Vistas Thumbcache.db files

Unlike XP, which stors thum.db files in various folders, Vista stores a number of thumbcache.db files in %homedrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer - and these files are locked.

The Vista disk cleanup utility will delete these, but requires a reboot. Windows scheduler wont allow anything to be scheduled on shutdown, so I cant set it to run when the PC reboots.

Is there a workaround to get scheduler to run an app on shutdown OR when I rin my 3rd party clesning app.

Is there a 3rd party scheduler which can do what I need?

MZ

 

It is possible to define scripts to be executed on shutdown in Local Group Policy Editor (run gpedit.msc).

 

Why not just turn off the caching of thumbnails? Then there's no more thumbs.db files to clean up.

 

Can you do that on Vista? I know you can on XP.

 

caspian,

Would you post how to do this on XP?

Many thanks,

Silver

 

in Xp just go to >folder options> and tick "Do not cache thumbnails"

and in Vista do the following .................

Before starting make sure you are logged on as an Administrator

1. First, turn off thumbnail creation by opening Windows Explorer, clicking the Organize button and selecting Folder and Search Options. Click on the View tab and check Always show icons, never thumbnails. Click the OK button.
2. Then, run Disk Cleanup on Drive C: and empty the cache so you can recover the disk space. You can find it in Accessories/System Tools.
3. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows folder under your name. If you can't find it, just copy the following: %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows Paste it into the Address Bar and hit Enter.
4. Right-Click on the Explorer folder and select Properties.
5. Select the Security tab.
6. Click the Advanced button.
7. On the Permissions tab, click the Edit button.
8. Uncheck Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent.
9. Click the Remove button in the Windows Security box that pops up.
10. Click the OK button on the Permissions tab.
11. Click the Yes button in the Windows Security box that pops up.
12. Close all the open boxes.
13. Go back into the Folder and Search Options and uncheck the Always show icons, never thumbnails and you're done.

 

on step 8 there are a series of 3 options to choose from, SYSTEM Administrators and one labeled as mine. Which do I choose when unchecking the box. Im trying to be careful because when I just choose a random one it says that it will disable explorer for ALL users, which to be honest kinda sounds like a bad thing.
Also there is another box outside of the 3 choices that appears to do the same thing, but, since i can never seem to catch a break, it's greyed out and inaccessible.
Lastly is it possible to skip this step because I'm really not sure what it even does. Thanks for your time and hopefully your help.

 

Nevermind lol.
Me and my "mostly" innocuous sense of impatience decided to do the smart thing and create a sys restore point then go ahead with step 8. It turns out that his guide works Brilliantly!
however I do have one more question. Should I go ahead and repeat step 8 on Administrators and SYSTEM? Again thanks for your help.

 

I would think that just doing your 'User" would be enough, if there are any doubts you could always set another Sys Restor point and try the others.

lucky you, mine is usually the opposite, I'm afraid I fall into the "fools rush in where etc. etc." Makes for a exciting life, except for the odd disaster.

 

Can't you just use something like Sweepi to clean thumbsdb every so often?...or something like that?

 

You could always encrypt your entire system drive and never worry about that stuff at all. I finally did it a few months ago and I'd never turn back.

 

That sounds scary to me. Is it difficult to do? What program did you use?

 

No it is not hard at all.
Visit www.truecrypt.org for a good tool and documentation.

 

Thanks I will check that out.