To use or not to use compcln.exe' that is the question....

Question

I want to use this tool after upgrading to Vista from XP but a lot of XP files are still on my system. I deleted a large number today, hopefully they are gone. The disk cleaner is not doing the job. This tool states it will make all the service packs on the system permanent, does this mean it will do that to the XP files I am fighting to get rid of? This makes me feel like REDD FOXX and I have to type N for no. Tuesday is coming up and I need the right answer. I have to make room don't I, for the needed updates and all other Vista needs.

Answer 1

Winsxs is there for backwards compatability and to coordinate duplication of files (different versions of the same file).  If you mess with this, you are risking losing access to your programs and perhaps even to your system itself. Here's some further information on winsxs: http://blogs.technet.com/askcore/archive/2008/09/17/what-is-the-winsxs-directory-in-windows-2008-and-windows-vista-and-why-is-it-so-large.aspx.  Winsxs is not a matter of cleanup - it's there to help protect your system.  I would not mess around with it even though it does take up considerable space.

When Windows is updated, many obsolete files are deleted (there's a section of the upgrade where this is what is done); however, some files remain valid and are retained in their original form (even if they were created in 1998) - some functions just don't change and so the old versions are just as good today as they were then - not everything needs to be updated to constitute progress.  Vista is quite different from Windows98 in a variety of ways (some good and some not so good IMHO).

Disk Cleanup should get rid of your .tmp files - I'm not sure why that isn't working for you.  Still, I must admit I have some .tmp files in my Documents folder that were created by Office applications that weren't closed properly and Disk Cleanup doesn't seem to get them (I have to delete them manually).  There may be others but to be honest I haven't searched since I have plenty of space available for my needs.

You can search for .tmp files on your system by using *.tmp as the filename in a full system search and then delete them manually.  Here is how to do a full system search in Vista (it differs considerably from XP and prior versions of Windows) and you can't just do a regular search because it then just looks for indexed files and that almost certainly isn't all the .tmp files you have on your system.

To search the entire C: drive in Vista go to Start / Search Box and type in ‘<filename> or <foldername>’.  As you're typing you'll see two hyperlinks appear just above where you're typing and one will say Search Everywhere.  Click on that.  That will do a quick indexed search and bring up a dialog box.  Click on Advanced Search.  Click on the location drop down menu and find Drive C: and click on it. Check the box "include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (may be slow)."  Then click on Search.  You will now be searching your entire hard drive for the specified file.  And yes, it's not a very efficient way of searching the entire drive for a file but that's how it's done in Vista.

Here's some information (two separate articles) on compcln.exe which should tell you what you need to know about this program:: http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/cstauffer/archive/2009/05/30/vista-sp2-service-pack-clean-up-tool-compcln-exe.aspx and http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vista-SP2-Compcln-exe-and-Other-Notable-Changes-in-Service-Pack-2-99976.shtml.  I provided this before, but you asked for it again so here it is.  Keep in mind that this makes SP2 permanent - you can't go back to SP1. 

Windows Component Clean Tool (COMPCLN)

The Windows Component Clean Tool (COMPCLN.exe) can be used to remove the files that are archived after Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2 is applied. It also removes the files that were archived after Windows Vista SP1 was applied, if they are found on the system. Running this tool is optional.

Installing Windows Vista service packs increases the amount of disk space that is used by the operating system. This space is used to archive files so that the service pack can be uninstalled. Typically, you should run COMPCLN.exe if you want to reclaim this disk space after applying SP2 and if you will not need to uninstall SP2. You cannot uninstall Windows Vista SP2 or Windows Server 2008 SP2 after you run this tool on an image.

This tool can be used online or offline.  I don't know if this tool will work with obsolete XP SP remnants if there are any - but I know of no tool designed specifically to work for XP and a tool like this was available when XP was out (but I can't find it any more - only this one).

This can have implications on system repair/upgrade procedures which can only be done if the version on the disk is highter or equal to the version on the system and the only slipstream process I know can go back only one SP upgrade.  In my particular case, it would be unwise to use compcln.exe because I could then not do a system repair/upgrade and would be forced in the event that was needed into doing a clean install instead.  There are orher ways to save and/or recover disk space if it is necessary (as I've mentioned earlier) and I don't want to lose the ability to do a system repair/upgrade which saves programs, settings and data unlike a clean install which is the only other alternative if you need to reinstall the OS (and it happens - I see it here in these forums many times).

I realize this doesn't get to the root of your problem which is that Microsoft doesn't do a fantastic job of cleaning up after itself (similar to HP and quite a few other programs) - but it does have some tools which help (sometimes).  Compcln is one of them

• but it's not one I'd use for reasons previously described (but if you're hard up for extra space and don't care that you can't uninstall SP2 or SP1 after you use it, then it may work for you).  Windows File Protection is not one of the programs that's taking up extra space with "obsolete" files - it has a totally different function (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa382503(VS.85).aspx).

