Windows 7 - Virtualized

Asked By krzywomordus

06-Oct-07 12:50 PM

I'm new.

I've got a problem with directory
C:\Users\account\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized\C\...

It occupies 21,226,479,273 bytes on my disk :mad: and this is problem
for me. Can I delete it and don't take over it?

----------------------
krzywomordus


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krzywomordus

06-Oct-07 04:53 PM

I'm new.

I've got a problem with directory
C:\Users\account\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized\C\...

It occupies 21,226,479,273 bytes on my disk :mad: and this a is problem
for me. Can I delete it and don't take over it?

----------------------
krzywomordus


--
krzywomordus

06-Oct-07 05:20 PM

The term "Virtualized" relates to a "copy", "substitute" or "Pseudo"
file/folder/memory.  It is a duplicate of your C drive (21 gigs).

First Create a "System Restore" point- then run "Disk Cleanup" - verify that

06-Oct-07 05:42 PM

AJR;473949 Wrote:

Those directory arleady exist. I have just 3GB more left disk space.
Can I do anything more? Can I delete it from explorer?


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krzywomordus

06-Oct-07 05:50 PM

This is a pretty confusing feature in Vista! It is intended to improve
security.

Internet Explorer is exposed to all the dangers of the open Internet, more
so than other applications you run. So in Vista, Internet Explorer runs in a
your machine, causing viruses, trojans etc.

One aspect of low privilege is that downloaded plug-ins, applications, and
files, might not be written to the "real" file system. Instead, they are
placed in a "virtualised" file system, off to the side, where they cannot do
any damage. The location of this file system is:

C:\Users\account\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized\C<etc>

Normally, the contents of this directory will be stuff that you have
downloaded over time: java applets, EXE files, maybe PDF files, etc etc.

It's not possible to say "just delete it" or "just keep it". It depends on
what you need. Probably the best thing would be for you to go through the
directory and delete stuff in it that you know you don't want any more.
Leave the rest there. If there are data files like *.DOC or *.PDF, you can
move them to your normal documents folder, as long as you trust them.

If you really need the disk space in a hurry, you can just delete the whole
C subdirectory. But, be aware that some downloaded applications might not
work correctly any more.

For more background information on IE Protected Mode, see:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/02/09/528963.aspx

or for a more technical view:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb250462.aspx

Hope it helps,

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

06-Oct-07 06:15 PM

By the way ... I agree with AJR.  The best (and safest) way to recover disk
space is to run Disk Cleanup.

Do this first, before you try other stuff.

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Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

07-Oct-07 01:05 AM

That sounds dangerous... "... just delete the whole C subdirectory." I know
what you mean. But others may not.

Lang

07-Oct-07 02:44 AM

So, when i explored this directory there are files which i have in
normal categories (.../user/Documents/...)

I used Disk Cleanup but Virtualized has stayed and I get only 3 GB left
space on my disk - Disk Cleanup didn't delete Virtualized directory.

What can i do now?
It's already occupies 21GB on my disk.


--
krzywomordus

08-Oct-07 07:50 AM

I'm not sure that's categories are existing. I can go there only with
TreeSizeFree - when scanning, it show Virtualized path. and I can go
there with clicking right mouse button >>> Open.
I cannot go there with explorer, It means when i'm going to TIF I
cannot see Virtualized when I have checked "Show system files" and "Show
hidden files".



Is "Virtualized" a new Microsoft $it? Do you have a problem with this
too? ^^


--
krzywomordus

08-Oct-07 08:25 AM

I strongly recommend you use a command prompt to look at these directories.

Explorer tries to "hide" these directories, to give a more user-friendly
view of the system. it is difficult to see the true nature of the filesystem
in Explorer. Usually, that's a good thing. But not for this situation.

I don't know if TreeSizeFree has been updated for Vista (or if you're using
an updated version of TreeSizeFree :). But, be aware: many disk utilities
written for XP and ealier versions of Windows give *inaccurate* results on
Vista. XP-oriented utilities do not know how to handle Vista's many Junction
Points in the file system; so, they think more disk space is being occupied,
than it really is.

Use the commands I showed you in my previous post:

C:\Users\user>cd C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary
Internet Files

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files>dir
/a

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files>cd
Virtualized

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized>dir /a

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized>cd C

C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized\C>dir /a

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Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

08-Oct-07 11:37 AM

When I type  C:\>chkdsk c: /f /v    in cmd.exe, i can see: Nazwa C:\ nie
jest rozpoznawana jako polecenie wewnętrzne lub zewnętrzne,
program wykonywalny lub plik wsadowy ( Name C:\ is not known as command,
execute program or batch file).

