# Compress WinSxS Folder

1. Query service status. Track its state.

```
sc query msiserver
sc query TrustedInstaller
```

2. Stop/disable Windows Installer and Windows Module Installer services

```
sc stop msiserver
sc config msiserver start= disabled
sc stop TrustedInstaller
sc config TrustedInstaller start= disabled
```

3. Backup ACLs for WinSxS folder.

```
icacls "%WINDIR%\WinSxS" /save "%WINDIR%\WinSxS.acl" /t
```

4. Take ownership of WinSxS folder

```
takeown /f "%WINDIR%\WinSxS" /r
```

5. Grant full rights on WinSxS to user

```
icacls "%WINDIR%\WinSxS" /grant "USERNAME7":(F) /t
```

6. Compress Folders

```
compact /s:"%WINDIR%\WinSxS" /c /a /i *
```

7. Restore ownership

```
icacls "%WINDIR%\WinSxS" /setowner "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller" /t
```

8. Restore ACLs

```
icacls "%WINDIR%" /restore "%WINDIR%\WinSxS.acl"
del "%WINDIR%\WinSxS.acl"
```

9. Restore services, replace "demand" and "start" with the right state

```
sc config msiserver start= auto
sc start msiserver
sc config TrustedInstaller start= auto
sc start TrustedInstaller
```

From [http://blog.aslanbrooke.com/2015/07/25/compressing-winsxs-and-installer-on-windows.html](http://blog.aslanbrooke.com/2015/07/25/compressing-winsxs-and-installer-on-windows.html)