If Disk Cleanup gets stuck while scanning compressed old files, it may be an XP error due to an incorrect registry entry; however, it may also be due to a corrupt temporary file.

The Disk Cleanup progress window will freeze showing something like:

• Disk Cleanup is calculating how much space you will be able to free on (C:).
• This may take a few minutes to complete.
• Scanning: Compress old files

Delete Corrupt Temporary Files

A temporary file is a file used by your computer for a short period of time. For example, when you view a webpage, Windows saves a copy of the page on your hard disk. This makes it much faster to redisplay the page if you use the back button.

You can safely delete any temporary file that is not currently in use. If Windows needs the file again, it will create it or download it. There are two types of temporary files: internet files and non-internet files.

To delete the internet files:

1. Open the Internet Options control panel.
2. On the General tab, click on Delete Files.
3. Check the Delete All Offline Content checkbox and click OK.

To delete the non-internet files:

1. Close all your applications (even this one!)
2. Select Run from the Start menu.
3. Type %temp% and press the Enter key.
4. Select all the files. The easiest way is to press ctrl-A.
5. With all the files selected press the Delete key.

Now try re-running Disk Cleanup. If it still gets stuck, try the registry fix.

Registry Fix

WARNING: This fix modifies the registry. If you change the registry incorrectly, you may have to reinstall Windows, so follow the instructions closely and don’t change anything else.

1. Open RegEdit, the registry editor. Select Run from the Start menu, type REGEDIT and press the Enter key.
2. Using the folders on the left navigate to  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches
3. Make a backup of the key. Select Export from the File menu. Select the Desktop (or some other location you can easily find again), and then type VOLUMECACHES in the file name box and click the Save button. You can now restore this key if the fix doesn’t work.
4. In the VolumeCaches folder, delete the Compress Old Files registry key on the right side.
5. Close RegEdit.

Registry fixes are always dangerous, so you should avoid them when possible. If you can, you should use an automated registry tool to clean and maintain your errors associated with your XP error rather than doing it by hand.

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Hey! I'v got a lasptop here. Some how a spoof anti-virus program has been downloaded onto it, which is a virus.

I want to completly wipe the laptop to set if back to the time as if it was new.

I have the operating system CD and the driver recovery CD.

The problem is.. this spoof anti-virus program runs on start up and block me from opening anything e.g. add/remove programs. While telling me it cannot open it because it is infected!!

I tried putting the operating system CD in and the virus program won't even let the CD run, as it tells me it is an infected file.

Please God someone help me overcome this evil software.

Thanks.