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

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Lorien - One - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+

Answer 2

A great many things influence the speed and performance of your system and the space available

• mostly the existence of various files and what's loaded on the system.  There are ways to handle this in Vista (and you should follow all the suggestions) - and of course the amount and type of RAM and the speed of your processor and motherboard (but I'm just going to discuss software solutions here - you can go to your computer vendor/manufacturer for hardware solutions if any are available (I, for example, am maxed out at 2GB RAM by my motherboard and there is no better motherboard available for my model of laptop).

Here's some information on compcln.exe: http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/cstauffer/archive/2009/05/30/vista-sp2-service-pack-clean-up-tool-compcln-exe.aspx and http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vista-SP2-Compcln-exe-and-Other-Notable-Changes-in-Service-Pack-2-99976.shtml.  Keep in mind that this makes SP2 permanent - you can't go back to SP1.  This can have implications on system repair/upgrade procedures which can only be done if the version on the disk is highter or equal to the version on the system and the only slipstream process I know can go back only one SP upgrade.  In my particular case, it would be unwise to use compcln.exe because I could then not do a system repair/upgrade and would be forced in the event that was needed into doing a clean install instead.  There are orher ways to save and/or recover disk space if it is necessary.

To improve your speed and space, do Disk Cleanup using: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76073-disk-cleanup.html.

Also do an Optimization: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Optimize-Windows-Vista-for-better-performance.

Go to Start / Search options and type in msconfig and enter and then double click on the program icon that appears.  Go to the startup tab and uncheck any program that you don't need starting at startup.  That will probably be the majority of items there - if not most of them (some are needed like the AV program but most are there to make opening the source programs faster and make you think they're more efficient).  This will free up a lot of RAM and help a lot in making your system faster (though perhaps not so much that you'll be able to notice the difference - but maybe depending on how much unnecessary stuff is loading at startup).

You can accomplish some of these tasks (and more that aren't entirely related) by using http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm (which also searches for malware).  I do this on a monthly basis just as a part of normal maintenance and I suggest you do the same.  Make sure you select a full scan - it will take a few hours (mine can take around 5-6) but can work in the background so start it when it has enough time to complete.

System Restore can take up to 15% of your hard drive space by default; however, this amount of space can be changed to a lower number if you want.  Here's the procedure: http://www.ghacks.net/2007/04/25/change-the-system-restore-size-in-windows-vista/.

You also want to have good AV and AS programs on your system (so no malware is operating in the background draining resources).  Windows Defender is a good AS program.  The new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/security\_essentials/default.aspx is an excellent AV/AM program that has one of the least impacts on system performance and resources according to reliable sources and it does the job very well.  If you're using MSE, you don't really need Defender (but you would with any other AV program).  I would also suggest downloading http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and running it monthly to catch anything that MSE/Defender might miss.

If you follow this advice and do it periodically (at least monthly) then I believe you will have as fast and clean a machine as it is capable of going given the hardware.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

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Lorien - One - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+

Answer 3

I do use the disk cleanup as I stated, and just like others have stated in this forum temp files are left on the computer in the hundreds. Disk cleanup comes up with 0. I did my upgrade through the Microsoft store, files that had been deleted through the years on XP were on my computer. While being told not to touch the wonderful Winsxs folder files were in there dating back to 1998. I didn't even own the computer then and didn't I upgrade for progress? I believe it was you that spoke about HP not providing clean-up, Microsoft needs to deal with this as well. Where is the Microsoft write-up on compcln. , if it finds the XP service pack Components will it clean them from my system? That is what I am trying to find out. Is Windows File Protection keeping files on my computer I no longer have a use for?

Answer 4

Thanx, for the helpful links to info and tools. I am using them, tried ccleaner and onecare. Still have the large TMP files in the Windows file. I am scanning through them with Notepad before deleting, most read this application will not work with the current version. I had problems with Silverlight and was instructed to use the Windows Uninstaller, it listed XP and I checked it for uninstall maybe that created them. With WFP I had read about Windows files being restored after deletion, because they were installed by Windows. Anyway, I do recognize the major improvements that have been made to Vista starting with SP2 and I don't want what's unnecessary to get in the way of that. I don't want any problems after Windows Update shows up like I've read about either.

Answer 5

As of March 6, 2014, my Vista 64 computer is completely up-to-date.

I tried to run VSP1CLN but like everyone else it had zero effect. There was no change in the size on disk, nor a reduction in the number of files or folders in the winsxs directory. I then tried to run compcln and was rewarded with less than optimal results...

size of winsxs before running compcln:

96,161 files 26,479 folders 21.5 GB

size of winsxs after running compcln:

178,722 files 32,074 folders 32.4 GB

Be warned.

If I get to the bottom of this I will post an update.