SP2 Disk Cleanup Tool

How to Use the Vista SP2 Disk Cleanup Tool​

   Information

This will show you how to run the Vista SP2 Cleanup tool to permanently remove the Vista RTM and SP1 backed up files created during the installion of the Vista SP2 to gain more hard drive space.

   Warning

Running the Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Disk Clean-up tool permanently removes the ability to uninstall the Vista SP1 and SP2. Do not run this tool unless you have no plans of uninstalling the Vista SP1 or SP2 and just want to save or regain hard drive space. The only option to remove them after using this tool is to do a clean install of Vista.

   Note

To see how much space you recover, make a note of how much free space you have on the C:/ drive in Computer before and after you run the SP2 Cleanup Tool.

It appears that most people are gaining on average 1GB of space back afterwards.

Here's How:

1. Open a elevated command prompt.​

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2. In the elevated command prompt, type compcln.exe and then press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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3. Type Y when you see Would you like to continue? and press Enter.​

NOTE: Tying N will cancel running the Vista SP2 disk cleanup tool. You can also just close the command prompt window to cancel to.​

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4. It will take a little bit to finish. When it is finished, you will see the Windows Component Clean completed message. (See screenshot above)​

NOTE: You will see the Windows Component Clean was already run on this install message instead if you already ran this or installes Vista with a Vista installation disc that included SP2 with it.​

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5. When it's done, you can close the elevated command prompt.​

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6. Now, you just need to let all of us know how much space the tool cleared and saved for you. ​

NOTE: I would happily tell you mine, but I have a Vista installation DVD that already includes the SP1 and SP2, so I have not backup files to clean up.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Use the Vista SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool
• How to Use Disk Cleanup in Vista
• How to Clear Vista Temporary Files in the Temp Folder
• How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Vista
• How to Delete the Internet Explorer Browsing History in Vista
• How to See and Flush the Contents of the DNS Resolver Cache in Vista
• How to Remove a Uninstall Entry in Programs and Features for Vista
• How to Uninstall or Change a Program in Vista
• How to Turn Windows Features On or Off in Vista
• How to Reset and Clean the Notification Icons List in Vista
• How to Create a Clear Clipboard Shortcut in Vista
• How to Uninstall a Windows Update in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Clear Virtual Memory Paging File at Shutdown in Vista
• How to Uninstall the Vista SP1
• How to Uninstall the Vista SP2 Prerelease Version

 

[kavita]

Wow that's wonderful Shawn.
From where on earth do you get these ideas?

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Kavita. Who said they came from Earth.

 

[beauparc]

Hi Shawn,

Will running this tool prevent a future upgrading to Windows 7?

 

[Brink]

Hello Beauparc,

No, not at all. You will still be able to upgrade to Windows 7. It's just that you will not be able to ever uninstall SP1 or SP2 afterwards without doing a clean install.

 

[beauparc]

Thanks Shawn; with SPs1 & 2 performing perfectly I can't see any reason for wanting to get rid of them.

I'm off to follow your tutorial.

Thanks again.

Worked a treat :D

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. How much space did it save you?

 

[beauparc]

Ah

I never thought of checking before I ran it

You need a smilie for pointing a gun at one's head and pulling the trigger

 

[Brink]

LOL. Sorry.

 

[venom762]

I didn't save even a GB after.

 

[Brink]

Have you already ran the SP1 Cleanup Tool previously? I believe that would have caused there to not be much left for the SP2 to cleanup after it installed.

 

[brummyfan]

Thanx Shawn, it saved me 1.1GB and it is quite handy for people with smaller HD as many of us may never need to remove SP2.

 

[Brink]

Now that's not a bad amount to save.

 

[venom762]

I just tried running the SP1 tool and it said its not recognized

 

[Brink]

The SP1 tool will no longer work after installing SP2. You may have had most of the junk from SP1 cleaned up already before installing SP2, or you installed a Vista version that included SP1 with it. That would result in not much to clean for the SP2 tool.

 

[DataRat]

Gained 1-gig hard drive space on Win Vista Premium 64-bit.

 

[Zoloft]

Saved a little under 1 GB on Home Premium x64, though, when I installed, sp1 was integrated.

 

[calabrache]

Thanks a lot this is very usefull because - even if HDD can hold up to TB, the amount of junk lleft on them is amazing.. (i guess it is because it is cheap to leave it) Two simples questions a) there is a directory called C:\Windows\Downloaded Installations holding several GB. I'm i correct to assume it is a directory where WU and other self updating programs downloads the msi prior installing them ? Can I get rid of the content by deleting or through a tool b) is such - as mentionned by you - similar comment available in XP ? Best regards

 

[Brink]

Hello Calabrache,

The C:\Windows\Downloaded Installations folder holds the installers for some programs you download and install to be used to do a repair with from within Programs and Features. You should go through this folder very carefully to make sure that you do not delete anything that you may want have the repair option for.

 

[johnmunch]

Nice work, saved just under 1gig.