I have a question about Clean up your hard disk:

Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup ? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

M. Armijo wrote:
>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files. Have a look at this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q253597 It says "There is an Options button that you can use to specify the number of days to wait before an unused file is compressed." Which may be what you want :-) == bm

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Unfortunately, you cannot exceed 500 days on this option. So if you have a file that's over 500 days old, whether or not it has been on your computer for 500+ days, it will be analyzed for compression. Furthermore, the switches on the MS page didn't quite work. Anyone had any luck with the switches?


On Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 8:23 am, Brian Milner wrote:
>M. Armijo wrote:
>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
>
>Have a look at this:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q253597
>
>It says "There is an Options button that you can use to specify the number of days
>to wait before an unused file is compressed." Which may be what you want :-)
>
>==
>bm

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Does putting 0 day would disable the compression or always compress the files? I really like to disable this automatic compression. Chris


On Friday, March 1, 2002 at 12:04 pm, jason z wrote:
>Unfortunately, you cannot exceed 500 days on this option. So if you have a file
>that's over 500 days old, whether or not it has been on your computer for 500+ days,
>it will be analyzed for compression.
>
>Furthermore, the switches on the MS page didn't quite work. Anyone had any luck
>with the switches?
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

On Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 11:28 am, M. Armijo wrote:
>I have a question about Clean
>up your hard disk:

>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
> Did you ever resolve this? My XP (pro) has started to do the same. Have you installed anything lately? Mine started after Easy CD creator 5 installation.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

1. Type Regedit in Start - Run 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers i on\Explorer\Volume Caches 3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder 4. Delete all files in this folder 5. Reboot 6. Run Disk Cleanup


On Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 11:28 am, M. Armijo wrote:
>I have a question about Clean
>up your hard disk:

>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks a lot! Works great... but I would recommend that you 'Export' the registry entries to a file before you delete them so you can restore this functionality if you ever need to. The export is available in Regedit.


On Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:32 am, Frank wrote:
>
>1. Type Regedit in Start - Run
>2. Navigate to
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
>i
>on\Explorer\Volume Caches
>3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder
>4. Delete all files in this folder
>5. Reboot
>6. Run Disk Cleanup
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Which files does this "Compress old files" compress? All the ones on the disk or only under winnt? I am sure 40% of winnt is not really used - am I right?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I can't find any thing on the Microsoft Page about this. However, from the amount of time it takes to do the compress old files, I am guessing it's doing the whole disk. That's why it's part of the "Disk Cleanup" feature. There isn't really a point in compressing just the winnt directory since it doesn't save all that much space in comparison to the whole hard drive... --another one of Microsoft's bright, but stupid idea! A feature that turns into a bug!


On Tuesday, October 8, 2002 at 9:19 pm, flace wrote:
>
>Which files does this "Compress old files" compress?
>All the ones on the disk or only under winnt? I am sure
>40% of winnt is not really used - am I right?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

This worked for me, too. Windows 2000 SP3 machine appearing to hang in Disk Cleanup many times, but Task Manager showed it as an active process using 95%+ of resources - EVEN AFTER THE TASK WAS CANCELLED!! Edited the Registry as instructed here and it seemed to eliminate the step of Compressing Files altogether - or else it went by so fast I didn't see it. Disk Cleanup process took about 10 seconds after Registry edit (and backup as Su wisely recommends). Mike


On Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:32 am, Frank wrote:
>
>1. Type Regedit in Start - Run
>2. Navigate to
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
>i
>on\Explorer\Volume Caches
>3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder
>4. Delete all files in this folder
>5. Reboot
>6. Run Disk Cleanup
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q253597& Automating Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows Q253597 Use scheduler to specify options for cleanmgr.exe.


On Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 11:28 am, M. Armijo wrote:
>I have a question about Clean
>up your hard disk:

>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Recognize that your posted message is over 6 months but did you ever get any insight on why the switches did not work well. In my my case, I found that didn't work at all. The drive designation switch would work ok if it was the only switch but it would not function if followed by the sageset/sagerun switches. I tried every which way.


