Disk Cleanup Bug

G

Guest

Hi,

I own a 160GB Western Digital Hard Drive partitioned into a 40GB OS
partition and the other 120GB for my files.

However, when I run Disk Cleanup utility from within Vista Ultimate, it
shows multiple 131GB options for me to clean up, which is quite ridiculous. I
have cleaned up with the 131GB option checked before, resulting in the
desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted.

I have had to reformat the computer and reinstall Vista, but it seems this
is a recurrent problem. It is not a critical flaw as no damage will be done
if the Disk Cleanup is not run, but if it is, I think other users facing this
same problem will be quite grieved at the loss of important data.

Anyone had a similiar experience or can offer help?

Screenshot:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/iseelamepple/randomstuff/?action=view&current=bug.jpg
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Hi Jay,

Check these locations to know if the dump files really exist.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue

If present, check their creation date as well.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi,

I own a 160GB Western Digital Hard Drive partitioned into a 40GB OS
partition and the other 120GB for my files.

However, when I run Disk Cleanup utility from within Vista Ultimate, it
shows multiple 131GB options for me to clean up, which is quite ridiculous. I
have cleaned up with the 131GB option checked before, resulting in the
desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted.

I have had to reformat the computer and reinstall Vista, but it seems this
is a recurrent problem. It is not a critical flaw as no damage will be done
if the Disk Cleanup is not run, but if it is, I think other users facing this
same problem will be quite grieved at the loss of important data.

Anyone had a similiar experience or can offer help?

Screenshot:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/iseelamepple/randomstuff/?action=view&current=bug.jpg
 
G

Guest

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Indeed the directories do exist and there seem to be multiple dump files
located within with .cab and .wer extensions in the ReportArchive subfolders,
amounting to around 40kb per crash. The ReportQueue has 3 files in a
subfolder, seems to be compatibility document for a game I have installed
(MapleStory, runs well under XP SP2 compatibility option).

However, clearing Disk Clenup shouldn't result in data loss because of this,
right? Do enlighten regarding this issue. Thanks.
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

"resulting in the desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted"

Ah..Missed that note. Sorry.

Perhaps you can export this registry branch to a .REG file:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches

and compare the contents with another system.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi, thanks for the reply.

Indeed the directories do exist and there seem to be multiple dump files
located within with .cab and .wer extensions in the ReportArchive subfolders,
amounting to around 40kb per crash. The ReportQueue has 3 files in a
subfolder, seems to be compatibility document for a game I have installed
(MapleStory, runs well under XP SP2 compatibility option).

However, clearing Disk Clenup shouldn't result in data loss because of this,
right? Do enlighten regarding this issue. Thanks.
 
G

Guest

The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting.

I compared my desktop (Vista Ultimate) with that of my laptop (Vista Home
Premium) and the reg file seems identical with the exception of an adition of
attributes.

eg.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches\Windows Error Reporting Archive Files]
@="{C0E13E61-0CC6-11d1-BBB6-0060978B2AE6}"
"FileList"="*.*"
"Flags"=dword:0000007d
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,\
00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,30,00,00,00
"Display"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,37,00,\
00,00
"Description"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,\
00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,\
5c,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,38,\
00,00,00
"StateFlags"=dword:00000000

This is a typical entry for the checkbox option. the only difference is that
all the entries on the desktop have the extra last line, the attribute called
"StateFlags". The set values of "StateFlags" differ from entry to entry. I am
not sure if the presence of that line is of any significance though.

It seems that the laptop has the same problem. The common software installed
on both machines are Office 2007, Nero 7, Registry Mechanic, Winzip, Winrar
and J River Media Center.

Is there any way to isolate the possibly conflicting software?
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Jay,

The "StateFlags" value difference is not significance, as you said. I don't have any clues ATM, and shall update this thread if I find anything.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting.

I compared my desktop (Vista Ultimate) with that of my laptop (Vista Home
Premium) and the reg file seems identical with the exception of an adition of
attributes.

eg.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches\Windows Error Reporting Archive Files]
@="{C0E13E61-0CC6-11d1-BBB6-0060978B2AE6}"
"FileList"="*.*"
"Flags"=dword:0000007d
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,\
00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,30,00,00,00
"Display"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,37,00,\
00,00
"Description"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,\
00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,\
5c,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,38,\
00,00,00
"StateFlags"=dword:00000000

This is a typical entry for the checkbox option. the only difference is that
all the entries on the desktop have the extra last line, the attribute called
"StateFlags". The set values of "StateFlags" differ from entry to entry. I am
not sure if the presence of that line is of any significance though.

It seems that the laptop has the same problem. The common software installed
on both machines are Office 2007, Nero 7, Registry Mechanic, Winzip, Winrar
and J River Media Center.

Is there any way to isolate the possibly conflicting software?
 
G

Guest

Quote from Jay:
"The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting."

I just experienced a near identical situation as Jay, and recovery will take
me a good chunk of my weekend.

About a week ago I upgraded my notebook from Home Premium to Ultimate. I
decided to clean up the drive over lunch in preparation for imaging it when I
got home that night. I spotted the two error reporting entries and based on
the description when selected decided it was safe to add them to the default
cleanup list.

