Clean up a disk from unused programs. Cleaning your computer from junk: why clean, which programs to use and how to do it

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Due to the large amount of garbage in the system, the computer starts to slow down, folders and programs do not open as quickly as before, and the hard disk space runs out. All of these factors together negatively affect the performance of your computer.

Why clean your hard drive

All temporary files take up space on your hard drive. And at any time, a situation may arise when there is simply not enough memory to install new programs and updates, although the user will be sure that his files weigh very little.

In any system, over time, unnecessary files accumulate, remote programs leave "tails" in the registry, duplicates and other garbage, which creates a significant load on memory and slows down the computer. All this interferes with the normal functioning of the system and creates malfunctions of programs and applications.

Cleaning your computer manually

For a quick and effective computer cleaning, it is best to use special software, but if necessary, you can optimize and get rid of garbage manually using system tools.

Removing programs

You should start cleaning by removing unnecessary programs:

What programs are better to remove:

  • utilities that are most often installed in addition to those downloaded from an unreliable source. For example, "Yandex.Bar", "Sputnik @ Mile" and similar useless, but taking place programs;
  • programs that are identical in their functionality. For example, you listen to music in only one player, and there are several installed in the system;
  • programs that are not used.

However, do not delete all programs you are unfamiliar with in a row. If you do not know the purpose of the application, then it is better to leave it in order not to accidentally delete an important system utility.

Temp folders

The Temp folder contains temporary system files. They do not affect the performance of the computer in any way and they can all be removed. To do this:


Another Temp folder can be found by following the path: "C:" - "Users" - "Username" - "AppData" - "Local" - "Temp". It also needs to be cleaned.

Video: how to delete unnecessary files from the Temp folder

Disk Cleanup utility

After removing temporary files and unnecessary programs, you need to use the system utility to clean up the hard drive.

To open it:


Video: How to Use Disk Cleanup

Disk Defragmenter

To increase performance after cleaning, you need to defragment the disks. This process organizes all the files on your computer so that the system can find, open, and write them faster.

To start defragmentation:


Defragmentation can take several hours. It is best not to use a computer during the process. Many users run defragmentation overnight. If you are using a laptop, do not forget to charge it.

Video: How to Defragment Your Disk

CCleaner

CCleaner is a free utility for cleaning and optimizing the operating system. It is the most popular program for cleaning the system from garbage. To get started with it, download the program from the official website of the developers. Don't put your computer at risk by downloading utilities from unverified sources.

The main advantages of CCleaner are that it does not "litter" the registry, unlike similar programs, and is small. The functionality of the program is divided into several parts:


Video: how to use CCleaner

Auslogics BoostSpeed

Auslogics BoostSpeed \u200b\u200bis a versatile program for optimizing and cleaning your system. Although the utility is free, you will have to purchase an advanced version to use some of the functions.

Auslogics BoostSpeed \u200b\u200bhas the following sections:

  • "Home". Immediately on the main page, the program allows you to run a full computer scan, which includes:
  • "Diagnostics". For each of the categories in this section, you can find flexible settings:
  • "Personal data". In addition to the standard system cleaning functions, the program allows you to check the protection of personal data. It looks for files that, if they fall into the wrong hands, can harm your computer: passwords, browser history and cache, system records, and the like;
    Auslogics BoostSpeed \u200b\u200bsoftware keeps your personal data from falling into the wrong hands
  • "Advisor". After cleaning, Auslogics BoostSpeed \u200b\u200bcan provide advice on how to keep its system in order. The program starts automatically (unless the user has specified otherwise in the settings) and when problems appear, it immediately informs about their occurrence;
    If necessary, you can disable some items of the "Advisor" by moving the slider to the "OFF" position
  • "Browser cleaning". In this section, you can remove unnecessary extensions and add-ons. Due to the large number of them, the browser can be unstable: slow down, load pages for a long time, give errors;
    For each browser Auslogics BoostSpeed \u200b\u200bwill show the list of extensions separately
  • "Utilities". Additional utilities can be purchased on request:

Video: How to Use Auslogics BoostSpeed

TuneUp Utilities

Among programs for optimization, TuneUp Utilities is considered one of the best, as it combines a huge number of functions to keep the OS in working order. The only drawback of TuneUp Utilities is its commercial distribution.

