Disk Cleanup makes computer crash

[Guest]

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

 

[Mike G]

Try it in safe mode??

 

[R. McCarty]

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.)

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the detailed reply - I will also try the "safe mode" option
suggested by Mike G above.

Many thanks to you both (fingers crossed!)

Liz

 

[Plato]

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

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#2

 

[Guest]

Hi Mike,
I looked up in "Help & Support" how to start in Safe Mode but the
instructions contain steps that are not available on my system. They say:

Click Start, click Shut Down, (THE OPTION IS "tRUN OFF COMPUTER")and then,
in the drop-down list, click Shut down. (THERE IS NO DROP-DOWN LIST - JUST 3
BUTTONS IN A ROW).

In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.
When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press
F8. (THIS MESSAGE DOES NOT APPEAR - THE COMPUTER GOES STRAIGHT INTO SHUTTING
DOWN).
Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then
press ENTER.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation
that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.

*******
Do you happen to know if there is another way to start up in Safe Mode?

Best wishes,
Liz

 

[Gerry Cornell]

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315222

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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[Bob I]

As the computer is starting up, start tapping the F8 key.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Gerry - I tried the F8 thing before but it didn't make any difference
- I'll try again

 

[Guest]

Thanks Bob - I tried the F8 thing before but it didn't make any difference -
I'll try again

 

[Bob I]

That should work, but if all else fails, you can go to Start, Run,
MSconfig, OK, BOOT.INI, and set Safe Mode there. Then after you are
done, do the same trick and UNcheck "Safe Mode" to restart into Normal.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Bob - I think I might have identified the source of the problem. The
computer also always crashes when I leave it switched on overnight, which I
thought was probably due to overheating. However, I leave it on overnight
because that is when I have scheduled it to do a complete virus scan with
AVG. (It runs slowly when scanning and takes hours so I would prefer it to do
it when I am asleep).

I wondered if something else might be making it crash while scanning and
contacted AVG. They asked if it always crashed on the same file. The only way
I know which file it crashes on is that if I manually initiate a complete
scan it asks me if I want it to start with the last file scanned or to go
back to the beginning (whichever option I select it seems to back to the
beginning).

Anyway, I scanned the folder containing the file that was last scanned, and
the computer crashed.

The offending file looks a normal size, was last modified in 2003 so I don't
know what the problem can be. I have analysed and defragged the drive
recently and no problems were detected.

I have sent the info about the file to AVG and have asked if I should just
delete it. Anyway, when I have got this sorted out I will try Disk Cleanup
again and see if there are still problems and, if there are, will follow the
instructions you have kindly given me

Best wishes,
Liz