Lost Disk Cleanup

My daughter says she has lost the use of disk cleanup function in win xp and that it does nothing. I haven't seen it yet. Is it an xp repair or is there something else to check first.
Den

 

She's not running an independent defragging app or a system tweaker is she? Sometimes applications like those will disable native windows apps.

 

No BillH I don't think so but she has two sons so anything is possible.

Nick ADSL UK. You are probably right when I go to her house the next time I will try that. I have about a dozen sites similar to that saved in my favorites but that is a new and really good one to save. Thanks
Den

Edit-NICK ADSL UK. I just went back and read some more on that site are you sure you mean 48 rather than 84.

 

OK NICK ADSL UK. Thanks for that and I will let you know after I see her comp.
Den

 

Re: Lost Disk Clean Utility

Hi Guys,
For some reason my system developed a similar prob, in that when I tried to run Disk Clean it went on and on and 5 hours later I had to pull the plug!
The fix given to me by my system's Tech Support was this: 'Start, Run, type in regedit, then press enter. Use mouse to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Volume Caches\Compress old files. R-click Compress old files and delete. Reboot and Disk Cleanup will work'.
It did, and still does--so does everything else, but don't ask me why it went wrong in the first place!
Cheers, Omigosh.

 

Don't ask MS support either, because we don't know


This is the article the tech who fixed your problem used:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812248

 

Missing Compress Old Files in Disk Clean Utility

Hi Adrynalyne,
Thanks for pointing me to KB812248. I only wish my Tech Support guy had pointed me to it, 'cause it would have saved me further probs. He didn't tell me how to SAVE the key, or that there was any need to do so! He said it was only a temporary removal, and that when I ran Disk Clean again, the Compress Old Files would be reinstated! I tried it; it isn't! Now he wont tell me how to fix that problem--probably because he doesn't know. Trouble is, with only 10--yes 10 weeks experience of computing--I'm very much in the hands of guys like that.
Do you know if I can restore the Compress Old Files function, and how best to do it? Alternatively, does it matter if this is missing from my Registry?
Thanks, Omigosh.http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.gif

 

Refer to this article...

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315246&Product=winxp

...about using cleanmgr.exe (Disk Cleanup) command-line settings, specifically the /sageset switch to bring up a dialog box of Disk Cleanup options for you to select.

If I'm reading the article correctly your choices should be written to the registry.

 

Sure there are ways. None easier than getting the reg key from me.

Do you need it? *Shrug* I don't, but you might have a use for it.

You remove it because the key has 'supposedly' invalid entries.

Sounds like you ran into a tech with an ego--wanted to impress you, not teach you their 'secrets'.

I'm not of that type. I am the lazy tech. Teach you how to do it, so you don't bother me anymore

This one works for me and my wife, I double checked:


http://www.gci-net.com/~silver256/diskcleanup.reg

 

Interesting, I will have to experiment. I don't think that a value that isn't there in there first place can be automated persay.


I'll experiment on my wife's computer once she leaves

 

I was thinking about the above fix alanc.

It won't work, because you cannot specify sagerun with anything other than an integer value. How would you specify Compress Old Files?

Basically, if I understand, you run this, set your options through the GUI interface, THEN next time you run the command it will do automatically.

 

Thanks for info, alanc. I printed out 315246, and have read it about 6 times, but I wish M'soft would stop printing these KB articles in Martian or whatever obscure language they use.
I'm very nervous about touching my Registry, although I have backed up System State onto my Desktop--and onto a DVD, and even copied my C:\Drive onto an external HDD, so I should be covered if anything goes wrong. Trouble is, I just don't trust technology, which is why I resisted computers until 10 weeks ago when I bit the bullet and bought one.

I have clicked Start/Run to open the command line. If I then type 'Cleanmgr.exe', click OK, it just runs DiskClean. Next, I typed in '/sageset:' but get error box saying 'Windows cannot find /sageset:' Then I tried entering '/sageset:n' with same result. So now I've tried entering 'cleanmgr/sageset:n' and get same result:Windows cannot find blah.

Have you any further thoughts? http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.gif

 

Not trying to step on alanc's feet, but lets not go through that article.

Download the registry file in my above post and import it.

Import it by doubleclicking it.

 

Have to agree with Adryn i just tried sageset and the command works ok, but theres no option to add a line thats not automatically listed
A new reg file seems the best and safest bet

 

Thanks Adrynalyne. I have downloaded 'disckcleanup.reg' and saved it in My Docs for the moment, as I don't know what to do with it. I know you said that I should import it by double-clicking on it, but I'm frightened of doing something and finding it causes changes I can't undo. Can you please explain in words of one syllable that even an idiot can understand; after all, I am one!
How can I use 'diskcleanup.reg' to put back the Compress Old Files feature into the Disk Clean utility? Will it cause any other changes to my Registry? Can what it does be undone if things don't work out? How can I repay all the time you're taking to sort out my (stupid) problems?
In the meantime, thanks again.
Cheers, Omigosh. http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.gif

 

Ok, this file is a backup of the Compress Old Files key off of my computer.

I verified it works, and that it is not a unique key.

