Windows Server 2012: Enabling Disk Cleanup Utility

Introduction

This tool allows you to cleanup unnecessary file both on a windows server environment and\or a desktop PC.

This utility is not enabled by default in windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 and you have to enable it manually.

Sometimes its not easy particularly if the O.S. is new to you.

"Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is a computer maintenance utility included in Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's hard drive. The utility first searches and analyzes the hard drive for files that are no longer

of any use, and then removes the unnecessary files. There are a number of different file categories that Disk Cleanup targets when performing the initial disk analysis"  Wikipedia 

Quick Notes to Sys Admin

This activity will require reboot.

Step By Step Guide to Enabling "Disk Cleanup Utility"

1. Open The Roles and Features Wizard

To open the roes and feauture wizard. Lauch the "server manager" by pressing the Windows key

and clicking on the server manage please see Screenshot as shown. 

2. Click on Add role and Feature

Click on add role and feture to launch the add role and feature wizard.

3.  Choose installation Type

Choose rolebase or feature based installation to install to local machine.

4. Click Next all the way to features

Click "next" all the way to features. Locate "User Interface and Infrastructure". Click on "Desktop Experience"

and install additional required feature.

5.  Proceed with the installation and Reboot

Make it sure that you reboot the system

6.  Verify that the Utility is indeed installed

Ready to run diskcleanup. See screen shot below.

Disk Cleanup in Action

Below is a sample snapshot of disk cleanup in action.