Maybe incorrect command?


--
krzywomordus

08-Oct-07 02:28 PM

The "C:\>" is the "command prompt" - it's already there, on the screen.

The part which you type, is:

chkdsk c: /f /v



The other commands I listed are:

cd C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

(comand prompt will now be

dir /a

cd Virtualized

dir /a

cd C

dir /a


--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

08-Oct-07 03:28 PM

(Can u borrow me english version of cmd.exe? i've got polish and i must
translate this ;])



I've got this:

Code:
--------------------

C:\>chkdsk c: /f /v
System files type is NTFS.
You cannot block this drive.

Program CHKDSK cannot work, because "volumin" is used by another process. Check this "volumin" while next reboot? (T/N)
(I checked N)

--------------------

Code:
--------------------

Volumin's serial number: 02B3-1286

Directory: C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files


08/20/2007  06:50 PM    <DIR>          .
08/20/2007  06:50 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/20/2007  06:46 PM    <DIR>          AntiPhishing
10/07/2007  08:40 AM    <DIR>          Content.IE5
08/20/2007  06:50 PM                67 desktop.ini
09/27/2007  07:51 PM    <DIR>          Low
07/03/2007  03:03 PM    <DIR>          Virtualized
1 file(s)                 67 bytes
6 director(ies)  20,448,841,728 bytes left.



C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files>

--------------------
cd

Code:
--------------------

C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Virtualized>dir /a
Volumin in C drive doesn't have etiquette.
Volumin's serial number: 02B3-1286

Directory: C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Virtualized

07/03/2007  03:03 PM    <DIR>          .
07/03/2007  03:03 PM    <DIR>          ..
08/03/2007  09:23 AM    <DIR>          C
0 file(s)                  0 bytes
3 director(s)  20,448,325,632 bytes left

C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Virtualized>

--------------------
cd

Code:
--------------------



C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Virtualiz
ed\C>dir /a
- || -
- || -: 02B3-1286

Directory: C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
\Virtualized\C

08/03/2007  09:23 AM    <DIR>          .
08/03/2007  09:23 AM    <DIR>          ..
08/31/2007  06:38 PM    <DIR>          ProgramData
08/03/2007  09:23 AM    <DIR>          Users
0 file(s)                  0 bytes
4 director(s)  20,448,325,632 bytes left

C:\Users\olek\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Virtualiz
ed\C>

In TreeSizeFree i can see this:
'[image: http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9122/treesizefreeot8.th.jpg]' (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=treesizefreeot8.jpg)
[image: http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=treesizefreeot8.jpg]


--
krzywomordus

08-Oct-07 07:20 PM

This is okay, it's normal. Chkdsk can only check C: drive, while the system
is rebooting.

Run the command again and press Yes ("tak"?). Then restart Vista. Chkdsk
will run while the machine is rebooting.

The reason we run Chkdsk is to make sure you don't have cross-linked files.
That is, files under the "Virtual" directory are separate copies of the


That is good, this is what we want to see! All the directories are "<DIR>".
This means you can safely delete these directories, if yo don't wan to keep
any of the files there.

After chkdsk runs okay when you reboot, go in and delete these files, if you
wish.

Sorry, the images were too small (or maybe, my eyesight too bad :-)

Sorry my Polish isn't very good - I hope you can understand my English okay.

Na razie,

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

10-Oct-07 07:09 PM

Normally, chkdsk does not create a log file for humans to read (NTFS has an
internal "log" file, but humans cannot read it).

If chkdsk has finished, you can start deleting any files on your drive that
you don't want to keep.

Delete enough files to free up some disk space. That's the end of the
procedure.

Hope it helps,

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

11-Oct-07 05:52 AM

I have an idea. I can copy those files existing in Virtualized folder
and replace genuine files . Is that a good idea? I am not sure it helps.


--
krzywomordus

11-Oct-07 08:12 AM

No idea. I can't tell, from here. You will need to use your own judgement.

Good luck with it,

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

11-Oct-07 10:23 AM

OK, now I am fine. I have now 40 GB free left space!

Thanks a lot.
----------
Krzywomordus


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krzywomordus