Optional Update KB 2852386

[Willy2]

- Many users don't install the socalled "Optional" Updates. And rightfully so. Because one important reason to not install those Updates is that some of these have a "questionable" reputation, these Updates contain & install "telemetry" software.

(A few days ago I was forced to re-install Win 7 and initially I didn't install ANY of those "Optional" Updates (yet). I will be going through the list and see which of those updates I want to install)

- However, I would STRONGLY recommend to install the "Optional" Update KB 2852386. This update adds an extra feature/option to the "Disk Clean Up" tool. Then an extra option shows up called "Clean system files" and with that option the user is able to reduce the size of the horrible/infamous "C:\Windows\winsxs" folder.

Some time ago I used this extra feature and I was able to recover/free up over 2  GBs of diskspace !!!! After that the "Winsxs" folder still was 12 Gb in size. Ouch.

WARNING: If you use this option in the "Disk Clean Up" tool then you won't be able to "roll back" any of the installed updates anymore.

Sources:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2852386
http://www.infoworld.com/article/2612676/microsoft-windows/new-windows-7-feature-in-kb-2852386-reclaims-wasted-space-on-your-c--drive.html

And this feature is also available for Windows Server 2008 (Not for other versions of Win Server OSs ???):
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askpfeplat/2014/05/13/how-to-clean-up-the-winsxs-directory-and-free-up-disk-space-on-windows-server-2008-r2-with-new-update/

[Willy2]

- Installing the September 2016 update rollup for Windows 7 and  Server 2008 R2 SP1 (kb 3185278), will - among others - improve the Disk Clean Up tool.

Quote:
"Improved support for the Disk Cleanup tool to free up space by removing older Windows Updates after they are superseded by newer updates.

[Darrengot]

- But those telemetry updates are included in the "Optional" updates and those were offered in late 2015 and/or early 2016.
- The Win 10 nagware disappeared after the Anniversary Update was issued. From then on one has to pay for Win 10. But when I visit support pages at the MS website then MS is still nagging me to switch to Win 10.