Vista - Disk Cleanup Which Files?

Good day Vista Forums,

Where may I get some guidance regarding what Files I may always delete and what files may be of some benefit not to always delete.
Specifically the following files:
Debug Dump Files
Set Up Log Files
System Error Memory Dump Files
Per user Archived Windows error reporting
System Archived Windows error reporting
System Queued Windows error reporting

Respectfully submitted
bjm_

Vista SP2 IE8

Hello bjm_,
If your system is running with no errors or issues, then i would say it's safe to delete all these files when using disk cleanup.

Hello BJM,

Double check to make sure that you do not have the bug described in the tutorial below with very large sizes for these files. If not, then they are all safe to delete with Disk Cleanup.

Disk Cleanup Windows Error Reporting Bug Fix

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Stoney Nutz et al,
Thank you for your reply.
May I ask follow up questions:
I read the text for the Extended Cleanup Tool and there was a specific point about never deleting Set Up Files as this would prevent the Uninstall of related app. Please comment.
and
I thought if I delete certain user/system error logs. I would loose Problem Reporting and Solutions content. Not sure which files I should not delete if I prefer not to clean out Problem Reporting and Solutions. Assuming my info is correct? Please comment.
and
As a rule any file with "dump" may always be deleted. I thought certain dump files are needed for diagnostics if required.
As you can see I was seeking an broader understanding of what goes with what and what effect deleting X files would then have on XX?
Regards
Thank you for your time and interest in my issue
I have tried google on this topic and only find How To instructions. If possible I want to understand what's going on under the hood. How these files are generated and what effect each may have upon deletion.
bjm_

I use the standard tool because i can delete anything safely. I did not realise you were talking about the Extended version.

I always delete setup files, they have done their job, (setting up a program) and are no longer needed. As for un-installing programs, they all come with their own un-installer so i cant see how it would relate to the setup files.
I think what the text is talking about is the Windows setup files. These are created when you install a Windows hot-fix or a security patch.
They store old files, so if you need to un-install a patch in the event of something going wrong you can, but if your system is running fine, and you don't think you will ever need to un-install the patch, then theres no need to keep them.

Setup logs on the other hand are entirely different, they are just that, logs, logs of what, and when, has been installed. If you need to know when a particular program was installed keep them, but they are safe to delete.

User/system error logs are just that too, logs.
They tend to be used by network administrators, although i know a few people who go through them just to keep an eye on what is going on in their system.
If you delete these, Vista will generate new ones if and when needed.
If there are no errors, you don't need problem Reporting and Solutions, and if you do there will be a new error log waiting.

Same goes with the Dump files, a new dump file will be generated as and when needed. If you have no errors then you don't need a dump log.

To wrap this up, all the logs and dumps are a history of what has been happening in you system. They are safe to remove, but if you do, you will be removing the history of your system, up to that point.
Of course, as soon as you delete them, Windows will start writing a new history.
Hope this helps a bit. Sorry it's so long.
Good luck.
Stuart.

Hi stoneys-nutz alias Stuart :-)
Great info..appreciate your effort.
I understand you use the standard tool.
This is from the Extended Disk Cleanup Tutorial >post by TheShadow ~ "Again I caution anyone wanting to use this "Extended Disk Cleanup" to check off any item in the list you may want to, even all of them, but please leave the Setup Log Files unchecked.

I'm sorry my query was unclear. Trying to reconcile info from different sources and maybe TheShawdow meant Windows Setup Files but, he writes Setup Log Files. He must have some basis for his assertion to leave the Setup Log Files unchecked. Maybe in the Extended Tool Setup Log Files are not the same as in the standard tool. Not likely though?

I will study on your detailed message. Thank you for your time and interest in my issues. Additional comments always welcome.
Regards
bjm_

Take a look here too.

How to recover disk space - TECH.BLORGE.com

As for the setup log files, it's a personal thing, if you have had trouble in the past, then you tend to be a bit more cautious.
I have had no problems removing setup log files so i tend to delete them, and if you are writing a comprehensive tutorial like TheShadow has, then you tend to err on the side of caution.
It's the responsible thing to do.
If all your programs are running OK, then it's probably safe to delete them.
Remember you are not going to delete these files as soon as you have installed any software, there will be a period of time between installation and deletion where you will be able to see if the installed software is running OK.
It's a bit like registry cleaners, some people use them and think they are great, and other people hate them.
But thats a whole different debate.
Hope this helps you understand it all a bit better.
Please feel free to come back anytime, your more than welcome.
Stuart.