How do I delete files that are not needed off my computer?

Question

When I try to do a defrag it says I've only got 9% and I need at least 15% to do a defrag. How do I get rid of the files. Do I go into the DOS C drive somehow? How do I know which files to delete?

Answer 1

How do I clean up my hard drive?



Cleaning up you hard drive is good for many reasons. First it will free up much needed disk space and also will aid with defragging your hard drive.

First click on the start menu.



Then go to All Program, Accessories, System Tools, and then click on Disk Cleanup.



When this window appear click [OK] and windows will find all unnecessary files on your hard drive. Note: If you only have one hard drive your computer will skip this step.



Then all you have to do is decide which files to delete. Normally you can select all of them or just stick with the default ones. Then hit [OK]



Once you hit [OK] this windows will appear



Once this windows goes away your hard drive has been cleaned up



Now for a good way to free up about 3 more gigs of hard drive space, you can delete your system restore information. Return to the disk clean-up window and click on the "More Options" TAB. This windows should appear.



Then just click on the "Clean up" button under System Restore. Once you do this a dialog block like the one below will appear.



Click [yes] and you computer will do the rest.

One last way to get some more free disk space is to manually delete the files that Disk Clean Up does not find. Do this by click on then go to "Run." Type in %temp%



Click [OK] and a window will appear showing all the temporary files on you computer.



Now just select all objects [Ctrl+A] and hit delete. I would suggest leaving the file in you recycle bin for about one week incase you have any problems you can restore the files. Once you delete a bunch of junk off your computer it is always a good idea to restart and run a defrag.

Answer 2

It sounds to me like you have a lot of programs on your computer. The best thing to do is go to Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs and look at what you have on your computer.

If there is a program that you are not using, delete it from there by clicking on remove.

If you look out to the right side, it will see how much space that program is using. Freeing up space by deleting programs will give you the most space.

Another thing that takes up a lot of space is graphic such as pictures that you have saved to your picture file and music.

Go to your program that you use for music to see if there are more than one copy of the song on it. If so, delete one. Or, if you have burned your music to a CD from you music program, delete the songs entirely.

Another thing is to delete files from your documents file. Just go into my documents and check to see what you no longer need to keep.

Answer 3

Go to the Internet icon right click that then click Internet properties now there in general delete all offline files,cookies and history,do it regularly after every 15 days,those are really unnecessary offline files on every computer.All the best

Answer 4

Run Disk Cleanup. It is program in same area as Defrag.

Answer 5

depending on your operating system,98,2000,ME,XP,click start button go to My Computer right click local Disk C:go to bottom of drop down list click on properties in this window click on Disk cleanup or go to the tools tab.Then it will be up to you to deside what to remove and how much to remove.After you click on disk cleanup it will gather all the files that can be safely removed from your computer and if you like you can even view the files and then delete them on your on after you look at them by right clicking on them and then in the drop down menu click delete.It's up to you how you want to remove them.I myself just click remove after the disk clean up utility does it's thing.GOOD luck and I hope this helps you out.

Answer 6

just select the drive and rightclick on it --selext properties--than clean disk button it automatically romove junk files

if you want a software for that i will give you but you should visit my blog and click tha ads which you like and give comment of it i you email id so i can give the path of where you can get lots of free download software if like than do visit my blog

Answer 7

look in preferences set to permanently delete deleted trash and other files you choose.

use "utilities" and clean it all up on a regular basis...

Answer 8

install free abexo registery cleaner and clean registrees and del data from these folders c:\documents & settings\administrator\cookies, and local settings\tem & temp internet files folder (its hidden folder) all these folders contain tem. files u can del them no harm on ur computer

Answer 9

Go to control panel and look for add & remove.UN install the things you never use, and that will take give you more space.

Answer 10

run disk cleanup that comes with windows