TuneUp Utilities includes:


All utilities first analyze and then show a list of problems that they can fix. If necessary, you can remove items from the list and not correct them.

Video: How to Use TuneUp Utilities

Revo Uninstaller

Revo Uninstaller is a utility for removing and cleaning your computer from garbage. It can erase the program even if there are problems with uninstallation. Its advantage over the system utility "Uninstall and Install Programs" is that Revo immediately searches for all program files and prevents garbage from accumulating:


In addition to uninstallation, Revo Uninstaller has a very convenient feature - "Hunter Mode". It allows you to uninstall programs, remove them from startup, stop running processes (without opening the "Task Manager") with one click.

"Hunter Mode" provides the user with a number of special features

To enable "Hunter Mode" click on "View" and select the appropriate item. Revo Uninstaller will automatically minimize and a target will appear on the desktop. If you move it with the mouse to any shortcut of the program, a context menu will open, in which you can select the required action.

Revo Uninstaller has several more useful functions, which are located in the "Tools" item:


Video: how to use Revo Uninstaller

SlimComputer

SlimComputer is designed to eliminate unwanted programs that are usually installed secretly: adware utilities and shortcuts, browser add-ons, and others.

One of the features of SlimComputer is the use of cloud technologies, on the basis of which recommendations are given for cleaning and optimizing the system. The program collects user data, transmits it to the cloud server, and, based on real-time computer scans and community data, selects the best settings for system performance.

SlimComputer has the following sections:

  • "Main". Press the "Run Scan" button to start scanning the system. The program will display a list of unnecessary and optional elements in the system: programs, toolbars (toolbars in the browser), startup applications;
    On the main page of SlimComputer, click the "Run Scan" button to start scanning the system
  • "Restore". Stores all the changes that were made with the program. If necessary, you can undo them and return the system state before using SlimComputer;
  • Optimize. The autorun programs are located here. The larger the list, the slower the system boots. SlimComputer analyzes each one and determines how much the utility slows down the computer;
    The indicator next to the program shows the degree of load on the system
  • Uninstaller displays installed programs. Each of them has an indicator showing the impact on the system;
    To remove an unnecessary utility, click the "Uninstall" button
  • Browsers shows the settings of all browsers installed on the computer. There is also a "utility" indicator next to each of them. Often, most of the settings are not even used, but they consume resources. Because of them, the browser starts to work slowly, takes a long time to load pages and give errors. Therefore, it is advisable to delete or disable the settings marked in red. To do this, place the checkboxes and click “Remove Selected”;
    The program contains popular browsers, but there is no Yandex browser here, since the utility is not adapted for the Russian market
  • "Windows Tools". All the tools for managing the system are collected here:

Despite the convenience of the program and more than detailed recommendations for optimizing the system, SlimComputer is not very popular, as it is not translated into Russian. An advanced user will understand the interface and the purpose of the functions, but for those who are just starting to master a computer, it is better to choose a similar utility with support for the Russian language.

Video: how to use SlimComputer

Other cleaning utilities

In addition to the above utilities, you can use less popular, but also effective programs. Some of them are designed to solve a specific problem.

Advanced SystemCare

The program performs disk cleanup and optimizes the system. Suitable for novice users, as it does not require any special knowledge and makes all the necessary settings by itself. It is also distributed free of charge and Russified.

Advanced SystemCare has a simple and intuitive interface

What you can do with Advanced SystemCare:

  • clean your computer from garbage;
  • configure and speed up the system;
  • identify and remove unnecessary (malicious) scripts and programs;
  • eliminate system vulnerabilities;
  • defragment, compress and clean the registry.

Video: how to use Advanced SystemCare

WinUtilities Free

The program consists of several utilities with which you can put the system in order. In terms of functionality, it is very similar to Auslogics BoostSpeed, but is distributed free of charge.

WinUtilities Free consists of several utilities, each of which has specific functionality

What the program does:

  • removes garbage;
  • cleans the registry and hard drive;
  • deletes cache, history and cookies (cookies) of browsers;
  • fixes shortcuts;
  • removes programs;
  • finds duplicate files.

Separately, I would like to highlight the utility that deals with security. With its help, you can protect programs from being used by other users, delete files permanently (if you don’t want anyone to see them), and also put a password on a specific folder or file.

