Error message when you use the Windows Vista SP1 Files Removal tool (Vsp1cln.exe) together with the "/?" or "/h" command-line option: "The parameter is incorrect"

Consider the following scenario:

• You are running a Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based computer.
• You use the Windows Vista SP1 Files Removal tool (Vsp1cln.exe) together with one of the following command-line options:
  • /?
  • /h

In this scenario, you receive the following error message:Additionally, when you type echo %errorlevel% at a command prompt, the value of the ERRORLEVEL environment variable is returned as -2147024809.

This problem occurs because the resource files that the Vsp1cln.exe tool uses do not contain strings in the tool's string table to support these two command-line options.

You can use the Vsp1cln.exe tool to uninstall the files that are archived after you apply Windows Vista SP1. When you install Windows Vista SP1, the disk space that is used by the operating system increases. This extra disk space is used to archive files so that Windows Vista SP1 can be uninstalled if this is ever necessary. Typically, you should run the Vsp1cln.exe tool if you want to reclaim this disk space after you apply Windows Vista SP1, but only after you have decided that you do not intend to uninstall this service pack.

Note You cannot uninstall Windows Vista SP1 after you run this tool on an image.

As soon as you run the Vsp1cln.exe tool, the Windows Vista SP1 package no longer appears in the Installed Updates list under Programs and Features in Control Panel. This tool works only with Windows Vista SP1, and it can be used online or offline.

Make sure that you use the correct version of this tool. For example, if you are running the Vsp1cln.exe tool on an offline image, use the version of the tool that is included in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) or in the Windows OEM Preinstall Kit (Windows OPK). If you are running the Vsp1cln.exe tool online (on a computer that you log on to), make sure that you use the version of the tool that is located in the %windir%\system32\vsp1cln.exe directory. Then, delete all files in the %windir%\system32\config\txr directory. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Click Start, type cmd in the Start Search box, right-click cmd.exe in the Programs list, click Run as administrator, and then click Continue.
3. At the command prompt, type the following commands. Press ENTER after each command.
   
   cd /d %windir%\system32\config\txr
   attrib -r -s -h *
   del *

The following command-line options are available for the Vsp1cln.exe tool. Note These command-line options are not case-sensitive.