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For years, Windows NT users have been able to use the command line to delete temporary files automatically. Now Windows 2000 and Windows Me let you fine-tune the process by using the Disk Cleanup tool's Task Scheduler to perform such disk-keeping chores as emptying the Recycle Bin and deleting offline network files, cached Internet files, and indexed catalog files.

Choose Start, Run, type cleanmgr /sageset:1, and press Enter. The number 1 in the command line can be changed to any number you choose from 0 to 65535, each representing a separate custom cleanup style that you can record and invoke at any time. In the Disk Cleanup Settings dialog box, check the items you want deleted. When you're done, click OK to store the settings in the Windows Registry. To make Disk Cleanup run with the new settings, choose Start, Runand type cleanmgr /sagerun:1 (replacing 1 with the number you specified in the /sageset switch). Note: When you customize Disk Cleanup this way, it unfortunately acts on all drives rather than prompting you for a specific drive to clean up.

You can, however, use this technique to create a shortcut containing custom cleaning settings. For example, to make a shortcut that deletes only Internet Explorer cache files, enter cleanmgr /sageset:2 (or another number) in the Run box as explained above, and press Enter. Check Temporary Internet Files and confirm that everything else remains unchecked. Then click OK. Next, right-click the desktop (or the folder that will hold your cleanup shortcut) and choose New, Shortcut. In the command line, type cleanmgr /sagerun:2 (use the same number here that you used earlier), and click Next. Type a name for your shortcut such as Destroy IE Temp Files, and click Finish. Next time you double-click the icon, your temporary Net files will be history.

To make Windows delete these files automatically at a preset time, choose Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks. Select the icon you just created and drag it into the Scheduled Tasks folder window. Double-click the icon, click the Schedule tab, and specify when you want your custom cleanup shortcut to run. Then click OK and close the Scheduled Tasks window. Henceforth, your custom cleanup will occur on the schedule you established.

For more information, check out last February's Windows NT column.