Vista - Disk Cleanup Bug

Hi,

I own a 160GB Western Digital Hard Drive partitioned into a 40GB OS
partition and the other 120GB for my files.

However, when I run Disk Cleanup utility from within Vista Ultimate, it
shows multiple 131GB options for me to clean up, which is quite ridiculous. I
have cleaned up with the 131GB option checked before, resulting in the
desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted.

I have had to reformat the computer and reinstall Vista, but it seems this
is a recurrent problem. It is not a critical flaw as no damage will be done
if the Disk Cleanup is not run, but if it is, I think other users facing this
same problem will be quite grieved at the loss of important data.

Anyone had a similiar experience or can offer help?

Screenshot:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...urrent=bug.jpg

Hi Jay,

Check these locations to know if the dump files really exist.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue

If present, check their creation date as well.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Jay" <Jay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CB90D605-B426-4AC7-9FAB-8B3F32E8CEC9@microsoft.com...
Hi,

I own a 160GB Western Digital Hard Drive partitioned into a 40GB OS
partition and the other 120GB for my files.

However, when I run Disk Cleanup utility from within Vista Ultimate, it
shows multiple 131GB options for me to clean up, which is quite ridiculous. I
have cleaned up with the 131GB option checked before, resulting in the
desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted.

I have had to reformat the computer and reinstall Vista, but it seems this
is a recurrent problem. It is not a critical flaw as no damage will be done
if the Disk Cleanup is not run, but if it is, I think other users facing this
same problem will be quite grieved at the loss of important data.

Anyone had a similiar experience or can offer help?

Screenshot:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...urrent=bug.jpg

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Indeed the directories do exist and there seem to be multiple dump files
located within with .cab and .wer extensions in the ReportArchive subfolders,
amounting to around 40kb per crash. The ReportQueue has 3 files in a
subfolder, seems to be compatibility document for a game I have installed
(MapleStory, runs well under XP SP2 compatibility option).

However, clearing Disk Clenup shouldn't result in data loss because of this,
right? Do enlighten regarding this issue. Thanks.

"resulting in the desktop and pretty much everything on the 40GB partition being deleted"

Ah..Missed that note. Sorry.

Perhaps you can export this registry branch to a .REG file:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches

and compare the contents with another system.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Jay" <Jay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0FEB0FC1-14DE-4569-B78F-68D8DA0D0AC1@microsoft.com...
Hi, thanks for the reply.

Indeed the directories do exist and there seem to be multiple dump files
located within with .cab and .wer extensions in the ReportArchive subfolders,
amounting to around 40kb per crash. The ReportQueue has 3 files in a
subfolder, seems to be compatibility document for a game I have installed
(MapleStory, runs well under XP SP2 compatibility option).

However, clearing Disk Clenup shouldn't result in data loss because of this,
right? Do enlighten regarding this issue. Thanks.

The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting.

I compared my desktop (Vista Ultimate) with that of my laptop (Vista Home
Premium) and the reg file seems identical with the exception of an adition of
attributes.

eg.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches\Windows Error Reporting Archive Files]
@="{C0E13E61-0CC6-11d1-BBB6-0060978B2AE6}"
"FileList"="*.*"
"Flags"=dword:0000007d
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,\
00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,30,00,00,00
"Display"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,37,00,\
00,00
"Description"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,\
00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,\
5c,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,38,\
00,00,00
"StateFlags"=dword:00000000

This is a typical entry for the checkbox option. the only difference is that
all the entries on the desktop have the extra last line, the attribute called
"StateFlags". The set values of "StateFlags" differ from entry to entry. I am
not sure if the presence of that line is of any significance though.

It seems that the laptop has the same problem. The common software installed
on both machines are Office 2007, Nero 7, Registry Mechanic, Winzip, Winrar
and J River Media Center.

Is there any way to isolate the possibly conflicting software?

Jay,

The "StateFlags" value difference is not significance, as you said. I don't have any clues ATM, and shall update this thread if I find anything.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Jay" <Jay@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:2703DEE5-55D0-4FFE-84E0-962ABD4D8F8D@microsoft.com...
The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting.

I compared my desktop (Vista Ultimate) with that of my laptop (Vista Home
Premium) and the reg file seems identical with the exception of an adition of
attributes.

eg.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches\Windows Error Reporting Archive Files]
@="{C0E13E61-0CC6-11d1-BBB6-0060978B2AE6}"
"FileList"="*.*"
"Flags"=dword:0000007d
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,77,\
00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,30,00,00,00
"Display"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,37,00,\
00,00
"Description"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,\
00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,\
5c,00,77,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,32,00,39,00,38,\
00,00,00
"StateFlags"=dword:00000000

This is a typical entry for the checkbox option. the only difference is that
all the entries on the desktop have the extra last line, the attribute called
"StateFlags". The set values of "StateFlags" differ from entry to entry. I am
not sure if the presence of that line is of any significance though.

