readme.txt
> shipped with the utility.
>
> This Windows Installer error code "1603" is a generic error code.
> Typically, this error code means that the update was not installed. I think
> the root cause might probably be the unfinished installation or
> insufficient disk space. I would suggest that you first clean the folder
> and then try to re-install the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 to see how it goes.
>
> Some additional information on the error code 1603:
> ==========================================
>
> You receive an "error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation"
> error message when you try to install a Windows Installer package:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/834484
>
> Additionally, the Error 1603 may appear in cases:
>
> A file is locked and cannot be overwritten.
> The Microsoft Windows Installer Service is not installed correctly.
> The Windows Temp folders are full.
> The setup was corrupted after installation and, therefore, fails with this
> error during uninstallation.
> An older version of InstallShield Developer is being used.
> A general error occurred during the installation.
>
> However, if the installation still fails, I would suggest taking a look at
> the following blog. There may be an error 1718 occurring, and the root
> cause may be insufficient contiguous virtual memory to verify that the .msi
> package or the .msp package is correctly signed.
>
> http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/11/known-issues-with-visual-stu
> dio-2005-service-pack-1.aspx
>
> Sincerely,
> George Yin
> Microsoft Online Support
> Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
>
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> =====================================================
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

How do I run the miszap.exe for visual studi 2005 sp1 fialed installs to
clean it up?

"George Yin(MSFT)" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility should help as it also contains the
> MSIZAP.EXE, which is used to safely delete orphaned patches as Heath
> mentioned in his blog. This information is included in the Readme.txt
> shipped with the utility.
>
> This Windows Installer error code "1603" is a generic error code.
> Typically, this error code means that the update was not installed. I think
> the root cause might probably be the unfinished installation or
> insufficient disk space. I would suggest that you first clean the folder
> and then try to re-install the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 to see how it goes.
>
> Some additional information on the error code 1603:
> ==========================================
>
> You receive an "error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation"
> error message when you try to install a Windows Installer package:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/834484
>
> Additionally, the Error 1603 may appear in cases:
>
> A file is locked and cannot be overwritten.
> The Microsoft Windows Installer Service is not installed correctly.
> The Windows Temp folders are full.
> The setup was corrupted after installation and, therefore, fails with this
> error during uninstallation.
> An older version of InstallShield Developer is being used.
> A general error occurred during the installation.
>
> However, if the installation still fails, I would suggest taking a look at
> the following blog. There may be an error 1718 occurring, and the root
> cause may be insufficient contiguous virtual memory to verify that the .msi
> package or the .msp package is correctly signed.
>
> http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/11/known-issues-with-visual-stu
> dio-2005-service-pack-1.aspx
>
> Sincerely,
> George Yin
> Microsoft Online Support
> Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
>
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> =====================================================
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello,

You can try running the command "msizap.exe G!" as Heath mentioned in his
blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/31/how-to-safely-delete-orphane
d-patches.aspx

After you download and install the Windows Installer Clean Up utility, you
can open the command prompt, navigate to the path "C:\Program Files\Windows
Installer Clean Up" folder (by default this utility is installed into this
folder), and then type "msizap.exe G!" (without the quotation marks).

This will remove all of the orphaned cached files from the
C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder. However, you may also need to use the Windows
Installer Clean Up to remove any successfully installed patches. If this
cannot help, I think that the folder might contain some patches registered
by other applications. And in this case, I am sorry to say that you may
need to add additional space to your partition.

Sincerely,
George Yin
Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

That did the trick with freeing up space.

However the Visual Studio 2005 SP1 no longer appears as a needed update
could this be becuase I removed visual studio 2005 by using windows
installer cleaner and if so how can I get it back?

"George Yin(MSFT)" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> You can try running the command "msizap.exe G!" as Heath mentioned in his
> blog:
>
> http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2007/01/31/how-to-safely-delete-orphane
> d-patches.aspx
>
> After you download and install the Windows Installer Clean Up utility, you
> can open the command prompt, navigate to the path "C:\Program Files\Windows
> Installer Clean Up" folder (by default this utility is installed into this
> folder), and then type "msizap.exe G!" (without the quotation marks).
>
> This will remove all of the orphaned cached files from the
> C:\WINDOWS\Installer folder. However, you may also need to use the Windows
> Installer Clean Up to remove any successfully installed patches. If this
> cannot help, I think that the folder might contain some patches registered
> by other applications. And in this case, I am sorry to say that you may
> need to add additional space to your partition.
>
> Sincerely,
> George Yin
> Microsoft Online Support
> Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
>
> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> =====================================================
> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> =====================================================
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
>
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello,

Yes, that component can be re-installed. You can do this as follows:

Run the setup.exe from your SQL Server 2005 installation file. During the
wizard, on the page "Components to Install", click the Advanced Button, and
then click the "Business Intelligence Development Studio". You only need to
install this component this time. This is the component shipping with SQL
Server 2005 which is also included in Visual Studio 2005.

Have a good day.

Sincerely,
George Yin
Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
RE: Primary Drive space being eaten away

Hello,

How's everything going?

I'm wondering if the suggestion has helped or if you have any further
questions. Please feel free to respond to the newsgroups if I can assist
further.

Sincerely,
George Yin
Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
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