XP: What is the Msocache Folder and How to Remove It

Contributor Icon Contributed by davak Date Icon November 7, 2004  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Office

Local Install Source copies Office installation source files from the Microsoft Office 2003 installation media into a hidden folder on the hard drive called the Msocache folder. This describes how to remove this folder.


Local Install Source creates this hidden folder when Office 2003 is installed to prevent the user from having to insert the CD during installation and maintenance.

It usually takes up > 200 MB of space. You’ll have to decide if this convenience is worth the hard drive space or not.

You can prevent it from being place on your drive in the first place by selecting Delete installation files check box during the installation.

Removing it once it is created is not difficult. 1. Do not use explorer to delete this folder. Just running the Disk Cleanup Wizard will take care of it.

    1. Click Start
    2. Select All Programs
    3. Select Accessories
    4. Select System Tools
    5. Click Disk Cleanup
    6. Disk Cleanup will do its calculations
    7. From the Drives list in the Select Drive dialog box, select the hard drive that contains the Msocache folder
    8. More calculations…
    9. Select the Office Setup Files checkbox in the Files to Delete list
    10. Click OK.
    11. When you are asked Are you sure you want to delete these files? select Yes

Moving or repairing of this folder is possible as well. Just use this tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/2003/journ/listool.htm

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  • des
    i found this folder on my DATA partiotion drive and deleted it from there, now certain office updates are failing to install, what should i do
  • Randy
    Remove and then install Office. And as is mentioned above check delete installation files during installation.
  • brat
    hey! i dont have the option to select "Office setup files" and i want to get rid of it. i have an msocache folder on both drives c and d.
  • Thanks mate, this has helped me a lot.
  • Anil Kumar
    How to use MSOCache? Please tell about what is use of this sofware brifly.
  • thx for help but nothing changed
  • VedicMania
    Sorry Dude! It dsn't wrk.
    I didn't get ne such thing as "Office Setup Files" checkbox in the Files to Delete list.
    Suggest smthin lse!
  • Dan
    This is an old article, and relates to Office 2003 only.

    With Office 2007 you should not delete this folder (hence not having the option to remove office setup files) as they are used whenever office needs to update or patch itself.

    It's now a directory we have to live with I'm afraid!
  • sagar
    im using office 2007 . i dont have the option to select "Office setup files" and i want to get rid of it. i have an msocache folder on both drives c and d.
  • guri
    i dont have the option to select "Office setup files". i have an msocache in drives c.what to do? so that i get rid of it.
  • SRIKANTH
    Please dont remove this Folder, It occupies only 315 MB and is useful for your Office 2003....
    SRIKANTH
  • J. Nygren
    Are these instructions from Microsoft?! Everything goes smoothly until you get to step #9. There your discover there is no "Office Setup Files checkbox" to select. Sigh...
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