I was browsing while eating my sandwich and noticed all but the default
system icons disappear from my desktop, when I went to the Start menu
(classic) I noticed several icons here where also missing as well as icons
from the QuickLaunch toolbar. Disk Cleanup reported it was working on the
above error reporting items. I was obviously suspicious but not yet paniced.
I used Explorer and found the 'Program Files' folder was intact.

I decided better safe than sorry, so I cancelled the Disk Cleanup. I
right-clicked the desktop and asked for a 'Refresh' which did nothing. So I
tried a Restart from the Start menu. Vista would come up with an error that
system files were missing. None of the Safe Modes helped, including Last
Known Good Configuration. Vista suggested I needed to boot from its DVD and
run repair.

I am happy to report that repair, followed by System Restore, did in fact
make Windows bootable to my account, only my icons were still missing. Then I
tried to launch Outlook 2007 and it acted as though it had just been
installed, not yet activated and no account setup. I canceled and then found
nearly all my user settings were gone and well as ALL my data files
(documents, pictures, you name it).

Fortunately I imaged the hard drive just before upgrading to Ultimate, so
most everything is recoverable via that mechanism. Still, I agree with Jay,
NO WAY should something like this EVER happen to begin with.

Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista
bug team?

Jim
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista bug team?

I don't have the link/ID to send Bug reports to.

Here is a Vista Feedback link:
http://feedback.windowsvista.microsoft.com/eform.aspx?productkey=winvista

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Quote from Jay:
"The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting."

I just experienced a near identical situation as Jay, and recovery will take
me a good chunk of my weekend.

About a week ago I upgraded my notebook from Home Premium to Ultimate. I
decided to clean up the drive over lunch in preparation for imaging it when I
got home that night. I spotted the two error reporting entries and based on
the description when selected decided it was safe to add them to the default
cleanup list.

I was browsing while eating my sandwich and noticed all but the default
system icons disappear from my desktop, when I went to the Start menu
(classic) I noticed several icons here where also missing as well as icons
from the QuickLaunch toolbar. Disk Cleanup reported it was working on the
above error reporting items. I was obviously suspicious but not yet paniced.
I used Explorer and found the 'Program Files' folder was intact.

I decided better safe than sorry, so I cancelled the Disk Cleanup. I
right-clicked the desktop and asked for a 'Refresh' which did nothing. So I
tried a Restart from the Start menu. Vista would come up with an error that
system files were missing. None of the Safe Modes helped, including Last
Known Good Configuration. Vista suggested I needed to boot from its DVD and
run repair.

I am happy to report that repair, followed by System Restore, did in fact
make Windows bootable to my account, only my icons were still missing. Then I
tried to launch Outlook 2007 and it acted as though it had just been
installed, not yet activated and no account setup. I canceled and then found
nearly all my user settings were gone and well as ALL my data files
(documents, pictures, you name it).

Fortunately I imaged the hard drive just before upgrading to Ultimate, so
most everything is recoverable via that mechanism. Still, I agree with Jay,
NO WAY should something like this EVER happen to begin with.

Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista
bug team?

Jim
 
G

Guest

I have the same issue as Jim Johnson. I am not very computer literate though.
This happened twice to me now. I need help. Everything seems to be there, but
I can't open any of my programs and all my personal files are missing. Like
Jim, I also lost all icons and programs, had to use my vista disk to load and
repair windows, then tried to fix it with system restore. Everything seems to
be there, but acts like its not and needs to be reloaded. I would like to get
all my files back and my programs working again without reinstalling them all
again. The last time this happened it was very difficult to fix, because I
had to uninstall some programs that wouldn't uninstall with this issue. Did
anyone figure out the problem and how to get it all back?
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/serious-disk-cleanup-problem-caused-by-broken-registration/
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/yet-another-serious-disk-cleanup-issue/

Although Disk Cleanup shouldn't enumerate all the file system objects for deletion, registry cleaners are to blame for the most part.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


This has just happened to me.Ive lost alot of stuff.Lucky I have another
HD with xp on it and I could boot into that and download some undelete
programs.Freeundelete is a good one.It will get back 99% of your files
if you dont transfer anything at all to the HD with the deleted files on
it.
However silly me transfered files back to the affected HD for
storage.And of course that overwrote much of the undelete info before I
could copy it.At least I got important pw's etc first.However now I have
removed vista completely.And am sending it back to MS 1 year later with
my receipt and a letter of demand for a refund for the cost of the
software and if not to take legal action.This is not just a bug this is
a fatal fault and they shouldnt be selling software with bugs as serious
as these.This software is still not even a beta version if it has errors
this serious where the software itself formats your whole computer
without you even knowing.This is not a hardware fault hacking or virus
this is a fault in vista and I want a refund.
 
