How to Remove Backup Files to Free Space After Installing Windows 7 Service Pack

Before installing a Service Pack, such as SP1, SP2 and so on, into Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows will create a restore point and backup all system files necessary to restore operating system to previous condition just in case users want to uninstall the SP or encounter errors and issues with SP installed.

If you have successfully installed SP, and does not face any issue, problem or error, and determined that you do not want to uninstall the Service Pack in future, and want to make the SP installation permanent, it’s possible to clean up and remove the backup files created during installation of the Service Pack to reclaim disk space of as much as 1 to 3 GB.

To delete and remove backup files created during Service Pack installation, just open an elevated Command Prompt window with elevated permissions, and run the following command:

dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded

The command, when executed, will remove the backup files that is required to uninstall service pack to free up disk space. As such, it’s impossible to remove the SP after running the command.

An alternative method to clean up and remove the backup files is by using Disk Cleanup. Type “Disk Cleanup” into Start Search and hit Enter, then select the system drive where Windows is installed. Wait for Disk Cleanup to process the drive and calculate the free disk space that can be reclaimed, and then select (tick) the “Service Pack Backup Files” option. Click “OK” to let Disk Cleanup remove and delete the backup files of SP.

If the Service Pack Backup Files item still exist after SP1 backup files are removed, here’s how to remove and delete the Service Pack Backup Files item on Disk Cleanup.