Vista Tutorial - Disk Cleanup - Last Access Limit on Temp Files

Information

By default Disk Cleanup cannot delete the Vista Temporary Files unless they have not been accessed in 7 days. This will show you how to delete these Temporary Files using Disk Cleanup regardless of their last accessed date.

Tip

To see how to use Disk Cleanup to clear the Vista Temporary Files, see METHOD ONE here: How to Clear Vista Temporary Files in the Temp Folder

WARNING

You will still not be able to delete a temporary file if it is currently use.

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1. For No Last Access Date -

A) Click on the download button below to download the
No_Last_Access_Date.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore Default Last Access Date -
NOTE: The default time is 7 days with no access to the file before Disk Cleanup will delete the temp files.

A) Click on the download button below to download the
Default_Last_Access_Date.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the .reg file(on Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary Files

5. For No Last Access Date -

A) In the right pane, right click on LastAccess and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)

B) Type 0 (number zero) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

C) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

D) Go to step 7.

6. To Restore Default Last Access Date -
NOTE: The default time is 7 days with no access before Disk Cleanup will delete the temp files.

A) In the right pane, right click on LastAccess and click on Modify. (See screenshot above)

B) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: The registry will now look like the screenshot under step 4.

7. Close regedit.

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.