Free Up Space on Your Eee-PC – Automated Method

Due to a bit of interest in my earlier post on freeing up space on your Eee-PC C drive, I have created a little batch file that automates the process of safely moving your c:\windows\installer folder to another drive.  Use this on Windows XP Pro or Home versions, but don’t use it on Vista as described – things are different on Vista.

This procedure carries some risk, so please read everything carefully.

Before carrying out this procedure, make sure you have done all the easy things first, like disabling your hibernation file, turning off Windows Restore Points, and generally just following any other easy tips you can find. If you still want to free up more space on your C drive, please follow this procedure.

1. Backup your computer.
2. Turn off Windows Updates for now (so that the Installer folder does not come in to use while you are working with it).
3. Download Junction 1.05. 
4. Extract and copy junction.exe to c:\windows\system32.
5. Download the curiously-named SubInACL.
6. Install SubInACL in its default location.
7. Download move_win_installer_folder.bat and save it somewhere (like your desktop).
   • By default, your Windows Installer Folder will be moved to your D drive.  If you want, you can edit the batch file and change the d:\junctions part of the line that says set target=d:\junctions. Whatever folder you set here, a sub-folder called installer will be created within it.  The folder does not have to exist already.
8. Double click on the move_win_installer_folder.bat file to run it.  Note: You may be asked to accept the licence agreement for Junction after you start the batch file.
9. That’s it!  The batch file will show you the results of its operations.
10. Turn Windows Updates back on.

If you are technically minded and want to know what the batch file does, see my earlier post which describes the steps that can be carried out manually.

The batch file looks like this…