Disk cleanup

Ever since I installed SP1 my incons on the desktop load slower but I can live with that...
A problem I am experiencing now is with disk cleanup
It starts normally and seems to get stuck, before in about 3 minutes it would scan all files and start the process of summarizing what needed to be cleaned
Now it seems not to be doing anything, I tried several times, even left it on for 30 minutes, and nothing happens it always at the first stage "scanning compress old files "
Is this due to the service pack or is there a way to change settings? I am not quite familiar with this. But I would like to be able to use this utility again

Waiting for an answer
Boaton 2000

 

 
 
This is a mysterious problem. I think mine started after I decided not to allow compression of old files on the drive. It seems DC still looks for compressible files forever.

To solve the problem,

Run: regedt32

Navigate to:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Volumecaches\Compressoldfiles

Highlight the key. Go to File, Export and save the key somewhere. Delete it.

Run Disk Cleanup.

Click on the exported reg file and return the key.

This seemed to "prime the pump ", as it were. After doing this once, DC worked correctly without removing the key (so far!).

 

I tried what you told me to do, but now I cannot run disk clean up at all. It looks like it "s loading (the hour glass appears) but disappears right away.
What's happening now?

 

 
Not sure. This has always worked for the others with that problem and worked fine for me, as I mentioned.

Return the exported reg entry and try again. Be sure all you highlight is "Compressoldfiles" when you export and delete the key.

 

I believe your problem is associated with the installation of SP1. You are fortunate to have only the problems you have cited.

If you wish not to uninstall, you may want to research the service package for any patch that appears to be associated with your problem and delete that portion of SP1.

 

Actually, this problem first occurred for me before SP1 was installed.

After SP1, that problem and almost all other annoyances are wonderfully repaired/gone

 

I have the same problem as Boaton2000 and have followed the suggested fix as he did, with the same result....now disk clean will not even start, whereas before it started then hung up.

Has anyone found a more reliable fix for this problem?

 

I spoke somewhat too soon....

I tried this: exporting the compressoldfiles and then deleting it from the registry.

Then restarting WindowsXP, and trying disk cleanup.

It worked...disk cleanup ran exactly as it should have.

I then restored the compressoldfile to the registry. Restarted XP

Disk cleanup no longer starts.

So, by first exporting the file, then deleting it, then after rebooting disk cleanup will run...

However, once the compressfile is restored, no disk cleanup.

Must be some technical wizard out there with a fix.

 

 
I spoke too soon as well. DC worked fine for a couple times after I returned the registry key, then up to its old tricks, again.

Since I don't compress old files, I am just leaving the key out.

I'm curious. In My Computer, in the Properties of my drives, I unchecked the option to compress old files. It took a while for this attribute to be propagated, but it seems my problems with DC started after that. Do you have the compress option on your drive checked or unchecked?

 

The dynamics of the individual experience is different, but FWIW I continue to have full functionality of the DC feature but I have never engaged the compress option. If there is going to be a problem it seems to me it would be with file compression although I don't see the logic for that to happen.

 

I think the compress option is engaged by default after installation.

It was disengaging it that seems to have started my problems. I noticed during the first defrag I did with O&O shortly after installation that some files had been compressed already. I had not run DC prior to that.

 

Do you have the compress option on your drive checked or unchecked?

It was unchecked when I looked at it and still is, but DC still doesn't run....it hangs up a second or two after starting, and always at the point where it is 'checking compressed files'.

I'm reluctant to simply delete the key from the registry....I'm not sure what uncompressing files does after a while.

 

Most files are not compressed. XP only compresses them when they are "old ". I don't know what time period is involved.

If you look in Help in the Start menu and search for "compress files ", you will find some information.

Generally speaking, however, depending how often those files are accessed after compression, system performance is sacrificed for space. The files must be uncompressed when accessed and are then recompressed afterward.

Unless you are short of disk space and really need the compression option, I see no reason to use it.

 

My recent (6 months ago) purchase of a Dell PC had XP installed, and I don't believe they disabled the compression option; I have never disabled the option so under the circumstances with my experience it would appear that it is not engaged by default.
By default compression is enabled for Remote Desktop Connection!

Taken literally, the statement seems to infer there is an automatic compression that kicks in without user control. As I understand it, if the compression feature is activated, and there is a problem compressing newer data the cache space (dictionary) is flushed removing some older data making room for the newer. Apparently older compressed files are separated from newer compressed that are cached.

Searching for "compressed files" reveals no compressed data on my system.

 

I think I understand about half of this. I'm not sure why I bothered with disk cleanup, except to try it out as my system is 2 weeks old and its unlikely I've got a lot of 'old' files to compress.

At any rate, I've made a note of how to find and export the key from the registry, then to run disk cleanup and then to restore the key.

For the few times in my life that I might do a disk cleanup, that won't be an onerous task.

On the other hand, if you two guys (I assume) agree that simply deleting the compressoldfile key in the registry would pose no problems (save for maxing out on disk space, which is unlikely as I have a 60gb HD and use less than 4 of it), then I'll simply delete it.

Comments?

 

Since mine seems to be working again with the key in place, I'm going that way for the moment.

I am not sure if the problem is related to whether the option to compress old files is checked or unchecked when DC begins (as yet).

In any case, I would like a better solution than this, too, but if it is indeed some bug, there may be no better solution until MS hears about it from enough people.

I return the key after each clean (when it is not working) in hopes some update will come along and obviate the need for removing it.

I won't swear on a stack of Bibles that the compression option is enabled by default, either. KenKeith 's remark is certainly plausible, and there was a time when I thought compression was a good idea, so I may have turned it on.