Settings - Skip Compress Old Files
How to Skip Compress Old Files in Windows XP's Disk Cleanup tool
Like many people, I use the built in Windows XP Disk Cleanup tool. Like many, I get frustrated by how long it takes to calculate how much space it will save by compressing old files. I've actually used this function and it doesn't save as much space as it says it will. Not even close. Fortunately for you, me and everyone else who hates to wait for this process, there is an easy way to skip it all together. Unfortunately, it requires delving into the blackness that is the Windows Registry... Don't worry, though, my methods are safe to use.
1) Click on the Start button and then on the Run icon
2) In the Run dialog box, type regedit
3) In the left panel of the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Volume Caches > Compress Old Files
4) Right click on Compress Old Files and choose Export from the menu that pops up
5) Name the file something like: Compress Old Files - 7-13-07 and then click on the Save button (this will back up the entries)
6) In the right panel of the Registry Editor, double click on the entry (default) REG_SZ to edit the value
7) Delete the entire string of numbers/letters and then click on the OK button
8) Close the Registry Editor
9) Run Disk Cleanup to check it out...
Woohoo!
Replacing the Compress Old Files function
This is an easy process.
1) Open my documents and double click on the exprted registry entry Compress Old Files - 7-13-07 or whatever you named the file.
2) Click on the Yes button in the confirmation window that pops up and then on OK in the window that says it was successful.
And there you go...