Video: How to use WinUtilities Free

AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is a small utility that cleans your computer from adware. Most often, it gets into the computer through the user's inattention when installing applications.

AdwCleaner does not require installation. After downloading, just click on the program icon. A small window will appear, in which first click "Scan" so that the utility finds all ad files, and then the "Clean" button to erase them from the system.
If you encounter difficulties while removing adware, then AdwCleaner will help you to cope with them.

Video: how to use AdwCleaner

How to avoid cluttering your discs

To keep your computer running stably and quickly, regularly clean it from debris:

  • download files to a specific folder so that you can delete all its contents if necessary. For example, torrent files, program installers, saved documents from mail are unlikely to ever be needed again;
  • when installing freeware programs, always select "custom install". When installing many utilities, useless or adware applications are installed in the load;
  • regularly clean the registry using specialized software;
  • after every spring cleanup, create a system restore point to return Windows to the most optimized state if needed.

It takes very little time to clean up the junk. And if you do it regularly, the computer will work quickly and without errors.

The problem with garbage on the computer brings inconvenience from year to year to almost all users. In this article, I will show you how to clean your Local C drive.

If your PC has become noticeably slower, you will find it useful to clean up unnecessary files and thereby speed up your computer.

To find out how to do it yourself correctly, read the entire article or watch the video at the end of the article.

Introduction

Many people wonder about the slow computer performance and spend hours looking for information on the Internet. One of the main reasons is the cluttering of the Local Disk C. The slower the PC starts to work is because it is on this disk that the operating system is located, which is responsible for all the actions performed.

As a result of the clogging of the operating system files, we begin to notice errors in the work processes and slow response of programs. Imagine a life example: you are running in sneakers, athletic shoes to improve your physical fitness. Now take, throw a sack of potatoes on each shoulder and try to run, how? I think the difference will be noticeable, the same is true on the local disk, while the empty one works quickly, a lot of garbage has accumulated, and began to work slowly.

That is why you should at least sometimes put things in order on your PC and delete unnecessary files.

A Clean Desktop and Its Impact on Local C Drive

Dear friends, first I want to draw your attention to the desktop of your PC, because many do not understand how to use it correctly. And its correct condition is its purity.

All files and folders located on the desktop are written to the memory of the local drive C, so think ten times before dropping music albums and new films on it, work right now, transfer all data from the desktop to the Local drive D or other existing ones. will facilitate the operation of the operating system and free up the memory of the C drive. If you need quick access to some programs or files, make shortcuts for them so it will be right.

Clean up temporary, unnecessary files from your computer manually

Before proceeding to this stage, you need to understand a little that when any programs are running on a computer, the operating system creates temporary files, even when you just surf the Internet, some of the data is recorded as temporary files.

This is actually done to speed up the work, how? Suppose you opened the site classmates, the system wrote several large pictures from the site to the folder with temporary files, and the next time you go to classmates, the computer does not download information from the site server, but takes several large pictures from the temporary files previously recorded in the folder.

Yes, this is useful, the folder with temporary files "swells" to such an extent that the PC starts to slow down and most of the memory of the Local C drive gets clogged, which sometimes also leads to errors.

To delete these temporary files, you just need to go to the desired folder with these same temporary files and delete everything from there. By the way, do not worry, there are no system files and you will not delete anything you need, feel free to go in and clean.

To do this, go to the directory:

My Computer / Local Disk C / Windows / Temp

We went into this folder, circled all files and deleted, emptied the trash.

Analysis and removal of old, unnecessary programs, games and files

This section can be divided into two stages. The first one is quite simple, it includes removing old already unnecessary games and programs. To do this, simply go to the program control panel and delete, those applications that you once installed yourself, seeing the familiar names, you will definitely not get confused.

1. We go to the start menu - control panel - programs and components and we see in front of us such a window:

We find the programs we do not need in this window, select them and click on the top of the delete / change button so in turn with each unnecessary application or game. This process will also clear the memory of the local drive C.

The meaning of the action is to identify the problem folder or file, and for us these are objects that take up a significant amount of memory. Not quite clear? I'll explain everything now.

