Forcing Windows XP's Disk Cleanup to delete all temporary files

by Greg Shultz | Apr 04, 2007 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Greg Shultz, Disk Cleanup, Disk Cleanup utility, Microsoft Windows XP, disk, Microsoft Windows, Windows XP Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: You may have found that Windows XP's Disk Cleanup utility misses a spot from time to time, retaining temporary files most recently accessed. Here's how to perform a clean sweep of your Windows XP files by forcing Disk Cleanup to get rid of all your temporary files.

If you've ever run the Windows XP's Disk Cleanup utility, you probably discovered that your temporary files occupy a significant amount of space. You might select the Temporary Files check box in order to allow the Disk Cleanup utility to delete the files in the Temp folder, but the Disk Cleanup utility will not remove all of the files. The reason for this oddity is that the configuration for the Disk Cleanup utility does not allow deletion of files accessed in the last seven days.

By altering the LastAccess value in the registry, you can configure the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder regardless of the last accessed date. Here's how:

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Go to

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

   .
3. Locate and double-click the LastAccess value.
4. When you see the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, change the Value Data setting from 7 to 0 and click OK.
5. To complete the operation, close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.

Changing the value to 0 will force the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder every time that you select the Temporary Files check box.

Notes: Since editing the registry is risky, be sure you have a verified backup before saving any changes. This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional.

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Print/View all Posts Comments on this article

Windows registrydushyant_asp@...  | 04/05/07

Other temp folders alsomichaellashinsky@...  | 04/05/07

Profiles/Login Scriptsrkuhn@...  | 04/05/07

Maintenance Scriptstodd@...  | 07/06/07

As there is standard installation, and therefore no standard environment, .deepsand  | 07/06/07

This also works on Vistawolverine@...  | 04/05/07

Re. "Windows registry"deepsand  | 04/07/07

Be VERY careful with this!josephrot  | 04/05/07

Quite Truejpdecesare@...  | 04/05/07

Files in use would not be effected by this, correct?jdclyde  | 04/06/07

I agree with youvince.ros@...  | 04/05/07

im not sure...thephpdeveloper  | 04/05/07

CCleanersupport@...  | 04/05/07

A Second for CCleanerAndyW360  | 04/05/07

CCleaner - Easy/ Freegboyce@...  | 04/05/07

ccleaner is goodhuoml  | 04/05/07

Disk Cleaner is even better-Falcon-  | 04/05/07

Why better?HelpDeskGuy  | 04/05/07

yes i agreethephpdeveloper  | 04/13/07

A third nomination for CCleanerron.dondelinger@...  | 02/07/08

Disk Cleanup does work; but, sometimes very slowly.deepsand  | 04/09/07

Slow? Like molassesPalmetto  | 04/12/07

Yup; perhaps it was developed by TR.deepsand  | 04/19/07

time consumingthephpdeveloper  | 04/13/07

Not unlike trying to use TR of late.deepsand  | 04/19/07

Quick methodDimBulb  | 04/05/07

Simplest way to get to your temp folder...Pedro.V  | 04/05/07

I am an old timerThe Admiral  | 04/05/07

Also an old timerdbreuer@...  | 04/05/07

Going a step further.deepsand  | 04/07/07

RE: Forcing Windows XP's Disk Cleanup to delete all temporary filesvraju5@...  | 01/25/08

RE: Forcing Windows XP's Disk Cleanup to delete all temporary filesInterested Amateur  | 02/16/08

Disk CleanupRandyM55  | 02/22/08