What is the suggested percentage of free space on a laptop?

Question

My laptop is about 3 years old and I noticed it began running slower during the summer.

My laptop is about 3 years old and I noticed it began running slower during the summer. I keep music and photo files. I also keep my homework on there.

Answer 1

Depend on what type of files your keep, I normally suggest 15-20%

Answer 2

It is always best to have at least 10% or 10 GB of free space on any system. This allows Windows to set up the needed temp files and working files for the programs you open.

IF you are lower than that, you begin to restrict the available space for the temp files, and depending on the program, will see a slow down.

Steps to check and speed up:

Scan for viruses, and make sure drive is clean.
Scan for spyware and adware - this is a different thing and program from your virus scan. Spybot: Search & Destroy is a good program and is free.

Delete old programs that you never use. Leave Windows components alone. Delete using the Add/remove function in control pannel.

Move any video, picture, or document files that you rarely use, but do not want to destroy, onto either CD or DVD media. Then delete the original file from the computer. Save only what you use on a regular basis on the drive.

In My Computer - right click on your hard drive icon and select properties. Click on the Disk Cleanup button and wait for it to finish it's scan. Remove the files it suggest.

Run Disk Defragmentor - Start - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmentor.

If you are still low on free disk space - run it twice - back to back. It will have trouble moving larger files the first pass through. But will be able to move most the second time through and provide you with large sections of free space.

Answer 3

As a good rule of thumb you want to keep about 30-40% open on your desk-top or lab-top. If your computer is running slower your hard drive might not be the issue. If you have'nt you might want to run a test to see if you have a lot of spy-wear on your computer, that will really slow it down a lot, After you have done this you might want to try defragmenting it under sistem tools. If you have never done this it might take your computer several hours to complete, but the results are well worth it. After this run a disk clean up and see what you get then. This should remove a lot of internet cookies that will also slow your computer down. I hope this helps you, if you need anything else just please feel free to contact me anytime with further questins you might have about your computer servise or anything else that I can help you with.

Good Luck