On Friday, March 1, 2002 at 12:04 pm, jason z wrote:
>Unfortunately, you cannot exceed 500 days on this option. So if you have a file
>that's over 500 days old, whether or not it has been on your computer for 500+ days,
>it will be analyzed for compression.
>
>Furthermore, the switches on the MS page didn't quite work. Anyone had any luck
>with the switches?
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

In XP it only Compresses files that are rarely used not your entire hard-drive, that would be rediculous...if you had a 120gb HDD it would take a day or 2


On Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at 3:00 am, Frank wrote:
>I can't find any thing on the Microsoft Page about this. However, from the amount
>of time it takes to do the compress old files, I am guessing it's doing the whole
>disk. That's why it's part of the "Disk Cleanup" feature. There isn't really a
>point in compressing just the winnt directory since it doesn't save all that much
>space in comparison to the whole hard drive...
>--another one of Microsoft's bright, but stupid idea! A feature that turns into
>a bug!
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Bought a Toshiba 2400 Notebook a couple of weeks ago with XP Pro installed on it. LONG TIME no kidding!!!!! 30Gb hard disk, disk clean took a shade over 30 hours. Shut down all programs, did a defragment, then a disk clean-up at 7am in the morning. It just sat there locked in on "compress old files" until just after 3:30pm THE FOLLOWING DAY. What a joke! I wonder what old files it compressed, all I am running is Office XP !!!!!


On Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 11:28 am, M. Armijo wrote:
>I have a question about Clean
>up your hard disk:

>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

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

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had a problem where i could not access diskcleaup, so i did some research and found out that Old compressed files were not working. So i did the same thing you said (regedit) But now i want to delete my compressed files. How do i do it?


On Saturday, October 12, 2002 at 8:56 am, Mike wrote:
>This worked for me, too. Windows 2000 SP3 machine appearing to hang in Disk Cleanup
>many times, but Task Manager showed it as an active process using 95%+ of resources
>- EVEN AFTER THE TASK WAS CANCELLED!! Edited the Registry as instructed here and
>it seemed to eliminate the step of Compressing Files altogether - or else it went
>by so fast I didn't see it. Disk Cleanup process took about 10 seconds after Registry
>edit (and backup as Su wisely recommends).
>
>Mike
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I have a problem with disk-clean up. Its starts 'compress old files', gets as far as three dots on the status bar and hangs up. I can cancel it but have to manually kill 'cleanmngr' in the system processes list. This happens every time so I can't actually run the disk clean-up. I also have easy CD creator 5 installed. It gave a XP incompatible error on installation but seems to run ok.


On Sunday, April 7, 2002 at 5:41 pm, Doug wrote:
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I tried to use clean disk to compress old files and the whole windows system shuts down by itself after a few minutes while compressing. Will it do damage to my system?


On Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:32 am, Frank wrote:
>
>1. Type Regedit in Start - Run
>2. Navigate to
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
>i
>on\Explorer\Volume Caches
>3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder
>4. Delete all files in this folder
>5. Reboot
>6. Run Disk Cleanup
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

LOL, this entire thread is about how to get rid of the annoying feature "Compress old Files" and here you are trying to compress old files with clean disk... Any how, the answer to your question, will it damage your sistem is: may be, may be not. You need to run: chkdsk /f c: to check for errors The most likely reason is that your system already has errors on it prior to running clean disk. It just shutdowns when it runs into the error. After chkdsk /f c: try defragmenting the drive good luck


On Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 9:38 am, Robert wrote:
>I tried to use clean disk to compress old files and the whole windows system shuts
>down by itself after a few minutes while compressing. Will it do damage to my system?
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

1. Type Regedit in Start - Run 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers i on\Explorer\Volume Caches 3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder 4. Delete all files in this folder 5. Reboot 6. Run Disk Cleanup


On Saturday, July 19, 2003 at 12:43 pm, daniel wrote:
>I have a problem with disk-clean up. Its starts 'compress old files', gets as far
>as three dots on the status bar and hangs up. I can cancel it but have to manually
>kill 'cleanmngr' in the system processes list. This happens every time so I can't
>actually run the disk clean-up.
>
>I also have easy CD creator 5 installed. It gave a XP incompatible error on installation
>but seems to run ok.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Worked Great Now I can run my Disk Cleanup. Totally Appreciate it.


On Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 10:56 am, Frank wrote:
> 1. Type Regedit in Start - Run 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
> i on\Explorer\Volume Caches 3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder 4. Delete all
>files in this folder 5. Reboot 6. Run Disk Cleanup
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Perfect!


