OK Let us start with cleaning up the junk that lies within the confines of our hard drives. Every time we go online, download files, and install programs extra crap gets stored on our drives unseen and behind the scenes. Temporary files, cache files, saved passwords, the ever infamous cookie, and the list goes on and on. Suffice to say it can seem just a tad overwhelming for anyone just learning. If you are new to this take a deep breath we all started somewhere, and this I think is a great place to start.
First, take a quick read of this article, and if it interests you print it off or write down pertinent info so you can refer to it as you do the suggested steps.
Save all your current work or whatever you are doing and make sure no programs are open, some of the cleaning cannot be completed if you are reading this online. Give yourself some time to do these things when you are clear headed and well. Take it from one who knows, if you are not careful you can cause yourself a lot of grief. However, this is no reason not to go forward, You Can Do This!
If someone were to ask me what slows down a computer most, useless files would be in the top five. If a hard disk gets to the point where there is only 25% or less of free space upon it the system will drastically slow down. So let us check the hard disk status.
There are often 4 ways to accomplish the same task, use the way best suited for you … we all learn and do things at different rates and in different ways. The trick is to JUST DO IT!
Note: Although these snapshots come from an XP system they apply to all Vista, Windows 7 and 8 systems as well (the picture will look a little different but the concept applies).
Open Windows Explorer by hitting the Windows Key on your keyboard and the “R” key at the same time, then type “explorer” and hit Enter or select OK (if you are using XP)
In your Explorer Window right-click (C:) and Select Properties
The pie chart shows Used and Free Space (make a note of what you see).
Next to the pie chart is a link to “Disk Cleaner,” left click it.
Next to the pie chart is a link to “Disk Cleaner,” left click it.
A window opens with choices of what to delete and the amount of space to be released if a check mark is next to the box. By one left clicking each option to the right of the check boxes) the description field is displayed on what it is and how much space will be released. Select which to delete based on your knowledge. Then select “OK.”
You will be “asked” if you are sure then select “Delete Files.”
Below is a brilliantly well done video explaining in detail how to use Disk Cleanup.
For advanced users Click Start and in the “Search” or “Run” boxes enter this text:
cleanmgr /sageset 65535
Click away according to what you know
cleanmgr /sageset 65535
Click away according to what you know
You are advanced when you can under most circumstances restore a computer to health and you know what each item is in the sageset list.
Next Post CCleaner
Originally posted by: Nate Chambers on March 5, 2013
Windows COmputer OPtimization Updated on March 31, 2015
Windows COmputer OPtimization Updated on March 31, 2015