We go into the Local drive C and see the folders in front of us, the number may be different for everyone

Now we start analyzing each folder in turn, first check the volume of the first folder

Our goal is to find out how much memory it takes on a computer

We looked and saw that the folder is only 8.13 MB, we are not interested in this size, we are looking only for huge files that weigh at least a few GB.

What if I don't understand anything about file sizes?

If you hardly understand the size of files or do not know how to distinguish them, then I recommend using my online tutorial: How to master a computer from scratch. In it you will find answers to all your questions.

We were a little distracted, but nothing, let's continue, go to the next folder and also check its weight until you find the folders whose volume scares you. Most likely it will be two folders: Windows and Program Files.

As soon as we have identified a folder that takes up a lot of space, we go into it and also analyze everything that is in it through determining the weight. In the end, you will find files or folders that take up a huge amount of memory on the Local C drive, copy their name and look on the Internet what these files are and from which program, most likely you will be surprised how much junk you find.

Attention, if you are a completely novice user, then do not use this method, just skip it, because in the process you can remove the necessary components or programs, which will lead to dire circumstances.

We use the built-in cleaning capabilities of Local drives

The creators of the operating system did not forget about the users and initially added to Windows basic capabilities for simplified cleaning of Local drives. This is not always effective, but knowing this method will also be useful, moreover, it will not take you much time.

To do this, you need to go to my computer, select a local disk for cleaning and right-click on it and select the property line.

Now we will see the information about the disk in front of us, we need to click on the clear disk button

You will need to wait for a while while the program starts, you will see a window like this:

When the program starts, you will see a window in front of you in which you need to place checkmarks in front of the sections that you want to clean, I just put all the checkboxes here and click ok.

Automatic cleaning of Cache and Registry using the Ccleaner program

Now you can relax a little, then the automatic cleaning program will work for us. It is called Ccleaner, you can read how to download it correctly and from where in the article on how to clean the computer registry. Once you've installed it, launch it. Click on the cleaning section, first select the Windows heading and only after that press the Analysis button.

Now we will see in front of us all the files that the program can clean without harming your PC, on top of where the analysis is completed, you can see how much space the program will free up for you. Click the clear button

Resuscitate or speed up your computer after cleaning up a mess

After you have done such a tremendous job, you just need to bring your computer to life, for this you need to sort all the files into their shelves. This will speed up your computer and save you some bugs. This process is called defragmentation. I recently devoted a whole article to this, which I recommend you read.

And now it's time to consolidate your knowledge, watch the video in which I myself go through all the stages of cleaning Local Disk C in order. Good luck friends and do not forget to subscribe to the news of my site, the subscription is a little lower, be literate in everything!

The free space of the C drive is constantly decreasing during the operation of Windows. Regardless of the user's actions - whether he wants it or not. Temporary files, archives, cookies and browser cache and other software elements, having completed their one-time mission (update, installation, unpacking), settle in the folders of the C partition. Plus, useful megabytes and gigabytes consume some functional Windows modules.

The first remedy for such "clutter" is a comprehensive cleaning of the C drive. It must be performed regularly and in a timely manner. Otherwise, the section will overflow, and you will not be able to fully use the OS and, accordingly, the PC. Windows will constantly interrupt your work with warning messages - "not enough memory". It will become impossible to watch the video online, since the browser will not be able to save the content downloaded from the server on the computer. Other troubles can occur.

Getting started cleaning drive C: what you need to know and do

Removing any unnecessary elements from the C disk is a very delicate procedure. Requires increased caution and attention from the user. Cleaning should not harm the OS.

Deleting files in folders is contraindicated:

  • Windows (the heart of the OS - all its components are stored here);
  • Boot (system boot files);
  • ProgramData (completely impossible! Installed applications may not start);
  • ProgramFiles (installed software);
  • Users (user data).

Some folders that need to be "cleaned up" are hidden by default, that is, they are not displayed in directories. To get to them, do the following:

1. Press simultaneously the key combination - "Win + E".
2. In the Computer window, press the Alt key.

3. A horizontal menu will appear at the top of the window. Hover over the "Service" section. In the submenu, click "Folder Options ...".
4. In the options settings, go to the "View" tab.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the list of options in the "Advanced Options:" section.
6. Uncheck the box next to "Hide protected system ...". Enable the "Show hidden files ..." radio button by clicking the mouse.