On Wednesday, February 19, 2003 at 8:56 am, None wrote:
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812248

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

If I actually use the disk cleanup to delete the compressed files does this mean that I have deleted the old files outright? Or is Windows just uncompressing the files? That is when I check off the files to delete such as the temp files and in this case compressed files do I lose that data?


On Thursday, September 4, 2003 at 8:24 am, Cadmium wrote:
>Perfect!
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Is there a way to know what files are compressed?  Is there a way to uncompress them? 
 Please answer the below post also

Thanks
ectogamit


>>>re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' 
Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at 11:55 am
Windows 2000 Annoyances Discussion Forum 
Posted by Gene Milman   [find other messages by Gene Milman] 

If I actually use the disk cleanup to delete the compressed files does this mean 
that I have deleted the old files outright? Or is Windows just uncompressing the 
files? That is when I check off the files to delete such as the temp files and in 
this case compressed files do I lose that data? 






On Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at 11:28 am, M. Armijo wrote:
>I have a question about Clean 
>up your hard disk:

>Is there any way to skip the "Scanning: Compress old files" step in Disk Cleanup 
>? It takes a LONG TIME, and I don't wish to compress old files.
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

- Nothing is damaged during the 'hang' on startup of the disk cleanup wizard. It just takes it a very loooooong (I guess sometimes infinite) time to decide what files you might choose to compress. - If you actually get to the point where you choose to use the 'compress old file' option, no files are deleted. They are only compressed to save space. - It is unlikely that any files would be damaged if there is a reboot (for whatever reason) during the process. I agree, though, that a chkdsk before and after would be wise. - The Windows Explorer folder options page has a setting to 'show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color', which makes any compressed file appear blue. There is also a command-line program called COMPACT.EXE that gives some quasi-useful info. With all that said, the benefits of compressing old files are not likely to be great, while the risks and/or annoyances are obvious. Disabling this feature via the registry key posted earlier is highly recommended... regards, -Warren.


On Wednesday, November 12, 2003 at 7:55 pm, ectogamit wrote:

>Is there a way to know what files are compressed?  Is there a way to uncompress 
them? 
> Please answer the below post also
>
>Thanks
>ectogamit
>
>
>>>re: Question about 'Clean up your hard disk' 
>Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at 11:55 am
>Windows 2000 Annoyances Discussion Forum 
>Posted by Gene Milman   [find other messages by Gene Milman] 
>
>If I actually use the disk cleanup to delete the compressed files does this mean 
>that I have deleted the old files outright? Or is Windows just uncompressing the 
>files? That is when I check off the files to delete such as the temp files and in 
>this case compressed files do I lose that data? 
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

To whom it may concern: <> For many reasons I do not use disk compression. The answer lies in removing this key from your registry. <> "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches" <> Now simply back-up if desired and remove (delete) the "Compress Old Files" key. It worked for me. No more compress old files option in the menu, so it's fast. The following Microsoft Link should apply: <> "http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812248" <> Why let your OS run without ever getting an answer. Just do it! Christmas Day 2003, Ken

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Once i get to the "volume caches" folder, i don't see a "compress old files" folder. i am running XP home edition. can anyone help me?


On Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:32 am, Frank wrote:
>
>1. Type Regedit in Start - Run
>2. Navigate to
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
>i
>on\Explorer\Volume Caches
>3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder
>4. Delete all files in this folder
>5. Reboot
>6. Run Disk Cleanup
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

In Regedit, try searching for the phrase "compress old files" without the quotes. Or just "compress"


On Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at 2:18 am, david rnenberg wrote:
>Once i get to the "volume caches" folder, i don't see a "compress old files" folder.
> i am running XP home edition. can anyone help me?
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Frank, I cannot tell you enough just how thankful I am to now be able to run disk clean-up in Windows 2000 Professional after following your advice. I'm a disk clean-up freak and I would have been lost without this utility. Many thanks. It's the first solution I've put to good use since discovering Annoyances.org. Charles McPartland


On Monday, June 24, 2002 at 10:32 am, Frank wrote:
>
>1. Type Regedit in Start - Run
>2. Navigate to
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
>i
>on\Explorer\Volume Caches
>3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder
>4. Delete all files in this folder
>5. Reboot
>6. Run Disk Cleanup
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've made a .reg file to help speed up the removal of this annoyance www.geocities.com/supasonic128/Compress_Old_Files_Removal.zip

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I've made a .reg file to help speed up the removal of this annoyance www.geocities.com/supasonic128/Compress_Old_Files_Removal.zip

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank you so much Frank. I had the same problem and now it's gone.


On Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 10:56 am, Frank wrote:
> 1. Type Regedit in Start - Run 2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVers
> i on\Explorer\Volume Caches 3. Open "Compress Old Files" folder 4. Delete all
>files in this folder 5. Reboot 6. Run Disk Cleanup
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I just did this without backing up my registry, without thinking. It's 3:53 AM here. Anyhow, does anyone know how I can get this registry key back to preserve it in case I want to use the compress utititiy? thanks


On Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at 9:44 pm, Shaun wrote:
>I've made a .reg file to help speed up the removal of this annoyance www.geocities.com/supasonic128/Compress_Old_Files_Removal.zip
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Go to Windows help and support and querry it for "Disk Cleanup Options". Spell it with a "k", not a "c", to get the right responses.the following will be in the knowledge base responses Click Start, click Run, type: %temp%, and then click OK to open the Temp folder. In the Temp folder, on the Edit menu, click Select All, press the DELETE key, and then click Yes to confirm that you want to send all the items to the Recycle Bin. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Internet Options.


On the General tab, click Delete Files. Click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK. Click Start, and then click My Computer. Right-click the drive that you want to clean, and then click Properties. Click Disk Cleanup to run the Disk Cleanup tool again This seems to have solved my problem.


On Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 1:55 am, Spooky wrote:
>I just did this without backing up my registry, without thinking. It's 3:53 AM here.
>Anyhow, does anyone know how I can get this registry key back to preserve it in case
>I want to use the compress utititiy?
>
>thanks
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

EMERGENCY BOOT DISK FREEWARE

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

Editing the Registry to remove this feature.

Merry Xmas!
Mac

WINDOWS SUPPORT  RAM

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

My Dad was using the XP learning disk and it was showing him how to use disk clean 
up. 
 
I had just used disk clean up 2 weeks ago but I didn't click compress old files. 
He did and got the error windows is missing key files to operate correctly. 

Why would disk clean up cause that error? I didn't have the windows disk handy so 
I tried using a restore point.
 
Only thing I've noticed after this is that my virus scan McAfee after trying to enable 
now says
 " Some components of activeshield are either missing or have not been installed 
properly. 

is there anyway now to use the windows disk to restore missing files or did I miss 
my chance when the error came up? I guess a re-install for the virus program I just 
hope it didn't mess any other programs up. 

grrr compressing old files seems pointless the space it made wasn’t very much anyway.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Brandon, I'm not sure about your dad's problem, but it shouldn't be caused by the Disk cleanup utility in my experience. Did you try running System Restore or, if that didn't work, a repair install of XP? Regarding your McAfee problem, I don't think that your problem with McAfee is related to Disk Cleanup--just a coincidence, but I could be wrong. Did you get McAfee as part of a package with this computer? I was helping a friend with her Dell and without using Disk Cleanup she was getting the same error with her "free" McAfee that was preinstalled. After researching it I found that it was better to ditch the complimentary McAfee and install AVG antivirus which is free for home users (free.grisoft.com). I have another suggestion for Disk Cleanup: skip it entirely and download/install the free utility called CCleaner (ccleaner.com). It allows for a customized cleanup and has other nifty features that you will discover. It also offers to make a backup before deleting any registry files. That said, the suggestions above look helpful if you want to keep using the Windows tool--your choice.


On Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 5:50 pm, Brandon Prince wrote:
>My Dad was using the XP learning disk and it was showing him how to use disk clean
>up.
>
>I had just used disk clean up 2 weeks ago but I didn't click compress old files.
>He did and got the error windows is missing key files to operate correctly.
>
>Why would disk clean up cause that error? I didn't have the windows disk handy so
>I tried using a restore point.
>
>Only thing I've noticed after this is that my virus scan McAfee after trying to enable
>now says
> " Some components of activeshield are either missing or have not been installed
>properly.
>
>is there anyway now to use the windows disk to restore missing files or did I miss
>my chance when the error came up? I guess a re-install for the virus program I just
>hope it didn't mess any other programs up.
>
>grrr compressing old files seems pointless the space it made wasn’t very much anyway.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

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