How do I clean up my hard drive?

Question

How do I clean up my hard drive on my pc ?

my computer is 3 years old and keeps slowing down from lack of ram I think

Answer 1

Not as straight forward as some would let you believe, to really clean it out, and speed it up you need to do several things:

1: Run latest Spyware & viruscheckers just in case
2: Use Add/remove programs to get rid of junk
3: Use a good registry cleaner to clean the registry
http://www.toniarts.com
This is the Free Toniarts Easycleaner

4: Next you need to remove any startups. This can be done with Easycleaner or
Start Menu: Run: type msconfig, and go to the Startup tab, and delete any refrenses to deleted crap, but make a note of the directories.

5: Now using explorer, trawl the disk for the uninstalled directores as above and delete them.

6: Run a system defrag
7: Installing more memory really does speed up a system, I doubled mine and it is great
8: Use a memory manager like Freeram XP Pro
http://www.yourwaresolutions.com/software.html

As with anything, back it all up before, and create a resotre point just in case.

Answer 2

go to start, programs, accessories, system tools then disk clean up and run maintenance and defragment you computer. this will probably take a while. My takes almost 12 to 24 hours sometimes. On your Internet explorer go to tools, Internet option, and delete any temporary Internet files. Then buy a stick of RAM. It is so easy to install. just open up the casing to the computer and plug it in the slot. that easy. (running a virus scan and making sure there are no virus' or spyware slowing you down may help as well.) good luck

Answer 3

Lots of good advice in previous answers, do all your anti-virus and anti-spy scans, then do a disk clean up (start..all progs..acessories..disk clean up) then def-rag (start..all progs..acessories..disk defragmentor). I would also recommend CC cleaner that was mentioned in a previous answer, you can get it at www.download.com And a good registry cleaner (i use regvac). Lack of RAM could be the cause if the PC is slowing down etc when you try and run more than one application.Adding RAM is easy...go to http://www.crucial.com/uk/ You can enter the make and model of your PC here and it Will tell exactly what type of ram you need. It will also scan your PC, tell you how much ram you have, and how much you can add.

Answer 4

1. Back up your personal files, passwords and anything else you might need to cd or dvd.

2. If you have a windows xp installation disk - do a fresh re-install

3. If you have no installation disk you will have to buy one and install it!

4. If windows 98, format the hard drive and re-install. Yahoo re installing windows 98 for more info first.

OR you could install Mandriva Linux instead, a lot cheaper and more secure alternative to windows. Splash out on a commercial version rather than the free download though or you might have problems gettin it up and running. Check hardware compatibility first, especially modems and printers!

Answer 5

1)uninstall anything and everything you don't use
2) run disk cleanup
3) Defrag

If you're running windows XP and you have less than 512mb ram, then you need to get some more. If your comuter is more than a couple of years old then chances are that you could do this pretty cheaply - check on the RAM you've currently got, and source something either the same speed or faster. You could probably find it on Ebay.

Answer 6

Delete anything you don't use.
When downloading programs, download to the desktop on a limited account and back up to disc.
Burn everything you can to disc for long term storage.
Boot in Safe Mode and run Avast! anti virus, Ewido anti trojan and Ad-Aware SE Personal.
Delete the shortcuts from your desktop.
Switch off Messenger, use Winpatrol or Start - Run - msconfig to stop everything loading on startup. You just want Windows and your security programs.
Reboot and run Ccleaner then defragment your hard drive.
If all else fails, install more RAM.

Answer 7

is this a re-installation of XP? if so, basically boot from the disk and stick to the classes, and press 'r' to repair while stated. If it truly is an older device say abode windows ninety 8 or a sparkling replica of XP then: enter BIOS and make specific the CD Rom tension is the 1st boot gadget Boot from the CD while introduced on. enable the setup to 'run by using' the documents There might desire to be a license contract right here, which you will possibly desire to press F8 to agree and to proceed with the installation. Now you will attain a setup show screen (it is going to test for variations of abode windows already put in between those 2 factors.) interior the setup show screen, you have 3 recommendations. deploy abode windows (Re-deploy may well be there looking on the integrity of the installation, and the version of abode windows) Delete Partition and supply up If The partition is deleted, then it desires to be re-formatted, pick your record format heavily, if its win98 then FAT32 is a thank you to flow, if its Vista or XP then i propose NTFS. inspite of each little thing of this, basically relax and wait, and stick to the classes while provided =] solid good fortune

Answer 8

I have found that the best way to do it is to do a SCAN DISK and also a DEFRAG..

Go to start.. then to ALL PROGRAMS.. then to accessories and dthen down to systems tools and first click on scandisk.. do that and after that is done.. start all over again and when you come again to systems tools, click this time on DEFRAG.. If you have not done it ever.. it may take a long time to defrag but well worth it.

Answer 9

Save all your music, files, software to disk to free up ram or buy some new ram it isn't difficult to install and can really speed up your p.c.

Run CCLEANER and clean up any remaining bits and bobs left when you deleted programs

Answer 10

Hard Drive Cleaner is a free and excellent application to use.. Good Luck