How to Create a Disk Cleanup BAT File

By Nick Davis

Create a Disk Cleanup batch file to keep your computer's hard drive from being cluttered.
i preparing the file image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com

As you visit websites and install programs on your computer, a copy of each website you visit and temporary setup files are stored on your computer's hard drive. These files consume a large amount of space and can slow down your computer's performance. To remove these unnecessary files, you don't have to buy a third-party application. The Windows operating system includes a utility, Disk Cleanup, for cleaning up your hard drive. You can even create a batch (BAT) file using a text editor to automate the cleanup process.

Creating the BAT File

Step 1

Open your computer's text editor, WordPad, Notepad or other text editor. The text editor will open to a blank text editor file.

Step 2

Enter “c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sageset: 1” on the first line of the blank text editor file. Press the “Enter” or “Return” key on your computer's keyboard.

Step 3

Enter “c:”. Press “Enter” or “Return.” Enter “cd \”. Press “Enter” or “Return.”

Step 4

Enter “cd c:\windows\prefetch”. Press “Enter” or “Return.” Enter “del . /q”. Press “Enter” or “Return.”

Step 5

Click “File,” “Save As.” Click on the down arrow on the box next to “Save in:.” Double click on “C:\,” “Windows,” “System32.”

Step 6

Click on the down arrow on the box next to the wording “Save as type.” Select “All Files.”

Step 7

Enter “clean.bat” in the “File name:” box. Click “Save.”

Step 8

Click “File,” “Exit.”

Setting the Attributes of the Clean.Bat File

Step 1

Click “Start,” “My Computer.”

Step 2

Double click on “C:\” drive icon. Double click the “Windows” folder. Double click the “System32” folder.

Step 3

Double click the “clean.bat” file to run the batch file. The “Disk Cleanup Settings” dialog box will open.

Step 4

Click on the items you want the Disk Cleanup utility to remove during the cleanup process. Click “OK” once you are finish selecting the items.

Step 5

Right-click on the “clean.bat” file in the “System32” folder. Click “Edit.” The batch file will open in the text editor you used to create it.

Step 6

Replace the first line of the batch file to “c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sagerun: 1”.

Step 7

Click “File,” “Save.” Click “File,” “Exit\" to close the text editor.

Automating the Clean.bat File

Step 1

Click “Start,” “Control Panel.” Double click the “Scheduled Tasks” icon.

Step 2

Click “File,” “New,” “Scheduled Task.”

Step 3

Enter “Cleanup” in the box highlighted “New Task.” Press “Enter” or “Return.”

Step 4

Right-click on “Cleanup.” Click “Properties.”

Step 5

Click on the “Browse” button next to the heading “Run.” Navigate to the “C:\”, “Windows,” “System32” directory. Click on the “clean.bat” file to select it. Click “Open.”

Step 6

Click on the “Schedule” tab. Select when you want the Disk Cleanup batch file to run under the “Schedule Task:,” “Start time:” and “Schedule Task Daily” headings. Click “Apply,” “OK.”

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