Many diseases of the body are easier to prevent than to cure. The computer also loves prevention. To clean up your computer, you don’t have to wait for files to stop writing to it.
Big cleaning is relevant for three reasons:
- disk space is freed;
- “Breathe easier” to the established programs;
- data that allows tracking user actions is erased.
Using Disk Cleanup in Windows
Recipes on how to clean a littered hard drive using OS tools are good because they do not require the installation of additional software. The ability to “clean the feathers” is available even in Windows XP. It is enough to go to “My Computer” and select cleaning in the properties of the disk. After starting the process, the system will think a little and will allow you to select the type of unnecessary files: reports, sketches, garbage resulting from the work of programs, etc.
And the “Advanced” tab will also appear. In it, experienced users remove unnecessary programs and distant restore checkpoints. In this case, you should not get excited. Who knows what software the system will consider unnecessary: maybe an application for converting video is in demand once every six months … With restore points – a similar situation. It happens that a person changed some settings, and everything worked for the time being, and then there was a need to roll back the system a few days ago. If you erased the backups, the number may not pass.
Note: The computer does not see the hard drive: what is the “root of evil”
OS file and hibernation file compression functions
Extended functionality appeared in 10. With him, the question of how to clean the C drive on slowing down Windows 10 is solved in a more interesting way. It became possible to compress the OS, tinker with the hibernation file.
- Compact OS – Microsoft’s Windows 10 compression mechanism .
Its feature is that you can press the system files of a functioning OS. The first step is to find out if compression works by typing the compact command with the compactos: query parameter. Most likely, the OS will answer that everything is already concise or write that there is no need for a procedure. To run it, type compact with the compactos: always parameter. As a result, 1.5-2 GB will be freed up. The procedure can negatively affect the performance of the PC. However, it is reversible: just type compact with the compactos: never parameter. - The hibernation file can also be deleted in earlier versions of Windows.
To do this, you need to stop using hibernation and type the command powercfg -h off. In 10-ke, you can free up part of the disk without disabling hibernation completely.
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Removing and moving apps
Another feature of the 10 is Storage. With its help, it is convenient to clean the overflowing C drive from junk files. The storage shows the distribution of disk space:
- to system data,
- software,
- the documents,
- Pictures,
You can estimate the number of MB allocated for temporary information, downloads. It becomes clear how long the basket takes. All this was done, of course, not only for the sake of informing users. Can:
- free HDD , SSD from unnecessary junk;
- move some applications;
- save images and music to another location on your computer, external drive , flash drive .
The last point applies only to new files: you will have to restore the initial order in your digital empire yourself. Windows allows you to change the settings for the future.
If it’s not 10 taxis, you can deal with the programs the old fashioned way through the general list of applications or using a utility specially designed for uninstallation, for example: Revo, Bulk Crap or Ashampoo Uninstaller.
Analyzing files that take up a lot of space
If your computer suddenly runs out of free space and Windows runs out of space, you don’t have to delve into any complex technologies, scour the Internet for 3 hours to find out how to clear the C boot drive from garbage. You can try to find large files that you no longer need and delete them. This simple method is effective if you have gigabyte movies, archives, etc. on your PC.
In 7 and 10, the search is started from the explorer. In the first case – from the search field of the C drive window, in the second – from the tape. They just select the gigantic file size and hit Enter. The next step is to sort the candidates for deletion by size. Naturally, you should not rush to delete files of unknown type, especially if they are located in system folders. But you should part with unnecessary .mpg, .mtv, .ts and other video formats without regret. There is even a special software designed to search for large directories and files.
Read how to speed up a laptop: Why a laptop slows down: 7 options to speed up your work
Removing unused programs
Moving from films and archives to applications. Destroying unnecessary programs has a good effect, since it is possible to clean up an overflowing C drive faster: sometimes we kill hundreds of files with one click. Options for erasing unnecessary software.
- We launch the corresponding developer utility (open the program folder through Start, click on uninstall).
- We go to the list of installed software through the Control Panel.
- We use third-party uninstaller utilities or universal cleaning applications with the uninstall function.
Extra programs include:
- software that users unknowingly install together with the necessary software, without removing the corresponding checkboxes during the installation process. A couple of examples: unused browsers and antiviruses;
- demo software with reduced functionality, installed on a new computer in the hope of promoting the user to purchase the paid version;
- Programs related to printers and other peripherals that you have not used for a long time, and so on.
Topic: How to remove unnecessary applications from a laptop – 2 ways
Cleaning up temporary files with CCleaner
For regular computer prophylaxis, the CCleaner program is suitable. Its developers know everything about how to clean up the local C drive on a PC. The result is millions of downloads worldwide. The cleaner is able to:
- delete temporary files;
- clean the sysregister from garbage, correct its errors;
- uninstall applications;
- configure autoload;
- return the OS to its original settings using restore points, etc.
Information about cleaning software from various vendors:
| Name | Full-featured version cost | Compatible with Windows versions |
| Auslogics BoostSpeed | From $ 17 | From XP to 10 |
| CCleaner | From $ 25 | From XP to 10 |
| Glary utilites | From $ 20 | 7 to 10 |
| Clean master | From $ 30 | From XP to 10 |
Developers charge a one-time fee or every year. All of them, in addition to the commercial versions, offer to use free software with limited functionality, in most cases this is enough.
Summing up the article, we note the importance of cleaning the disk to speed up the computer. Why buy a new laptop or system unit every 2-3 years if you can keep the old hardware in order? A computer cleared of garbage works faster and safer, in the process of cleaning extra bytes are freed from the space in which dangerous viruses can wait in the wings.
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