When you double click the file it will ask to import it.

WHen you import it, it will "rebuild" the Compress Old Files key.

Can it be reversed? Sure. Just delete the entry it creates.

If you right click and chooe edit on the file, you will see what is contianed in it. Nothing more than values.

It will make no other changes than what is specified in the file, which is a backup of the Compress Old Files key.

Worse case scenario?

Your disk cleanup still hangs at compress old files.

In which case we can walk you through removing it again.

 

Right click, edit on the file:

This is what it shows:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Compress old files]
@="{B50F5260-0C21-11D2-AB56-00A0C9082678}"
"Priority"=dword:0000012c

 

Thankyou for the detailed reply Adrynalyne. I have every confidence in what you said, but for one final question please.You say, "this file is a backup of the Compress Old Files key off of my computer", but where is 'this file'? I couldn't find any attachments to your e-mail? Is it in the 'diskcleanup.reg' I downloaded from the site you referred me to at www.gci...net.com? If it's nothing to do with 'diskcleanup.reg' presumably I can just delete that download--oops, that's two questions!

Thanks again for your long-suffering patience.
Cheers, Omigosh. http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.gif

 

The diskcleanup.reg is what I am referring to.

THe website you downloaded it from is my webspace, just for your info.

 

Edit:

///***\\\

 

Adrynalyne, you are a Prince amongst men! Thankyou vewy much indeed. I did it, then tried Disk Clean and it works with the 'Compress old files' text showing at the bottom of the Dialog Box, just like it used to do, before my Tech Support (now there's an oxymoron!) had me remove it wouthout having saved it first. I owe you. Thanks again.
Omigosh.

PS. Disk Clean worked in seconds, too, without hanging! http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon10.gif

 

Edit:

///***\\\

 

Er, ok, no need for screenies then

Glad it worked out.

 

That was my understanding too, the "creates a registry key to store the settings you select" part especially caught my eye - I wasn't sure, but I thought that might restore omigosh's missing registry keys. But looking at your .reg file I agree it's a much more straightforward solution. And obviously it worked perfectly. Good show.
Don't know where MS is getting those integer values from, I couldn't find a reference

LOL, I hear ya on that one, it wasn't stated very clearly at all. Most MSKB articles are fairly easy to understand, so don't let this one dissuade you from using that resource. There's a wealth of good info there.
Glad you're all sorted

 

You also deserve my thanks for trying to help. I much appreciated it.http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon14.gif

 

More Probs with Disc Clean.

Here's a follow up that I need an answer to please, guys. When I ran Disk Clean yesterday, the only results that would have been worth deleting were 1KB M/soft Error Report Temp Files and 32KB Web Client/Publisher Temp Files, so I didn't bother removing them, simply cancelled Disk Clean. However, today I ran it again, checked the boxes alongside both these entries, then clicked OK to remove them. The dialog box popped up asking if I was sure I wanted to perform these actions, and I clicked'Yes'. Next, the Disk Clean dialog box appeared, and the green status bar at foot filled up with green blobs, whilst the test line showed the files that I had chosen to be deleted. All well and good so far. Buit just to double check, I reran Disk Clean, and it still showed 1KB M/soft Error Files and 32KB Web Client Files--apparently they have not been removed! Any ideas what's gone wrong please?
Cheers and Thanks, Omigoshhttp://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon9.gifhttp://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon5.gif

 

Tough call. This hapens all the time.

It even happens on my machine. I ran it for the first time ever today. Usually I do this stuff by hand.

There are certain amounts of files that Disk Cleanup shows, but onyl so much can be deleted. It could be that those files are in use.

For example:


I cannot get the Web Publisher files under 32k, even after running Disk Cleanup.

 

Hi Adrynalyne,
Thanks for your reply, and screenshot--both v helpful. I ran Disk Clean again. In addition to the 1KB MS Error Report, and 32KB Web Client, it showed 442KB Temp Internet Files and 259006KB Offrice Setup Files. I don't want to reemove the latter, so ticked all the others, then OK. When it finished, I ran Disk Clean again; it still showed the 1KB MS Error Report and the32KB Web Client, but at least it had cleared the 442KB Temp Int. Files. So, it may be that there is a minimum threshold level under which Disk Clean can't operate, even though it indicates that it can? Still, I can live with that, as long as it doesn't let things get too bloated. If things get out of hand, I'll come back to you, but thanks again in the meantime.
Change of subject: saw the pic of you daughter--v pretty, but boy you look a mess! http://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://www.majorgeeks.com/vb/images/icons/icon10.gif
Sorry, couldn't resist that.
Cheers, Omigosh.

 

Sorry for the long delay in responding back. ( Long vacations ) We fixed it by using one or both methods advised by NICK ADSL UK. Don't know which because there was so much else messed up at the same time. When I checked she also had a trojan horse start page 4.Q and just about everything that could be wrong with a comp. was wrong with it. We finally got rid of that with AVG after a dozen attempts. She is still getting an occasional debug code the last was code 18 I'm waiting to see if more comes before doing anything else. We finally got everything running fine again except for the debug. Thanks for all your help.
Den