Disk Cleanup Which Files?

bjm_

Member
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
 

My Computer

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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set

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System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
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    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
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    16 GB DDR4-2133
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    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
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    Conexant ISST Audio
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    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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_
 

My Computer

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.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
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_
 

My Computer

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.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    QX9650 (black box) [email protected]
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q Premium
    Memory
    8GB-4x2GB Corsair Dominator DDR 2-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x ASUS EAH 4870 X 2 (Quad)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Fujitsu Siemens 22inch flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    150 Gig WD Raptor
    300 Gig Maxtor
    300 Gig Maxtor, (External)
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 1000
    Case
    CoolerMaster N-Vidia stacker 830
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P x 1x120mm fan, 6x120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    20Mbps
    Other Info
    Audio FX Pro 5+1 gaming head set
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