It seems that the laptop has the same problem. The common software installed
on both machines are Office 2007, Nero 7, Registry Mechanic, Winzip, Winrar
and J River Media Center.

Is there any way to isolate the possibly conflicting software?

Quote from Jay:
"The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting."

I just experienced a near identical situation as Jay, and recovery will take
me a good chunk of my weekend.

About a week ago I upgraded my notebook from Home Premium to Ultimate. I
decided to clean up the drive over lunch in preparation for imaging it when I
got home that night. I spotted the two error reporting entries and based on
the description when selected decided it was safe to add them to the default
cleanup list.

I was browsing while eating my sandwich and noticed all but the default
system icons disappear from my desktop, when I went to the Start menu
(classic) I noticed several icons here where also missing as well as icons
from the QuickLaunch toolbar. Disk Cleanup reported it was working on the
above error reporting items. I was obviously suspicious but not yet paniced.
I used Explorer and found the 'Program Files' folder was intact.

I decided better safe than sorry, so I cancelled the Disk Cleanup. I
right-clicked the desktop and asked for a 'Refresh' which did nothing. So I
tried a Restart from the Start menu. Vista would come up with an error that
system files were missing. None of the Safe Modes helped, including Last
Known Good Configuration. Vista suggested I needed to boot from its DVD and
run repair.

I am happy to report that repair, followed by System Restore, did in fact
make Windows bootable to my account, only my icons were still missing. Then I
tried to launch Outlook 2007 and it acted as though it had just been
installed, not yet activated and no account setup. I canceled and then found
nearly all my user settings were gone and well as ALL my data files
(documents, pictures, you name it).

Fortunately I imaged the hard drive just before upgrading to Ultimate, so
most everything is recoverable via that mechanism. Still, I agree with Jay,
NO WAY should something like this EVER happen to begin with.

Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista
bug team?

Jim

>> Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista bug team?

I don't have the link/ID to send Bug reports to.

Here is a Vista Feedback link:
http://feedback.windowsvista.microso...ctkey=winvista

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Jim Johnson - Serenity Consulting" <JimJohnsonSerenityConsulting@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:B153FCED-F80B-4CC9-B531-3D6BC363F250@xxxxxx
Quote from Jay:
"The Disk Cleanup now shows 140GB for both Per User Archived Error Reporting
and Per User Queued Error Reporting."

I just experienced a near identical situation as Jay, and recovery will take
me a good chunk of my weekend.

About a week ago I upgraded my notebook from Home Premium to Ultimate. I
decided to clean up the drive over lunch in preparation for imaging it when I
got home that night. I spotted the two error reporting entries and based on
the description when selected decided it was safe to add them to the default
cleanup list.

I was browsing while eating my sandwich and noticed all but the default
system icons disappear from my desktop, when I went to the Start menu
(classic) I noticed several icons here where also missing as well as icons
from the QuickLaunch toolbar. Disk Cleanup reported it was working on the
above error reporting items. I was obviously suspicious but not yet paniced.
I used Explorer and found the 'Program Files' folder was intact.

I decided better safe than sorry, so I cancelled the Disk Cleanup. I
right-clicked the desktop and asked for a 'Refresh' which did nothing. So I
tried a Restart from the Start menu. Vista would come up with an error that
system files were missing. None of the Safe Modes helped, including Last
Known Good Configuration. Vista suggested I needed to boot from its DVD and
run repair.

I am happy to report that repair, followed by System Restore, did in fact
make Windows bootable to my account, only my icons were still missing. Then I
tried to launch Outlook 2007 and it acted as though it had just been
installed, not yet activated and no account setup. I canceled and then found
nearly all my user settings were gone and well as ALL my data files
(documents, pictures, you name it).

Fortunately I imaged the hard drive just before upgrading to Ultimate, so
most everything is recoverable via that mechanism. Still, I agree with Jay,
NO WAY should something like this EVER happen to begin with.

Is there any way to communicate the severity of this problem to the Vista
bug team?

Jim

After hours of research and cursing when my own disk cleanup decided to kill my OS, I figured I'd try to find a cure - and I have!


Open Regedit (start - run - regedit) and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\VolumeCaches

There you will find 4 keys called Windows error reporting.
Now if you look closely you will see that one (or more) is missing the Folder string.
Now, lets get to fixing it.

If you are in the " Windows Error Reporting Archive Files " key

Right click - New - Expandable String Value.

Call it Folder and use the following entry:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive

If you are in the " Windows Error Reporting Queue Files " key

use: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue

If you're in the " Windows Error Reporting System Archive Files " key

use: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive

and if you're in the " Windows Error Reporting System Queue Files " key

use: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue

This worked for me atleast, i tried removing the Folder string and the bug was back, hope this helps guys!

- Shub

I had the same problem just now--except that all of my crucial documents were not backed up...

I am about to tear out all of my hair... Is there any way to recover my files?