Disk Cleanup can be done manually, except for Compressing infrequently
used files/folders. (Which I'm not too big a fan of anyway.) My concern is
the crashing. When XP halts, the data open (Registry, Files..etc) do not
get written to the disk in a normal/proper way. You likely have a disk that
has inconsistencies. You use a built-in tool Chkdsk to find/fix these
errors.
Before you do that, make sure your personal data is backed up. Chkdsk
has two modes, basic which uses the syntax Chkdsk C:. This is best done
from a Command Prompt Window. This basic/cursory Chkdsk will test
the drive and report in it's summary if you need a more comprehensive run
using a command qualifier /F or /R (Fix/Repair). That type of Chkdsk can
only be done before XP fully loads - Once queued up, it will run on the
next system boot.
General cleanup, involves emptying the Temp folders and the IE or other
Browser Cache. The System temp folder is at C:\Windows\Temp
Each user profile has a Temp folder located at:
C:\Documents and Settings\'YourUserName'\Local Settings\Temp
Along with that spread across the drive are temp/workspace type of files
that accumulate over time. Typically you'll find two types - any filename
with a .tmp extension and files that are prefaced with a tilde symbol ~.
These can usually be found with Search (Using Advanced options to search
System/Hidden & Sub-folders)
Beyond cleanup, you probably need other things that make up a System
tune up (Driver updates, Program Updates, uninstall old/unused apps &
check/modify Startups & Watchdogs.)
"Ms Mouse" <Ms
(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:90DE9573-9DED-4F8B-B48D-(E-Mail Removed)...
> My laptop crashes if it is left on for any length of time (probably needs
> fan
> cleaning) but it also crashes if I try to use Disk Cleanup. This could be
> almost as scoon as the scan starts or right at the end. I have just tried
> to
> run Disk Cleanup four times and it has crashed every time.
>
> (I followed the link in an earlier question about Disk Cleanup freezing
> but
> thought I had better ask for advice in case this is a different problem).
>
> I have had the laptop since late 2002 so getting on for 3 years and Disk
> Cleanup has never worked. (Defrag analysis says I don't need to defrag).
> Operating system is XP.
>
> Would I be better off doing disk cleanup another way maybe?
>
> Hope you can advise 
> Best wishes and thanks, Liz