ActiveX is automatically deleted in the Windows 10 (x86) environment

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Symptoms

ActiveX is automatically deleted in Windows 10 (x86) when a SilentCleanup task is run.

In Windows 8.1 and earlier versions, SilentCleanup was run only when free disk space fell below 10 percent of the entire disk space. However, in order to improve the user experience in Windows 10, SilentCleanup is also run when the system enters the idle state.

When you experience this issue, the following folders are cleaned up by the SilentCleanup task:

Downloaded Program Files
Temporary Internet Files

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Cause

This issue occurs because, by default, ActiveX is downloaded to the Downloaded Program Files folder that is set to be cleaned up.

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Workaround

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:

Exclude from SilentCleanup the destination to which ActiveX is downloaded.
Stop the SilentCleanup task.

Exclude the destination to which ActiveX is downloaded

Start a command prompt as an administrator.
Run a command that resembles the following to set the cleanup setting.

> cleanmgr /sageset:2

Note The /sageset option sets the cleanup setting. You can specify a storage number from 0 to 65535 ("2" in this example command). The cleanup setting lets you save the folder to be deleted to the storage number that you specified for /sageset. You select a folder in step 3.
When the Disk Cleanup Settings screen appears, clear the Downloaded Program Files check box in the Files to delete list box, and then select OK.
Start Task Scheduler.
In the left pane of the Task Scheduler window in the Task Scheduler Library, select Microsoft > Windows > DiskCleanup.
When the SilentCleanup task is displayed in the middle of the screen, right-click it, and then select Properties.
In the Properties screen, select the Actions tab, and then click Edit.
In the Add arguments field, specify the cleanup setting that you prepared in step 1 in the following format, and then OK:

/autoclean /sagerun:2 /d %systemdrive%

Note /sagerun is an option to use the specified setting number ("2" in this example), and to run cleanmgr. Run the cleanup process on the folder that is set to the storage number that is specified for sagerun.

Possible Disadvantage(s)

Unnecessary files such as temporary files under C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files will not be automatically deleted. Therefore, when you are running out of disk space or if you want to avoid retaining temporary files, regularly check for unnecessary files and delete them manually or by using a batch file.

Stop SilentCleanup

Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator.
Run the following command to disable the SilentCleanup task:

schtasks.exe /change /TN “\Microsoft\Windows\DiskCleanup\SilentCleanup” /Disable

Possible Disadvantage(s)

If you disable SilentCleanup task, unnecessary files such as temporary files will not be automatically deleted. Therefore, when you are running out of disk space or if you want to avoid retaining temporary files, regularly check for unnecessary files and delete them manually or by using a batch file.

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