7. Click OK.

Where to start cleaning drive C?

First of all, you need to empty the basket:

  • move the cursor over its icon;
  • press the right mouse button;
  • select "Empty Trash" from the menu.

Large, small files, regardless of which partition are stored (drive D, E or C), after deletion are sent to C: \\ RECYCLER, the "Recycle Bin" file. As a result, the free space of the system partition is reduced. Deleting a large video file or image (for example, an iso file) with a shortage of extra gigabytes can easily lead to an overflow of the C drive.

Advice! Before emptying the trash, check your desktop for unnecessary shortcuts. They are not large, but the fewer useless files, the better.

Disk cleanup with the standard Windows utility

1. Click the "Start" icon.
2. In the right column, click Computer.
3. Right-click on the C drive icon. Select Properties from the menu.
4. On the property bar, on the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.

5. Wait a little while the system checks the directories for unnecessary files.
6. Next, in the "Delete the following files" section, select which items to delete and which ones to leave (check the boxes).

7. Click "Clean up system files" and then "OK".

Note. The use of this utility can be limited if there are no strong "clogs" in the system. When you need to clear 2, 3, 5 and more GB, you need to perform a few more procedures, which include not only deleting individual files, but also changing the OS settings.

Removing unnecessary files from system folders

Quite often, users, without knowing it, "put" content and software in special OS folders designed to store various information: "Downloads", "Images", "My videos", etc. Many programs and browsers send data to these directories by default (without changing the initial settings).

Open them one by one and delete everything you don't need. Move the files that are of special value to you into a logical partition (for example, drive D, E).

Advice! Be bold. Any item can be deleted here, and Windows will not be affected by it.

Temp folder

One of the main sources of OS clogging. Antiviruses, drivers, applications, games are placed in it. This happens during updates and installations. After the completion of the tasks, the used files remain in the "Temp". Of course, they need to be removed from there periodically.

1. On the C drive, go to the "Users" folder.
2. Click on the folder with your account name (username).
3. Then go to "AppData".
4. In the "Local" directory, open the "Temp" folder.
5. Empty it completely (send all files / folders to trash).

Advice! If you use the file manager "Total Commander": create a new tab (keyboard shortcut "Ctrl" + "up arrow") and go to the Temp folder. Thus, you will always have its contents in sight.

Disable paging file

Pagefile.sys - OS virtual memory. When RAM (random access memory) resources run out, the system saves the unplaced data to this file. If your PC has more than 4.6 or 8 GB of RAM, you can disable the Pagefile.sys container. On disk, it takes up about the same amount as RAM. For example, if your PC has 16GB of RAM, then Pagefile.sys will be about the same.

To disable the swap file:
1. Through "Start" (the "Win" icon) open the "Control Panel".
2. In the "System and Security" section, select "System".
3. In the settings window, click "Advanced options ...".
4. In the System Properties pane, on the Advanced tab, click Options.
5. In the "Performance Settings" option, on the "Advanced" tab, in the "Virtual memory" section, activate "Change ...".

6. In the "Virtual Memory" window:

  • select drive C;
  • enable by clicking the radio button "Without paging file";
  • click the "Set" button, and then - "OK".

7. Reboot your PC.

Disable hibernation

Hibernation is a kind of sleep mode: when the user is inactive for a certain period of time, the OS saves all settings in a special file hiberfil.sys. Windows, as well as for Pagefile.sys, reserves free space for it on C equal to the amount of RAM.

Therefore, if you are not using hibernation mode, it is better to disable it.

1. Press "Win + R".
2. Enter "CMD", press "ENTER".
3. In the command line console enter - "powercfg -h off" (without quotes), then - "ENTER".
4. Restart the OS.

Using third-party utilities

Cleaning of the C drive can be easily "entrusted" with a special cleaning program, for example, CCleaner. It can automatically empty trash, memory dumps, clipboard, delete temporary files (cookies and cache) of popular browsers, as well as perform many other operations to remove system junk.

Always monitor the size of the C drive. Do not overfill. Delete unnecessary files not only to free up disk space, but also for prevention.

Good luck! Let your PC only store useful information.

