Let me start off by saying that I quit using Disk Cleanup ( cleanmgr.exe)
several years ago. I use other 3rd party programs.
I do not understand why the "compress old files" feature comes under disk
cleanup.
Compress Old Files just happens to be one of the options of cleanmgr.exe.
Part of the way cleanmgr.exe works is to save disk space. Compressing files
saves disk space because compressing files makes the files smaller. I did
not write the program.
If you do not wish to compress old files, uncheck that box.
The following is from XP HELP:
"Disk Cleanup helps free up space on your hard drive. You can use Disk
Cleanup to free up space on your hard disk by removing temporary Internet
files, removing installed components and programs that you no longer use,
and emptying the Recycle Bin."
"Removing unneeded files
When running an operating system as complex as Windows, you may not always
know the significance of all the files on your computer. Sometimes Windows
uses files for a specific purpose and then retains them in a folder
designated for temporary files. Alternatively, you may have previously
installed Windows components that you are no longer using. For a variety of
reasons, including running out of space on your hard drive, you may want to
reduce the number of files on your disk, or create more free space, if it
can be done without harming any of your programs.
Use the Windows Disk Cleanup Wizard to perform all of the following tasks to
clear space on your hard disk:
* Remove temporary Internet files.
* Remove any downloaded program files (ActiveX controls and Java applets
downloaded from the Internet).
* Empty the Recycle Bin.
* Remove Windows temporary files.
* Remove Windows components that you are not using.
* Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
Note
To start Disk Cleanup, click Start, click Run, and then type cleanmgr."
You may also like to read these.
Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312
This explains the available options for Disk Cleanup and a little about
scheduling...
How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315246
This explains a little more.
Automate Disk Cleanup using Task Scheduler in Windows XP
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Automate.htm
Clear the Temporary Internet Files using the Windows XP Disk Cleanup utility
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/clearxptif.htm
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In
win me user said:
Thanks for your reply.
I note the compress files are indicated in blue. I did a quick run through
of the compress files aand found that many of them are in my document
folders. Altho they were not accessed for more than 30 days (that's the
setting for compressing), I will still need them.
I do not understand why the "compress old files" feature comes under disk
cleanup. My questions are:
1) altho a user compress files, that do not mean we will discard all old
files in one process. what a user usually do will just delete a file or
folder at one time, do you agree? If so, the disk cleanup of "compress old
file" feature is not needed
2) as I do not want to compress any files, I tried to change the number of
days to zero but it does not allow me at all. why?
Wesley Vogel said:
Compress Old Files
[[Windows can compress files that you have not used recently. Compressing
files saves disk space, but you can still use the files. No files are
deleted. Because files are compressed at different rates, the displayed
amount of disk space that you will gain is approximate. An Options button
permits you to specify the number of days to wait before Disk Cleanup
compresses an unused file.]]
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In
win me user said:
When I run Disk Cleanup, a pop up box appears which list the files I
would like to delete. One item listed is "Compress old files".
1) How do I find out what these "compressed old files" are?
2) I check off the box for "compress old files" but these files could
not be cleaned up and removed.
Please advise how I can resolve this problem.
