disk clean up

hi,

not sure this is in the right place or not and sorry if it isnt..


but im having a few problems with my "disk clean up" not working i can start it up but all it does is stay at

"calculating "
"scanning: compress old files "

and doesnt go any further than that just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how i can get it to work

thanks


charlie

 

Hi,

Have a look here

Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files

Pasted In from above link.
Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files
Applies To
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS
When you try to compress old files, the Disk Cleanup tool may stop responding and you may receive the following message:

Disk Cleanup is calculating how much space you will be able to free on (C: ).
This may take a few minutes to complete.
Scanning: Compress old files

CAUSE
This problem occurs when there is an incorrect entry in the registry that is used by the Disk Cleanup utility to locate compressed files.

WORKAROUND
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this problem, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
Type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches
On the File menu, click Export, and then click Desktop, type VolumeCaches in the File name box, and then click Save.

Note This step creates a backup of the VolumeCaches registry key. If you experience any problems after you complete the steps that are listed in this procedure, you can use this backup to restore the VolumeCaches key to its original state. To restore the key, double-click the VolumeCaches.reg file on your desktop, and then click Yes.
Expand the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches
Delete the Compress old files registry key.
Quit Registry Editor.

REFERENCESFor additional information about the Disk Cleanup tool, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310312 Description of the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows XP

HTH,

 

Welcome to WindowsBBS Charlie

I generally recommend unchecking compress old files when doing disk cleanup, partly because it does tend to hang sometimes, and partly because the compression ratio isn't really great enough to make a noticeable difference in your disk space anyway.

 

OTOH, once the 'compress old ..." thing has run a time or two it will take very little time as long as you do the cleanup at least once a month.

I've sort of resigned myself to it taking just this side of forever the first time, about half that the second time, and quicker after that unless I get careless and skip a couple of months.

But if you hang, the registry tweak might be a good idea or else just take Dave's solution of not allowing that piece to run. It really won't make much difference.

 

how do i uncheck the "compress old files "? if i wanted to try that

 

Right click on the drive from My Comp, choose properties. Click disk clean up, and uncheck any boxes you do not want XP to use (scroll down for "compress old files ")

HTH
Johanna