Windows 10: Disk Cleanup Issues

I just checked with ProcMon. When you run the cleanup of temporary files (from the new Settings > Storage) it invokes cleanmgr by running the \Microsoft\Windows\DiskCleanup\SilentCleanup task in task scheduler.





As they both use the same program to clean up the results are the same.

What I can't figure out is what your 176MB is (118MB in my case) but I don't trust any of those numbers in the storage app anyway as it says I've used 49GB out of 57GB on my 32GB disk.

 

What I am finding out David, that Windows is giving us the wrong information on the temporary files size. Windows is reading the size of the temporary file Cache and not what is actually IN the temporary cache. Case in point, if it reads say 250MB and then you change it to say 200MB, then go back to that screen you just displayed, it will now show 200MB. This IS a Windows problem. Its not reporting the right information correctly.

 

I think you are right - but I don't trust any of the numbers really.

I remember some thread here where someone was complaining about disk cleanup not deleting cache files (because they were immediately recreated after). I can't remember the details though. I'll see if I can find it as (as this is a front end for cleanmgr) it could be the same issue.

It is sort of bugging me now, ...

 

Hi,

Similar story here, it just doesn't make any sense:

Go figure..........


Cheers, *Wink

 

Yes I understand what your saying lx07, no matter how its reporting temp folder sizes, it IS reporting the in-correct size. One user went to the cache folder, and it was empty, but windows reported it had like 236MB in the folder. This is just another bug in our Windows 10, that's all. *sarc

 

I think what we're missing here is the definition of what it means by "Temporary files" - don't think it refers to Temporary Internet Files (or browser cache or whatever, alone) - I haven't yet found the definition of exactly what "Temporary files" is in this context - could be a bug or could just be my ignorance at this point.

 

Hi,

@Wordman: If it isn't meaning that then why does it open the IE caching folder when clicking "View files" ?

Cheers, *Wink

 

Yes I agree with what your saying on what exactly is Temporary Files and what is Disk cleanup really looking at. BUT I did some playing with the Internet Cache settings in IE11, I changed it from 250MB to 200MB, then went back to our famous screen in Settings/system/storage/ This PC/ etc... after changing the cache size in IE11, the temporary files in This PC was changed too 200MB <----- so it seems this storage temp file information is only looking at the Cache IN IE11 and no where else. *Smile

Plus the fact the Disk Cleanup has not been reporting correctly for a VERY long time anyhow. *Smile

 

I have to say guys, this has been a VERY interesting thread, and I have learned a few more things just by reading this thread started by MS23 !!! Also all the comments and suggestions from our member's has been GREAT!!! *Thumbs

 

OK, then it very well may only be the Temp Internet Files at that settings/system storage location and, in that case, I am willing to view it's stubnorn behavior and lack of immediate deletion performance as a bug. Looks like that's only addressed by TFC as pointed out by davidhk.

So, @MS23 , have you given TFC a shot? I know we carried your thread away a little and if I missed you reporting back on following davidhk's suggestion, I apologize.

 

@Word Man was right on the question though. What is a temporary file?

I tried to write my own by deleting everything from %temp%, %localtemp% and everywhere else I could think of but TFC (which hasn't been updated for a decade) was better.

CCleaner got some stuff (less than TFC and from where, I don't know, at least TFC tells you).

My guess is MS forgot that a minimal cache is re-created.

Anyway If you want to do it manually run The Old Guy stuff and then delete things from %localappdata% until it doesn't work any more...

 

And why the heck it offers a "delete temporary files" button if it has absolutely nothing to do with the "temp files" ?

 

You don't know what files are included as MS didn't say.

Imagine I had a temporary file (containing 10 people and their IP address for example) that had a list of people who had replied to one of my posts and I stored it in C:\ProgramData\HaliData on their PC.

Next you delete it.

So, what do I do? Add the last ten (by just guessing) or sit and wait until another 10 do? Or should I add the old names anyway as probably they are the same?

That's how a cache works (less rather than more).

The only thing they can do is delete documented temp folders (C:\Windows\Temp, %localappdata%\Temp etc). CCleaner can make an assumption other fodders are full of rubbish but it isn't correct.

C:\ProgramData\HaliData is full of really important stuff (perhaps but perhaps not).

The main problem with MS is they don't document anything so you always have to look for people who have re-engineered everything.

 

Hi,

I just ran Ccleaner just to see what happens. It deleted 87Mb of temp files.
When I relook at Storage etc., temporary files it has actually grown bigger. *Eek

Cheers, *Wink

 

That has been the case since the Insider Previews.
Wish MS will either fix it or get rid of it so it won't get people confused and paranoid.