S

SG

If the OP is saying Vista formatted their hard drive through Disk Cleanup
and can prove this to me then if MS doesn't reimburse their monies, send me
the disk and I will. I'll bet you I can advertise it on EBay and make a
fortune given the fact of what we have already seen sale there. Lets see, a
piece of Toast sold for thousands, a Walking Cane that was haunted went for
a lot too, so if I advertize it right, something like The Magical Vista Disk
and describe what it can do, I should get a good return on my investment.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/serious-disk-cleanup-problem-caused-by-broken-registration/
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/yet-another-serious-disk-cleanup-issue/

Although Disk Cleanup shouldn't enumerate all the file system objects for
deletion, registry cleaners are to blame for the most part.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


This has just happened to me.Ive lost alot of stuff.Lucky I have another
HD with xp on it and I could boot into that and download some undelete
programs.Freeundelete is a good one.It will get back 99% of your files
if you dont transfer anything at all to the HD with the deleted files on
it.
However silly me transfered files back to the affected HD for
storage.And of course that overwrote much of the undelete info before I
could copy it.At least I got important pw's etc first.However now I have
removed vista completely.And am sending it back to MS 1 year later with
my receipt and a letter of demand for a refund for the cost of the
software and if not to take legal action.This is not just a bug this is
a fatal fault and they shouldnt be selling software with bugs as serious
as these.This software is still not even a beta version if it has errors
this serious where the software itself formats your whole computer
without you even knowing.This is not a hardware fault hacking or virus
this is a fault in vista and I want a refund.
 
C

C.B.

Boris Yeltsen said:
This has just happened to me.Ive lost alot of stuff.Lucky I have another
HD with xp on it and I could boot into that and download some undelete
programs.Freeundelete is a good one.It will get back 99% of your files
if you dont transfer anything at all to the HD with the deleted files on
it.
However silly me transfered files back to the affected HD for
storage.And of course that overwrote much of the undelete info before I
could copy it.At least I got important pw's etc first.However now I have
removed vista completely.And am sending it back to MS 1 year later with
my receipt and a letter of demand for a refund for the cost of the
software and if not to take legal action.This is not just a bug this is
a fatal fault and they shouldnt be selling software with bugs as serious
as these.This software is still not even a beta version if it has errors
this serious where the software itself formats your whole computer
without you even knowing.This is not a hardware fault hacking or virus
this is a fault in vista and I want a refund.
Click to expand...


Boris,

You need to slug down some more Vodka and learn how to use and
understand Vista. As the old saying goes, "the biggest problem with
computers lies between the computer and the chair." I'm sorry if this
offends you but that's usually the case.
You said "The software itself formats your whole computer without you
even knowing." I don't think so. Good luck with your legal action.

C.B.
 
S

SG

If this was due to registry cleaners it would remove the whole registry
key.Not just remove the folder name and replace it with *.* .<<<

So what you are saying is Registry Cleaners are "safe" and 100% accurate.
Without knowing the code in any Registry Cleaner out there how can you say
what they are capable of removing?. In both sites Ramesh posted both XP and
Vista machines had cleaners ran on them and that's were the problem lies.
Disk Cleanup did what it was design to so, delete what was reported to it
and because these cleaners had messed with the settings it gets it info from
how would Disk Cleanup know any different. I'll grant you this is a
"serious" problem and from searching the Net it doesn't seem to be wide
spread, thus it may not have brought enough attention to be addressed.
Somehow MS needs to address this and perhaps set a Flag in Disk Cleanup no
matter what causes this to happen, Registry Cleaners or whatever and to
alert the user in some way. If it cannot be done through Disk Cleanup then
somehow it needs to be set through the Registry where those Keys cannot be
changed by any software.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Somehow MS needs to address this and perhaps set a Flag in Disk Cleanup no matter what causes this to happen

Yes. I certainly agree. If the "Folder" key, or the "FileList" value is absent (I have enough evidence that certain registry cleaners cause this), Disk Cleanup takes *.* as the default and cleans up the entire drive.

<MSDN>
If this value is absent, the root folder of the current volume is used. The DDEVCF_DOSUBDIRS flag is needed in that case to search the entire drive.
</MSDN>

That's a bad idea IMHO.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

key.Not just remove the folder name and replace it with *.* .<<<

So what you are saying is Registry Cleaners are "safe" and 100% accurate.
Without knowing the code in any Registry Cleaner out there how can you say
what they are capable of removing?. In both sites Ramesh posted both XP and
Vista machines had cleaners ran on them and that's were the problem lies.
Disk Cleanup did what it was design to so, delete what was reported to it
and because these cleaners had messed with the settings it gets it info from
how would Disk Cleanup know any different. I'll grant you this is a
"serious" problem and from searching the Net it doesn't seem to be wide
spread, thus it may not have brought enough attention to be addressed.
Somehow MS needs to address this and perhaps set a Flag in Disk Cleanup no
matter what causes this to happen, Registry Cleaners or whatever and to
alert the user in some way. If it cannot be done through Disk Cleanup then
somehow it needs to be set through the Registry where those Keys cannot be
changed by any software.

--
All the best,
SG

Is your computer system ready for Vista?
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/
Want to keep up with the latest news from MS?
http://news.google.com/nwshp?tab=wn&ned=us&topic=t
Just type in Microsoft
 
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