If you are using a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista, then this is something you should know. By default, the shortcut in the Start menu points to the 32-bit (x86) executable for Disk Cleanup. While Disk Cleanup will work fine from this shortcut for most things, there is one function that does not work correctly – the cleaning of System Restore points and Shadow Copies / Previous Versions.
Note that if you launch Disk Cleanup from another location in Windows, for instance by clicking the “Disk Cleanup” button on a drives properties window, it will launch the correct executable for Disk Cleanup.
If you want to correct the Disk Cleanup shortcut in the Start menu, follow these steps:
- Click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click on System Tools.
- Right click on “Disk Cleanup” and from the context menu that appears click on “Properties”.
- Change the “Target” from “%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\cleanmgr.exe” to “%SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe”.
- Click on OK. If User Account Control prompts you for consent, click on Continue or provide the appropriate credentials.
