Any tips on cleaning up the hard drive?

Question

I've been removing applications to have more space. Running Win XP. After I remove an application using the control panel, it still shows up on program files even after I restart. Plus they show up in the registry. Is it safe to delete programs in program files and/or registry (under software) after I try to remove them using the control panel or uninstall from the progam files. Any other things to clean up the hard drive other than the usual stuff, defrag, clean up, disk scan? Thanks

Yes partitioned 34.5 GB w/ 5.25GB free on C and 2.72 GB w/814MB free on D. So it's not worth removing app's under software in the registy. For example, I uninstalled AOL, but it still show up under software in the registry. I'm not going to mess with anything else in registry.

Answer 1

You don't mention how large your drive is or if it is partitioned into multiple drives which makes it hard to answer your question
Right click the Recycle Bin to see properties
You can make the Bin smaller and gain back some GB's on larger drives
The recycle bin at 10% of 34.5 GB is 3.45GB
If you cut that down to 1 GB or less you would save 2.45 +GB right here
Easy quick free space
I am presuming that your computer is running OK and space is your only issue

Also in System in Control panel you can make the space available for System Restore smaller too
Let us know how many GB's you saved

As for your other questions don't mess with the registry unless
you really know what you are doing........you won't save much space there anyway
Yes you can delete unremoved folders after using uninstall

There are small cheap programs available that will diagram what is using the space on your drive
i can't remember any names but should be easy to find with google
I discovered that the log files from Zone Alarm were using 500+MB

Answer 2

I recommend WinPatrol to keep things from not running in the background - that will help you maintain the cleanliness. This is the best program I've found for keeping it clean.

After you've deleted programs using the control panel and you still see the folder, just delete it.

Download the free trial of Disk Keeper and really clean up the junk after you go through and delete all the files you don't want.

Also, go to www.pcpitstop.com and run the complete free tune-up. That will help.

Take a look at the website below and will give you a lot of options for optimizing your system.

Good luck!

Answer 3

that CCleaner is absolutley great. Also try to do disk defrag and remove all programs from the add/remove programs tab under the control panel. It sounds like you've got spy wear. I would give up now if thats so because spywear reinstalls it self after you delete it (very hard to get rid off). I would just reboot the computer from the operating system. You have CDs im sure that wipe the computer entirley clean and start with XP and then some other software and you can reinstall the rest. GL!

Answer 4

The ultimate way to clean up your harddrive is to reinstall Windows. It takes a lot of preparation and you must have a decent amount of computer knowledge but it is well worth it. Even Microsoft recommends reinstalling windows every 8 months to a year to maintain performance. You should have a restore disc from you computer manufacture that you can use to do this. *REMEMBER TO BACKUP*

Answer 5

you have already got CCleaner, so which you're doing nicely. attempt using Defraggler, it extremely is from an analogous corporation that makes CCleaner. it extremely is going to defragment your tensecontinual, which will in all likelihood help lots.

Answer 6

www.ccleaner.com

This is the best cleaning program known to man.

Answer 7

i suggest getting diskeeper.u set it and forget it.works like a charm.