In the process of using the computer, files inevitably accumulate on the C drive. These are user files in the My Documents and Desktop folders, temporary files, files downloaded from the Internet, and much more. And if the C drive is not cleaned from time to time, then these files will accumulate so much that the free space on the drive will simply run out. In this article, we will talk about how to remove unnecessary files and free up space occupied by them.

Step # 1. Disk cleanup.

The first thing to do is use the built-in Disk Cleanup feature. To do this, open "My Computer" and right-click on the "C" drive, then select the "Properties" menu item.

This will open the Disk Cleanup window. In this window, select the files that you want to delete and click on the "OK" button.

Thus, you can quickly and easily a large amount of unnecessary files from the C drive.

Step # 2. Check the custom folders on drive C.

Most often, unnecessary files accumulate in folders such as:

  • C: \\ Users \\ User_name \\ Downloads (Downloads);
  • C: \\ Users \\ User_name \\ Desktop;
  • C: \\ Users \\ User_name \\ Documents (My Documents);

Also, user files and folders can be located in the root of the C drive (on the drive itself, and not in other folders).

Step number 3. Remove unnecessary programs.

Once launched, this program will offer to select the disk to analyze. Select drive C and wait for the program to finish analyzing it.

After the analysis is complete, the program will show the size of all folders, and also display them in the form of a multi-colored diagram. The larger the square in the diagram, the more space the file or folder takes up. By clicking on such a square, you can find out what kind of file it is and where it is located. If you do not need this file, then you can delete it directly from the program.

Please note that you need to be very careful when deleting files from drive C. You must be 100% sure that this file is not part of the operating system.

Hi all friends!

If you care about the fast work of your computer, then at least once every three months you need to carry out a global cleaning of the system from various types of garbage. If you do not do this, the computer will simply slow down.

After a long computer operation, a lot of garbage accumulates, getting rid of which you can free up gigabytes of free space on your hard disk, we will clear the disk from garbage in three steps. This article is for beginners. Take advantage of it and really notice the difference BEFORE and AFTER cleaning your hard drive. The most interesting thing is that we will get rid of the Temp folder in more detail about it:

Step 1) cleaning your computer from junk - manually

Cleaning the system drive "C" in Windows 7 is a fairly simple procedure, but before using the programs, let's prepare our computer. To do this, we will use the standard system tools. Go to "Start" -->"A computer" and see our disks. Hover the mouse over the C drive and press the right mouse button. We go into the property and start disk cleaning.

The cleaning program will start, it will estimate the size, and prepare the files for deletion.

Attention! If you are cleaning the disc for the first time, it can take a long time, up to several hours. Therefore, for especially "Neglected Patients" it is necessary to set cleaning for the night.

We put a checkmark everywhere before cleaning. Look in the trash can to see if you still have the files you need.

Do not forget to go to the advanced tab, there you can remove unnecessary programs and restore points. Click on "OK"--> "Delete files" unnecessary trash is removed. The preparation of the system is complete, we are moving on to the "heavy artillery" - we will use a powerful program to remove the remains of debris.

Step 2. CCleaner - continue cleaning the disk

We continue cleaning. And the cool program called CCleaner will help us with this. This is the most popular utility among garbage cleaners. Download the portable (portable version does not require installation) program. The download will start automatically. Run the program, click "Analyze" (Analysis), after scanning "Run Cleaner"(Cleaning). The program language changes like this "Options" --> "Settings" --> "Language" --> "Russian".

You can also clean the registry, I think you can figure it out - the interface is nowhere simpler. Let's move on to the next step.

Step 3. FreeSpacer - complete cleaning of the computer disk from debris

The program is called FreeSpacer and install it on your computer. I will say a few words about this wonderful program.

I have been using FreeSpacer for a long time, and I like there are no complicated settings in it, it all comes down to two actions: search and delete, it is distributed free of charge and does not delete anything unnecessary. I also want to say about its effectiveness, it removed from my friend 20 gigs of garbage and that's not the limit.

Run the program and click "Search." No other programs or background applications should be running on the system.

After the program for cleaning drive C finish its work press the button "Delete"... After work, the program will show how many gigabytes of garbage have been removed.

Do not forget to write in the comments how much free disk space you have freed up. It will be very interesting for both me and users. Your friends probably also have a lot of garbage, give them a link to this post, they will be grateful to you.

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