Pruning your Windows 7+/Server 2008 R2+ installations and huge files in %windir%\Logs\CBS
Posted by jpluimers on 2015/10/02
This applies to at least these versions when you run them under at least VMware Fusion or Workstation:
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows 8.1
- Windows Server 2008 R2
Often this folder get huge: %windir%\Logs\CBS (normally C:\Windows\Logs\CBS)
I’ve successfully compressed the content, but even though it is text, they don’t compress that well.
Some reports indicate you can safely delete them when there is nothing wrong with your system nor with Windows Update:
- CBS log and CBS persist in %Windir%\logs\CBS – Spiceworks.
- CBS.persist.log – Can Delete?.
- windows 8 – Why is CBS.log file size 20 GB – Super User.
So that’s what I’m going to try next.
Later: done the below on an UAC (Administrator) command prompt.
Cleanup CBS via [WayBack] Gin answering at [WayBack] windows 8 – Why is CBS.log file size 20 GB – Super User::
net stop TrustedInstaller
del %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBSPersist*.*
net start TrustedInstaller
Then I did this to cleanup the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb file via [WayBack] Gin at [WayBack] windows 8 – Why is CBS.log file size 20 GB – Super User:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
esentutl.exe /d %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb
CleanMgr
reboot
The reboot will restart the stopped services.
–jeroen
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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