question about disk cleanup in local drive properties?

Question

Under local drive properties, When I want to disk cleanup should I check the option box of "downloaded program files?" or in short should I include "downloaded program files" in the disk cleanup? and what are "downloaded program files"? Thank you

Answer 1

If you have ever downloaded a program from the Internet, you know that you usually are given two choices. You can "Run" or "Save" the program. If you do a "save", then you decided where the program is downloaded to, and you then have to install it. If you pick "Run", the computer downloads the program to a temporary directory and then installs it for you. Neither of them option delete the downloaded files when you are done. The "Run" leaves them in that temporary loction.

When you do a "downloaded program files", it deletes anything in that temporary location. As you probably never knew it was there, can't use it in any way, and originally decided you did not want to save that file at the time of the download, you probably do not need it know. So let the Disk Cleanup remove it.

It does NOT remove that installed program. Any programs you have downloaded will continue to work. It use remove the files that where used to transfer the program to your computer.

Answer 2

You know when you download a program and it asks you if you want to Run from location, Save or Cancel....
When you choose Run it still downloads what it needs to install itself to your computer, on your computer. It puts these files in a hidden temporary folder.
When you perform the disk cleanup and choose to delete the downloaded program files that is what you are getting rid of.

You don't need them anymore. Go ahead and delete them.

Have Fun!

Answer 3

the cleaning is not thorough, especially the 'temporary (internet) files' folders (used files from the last few days will not be cleaned)! It is better to clean them yourself as well, as shown below. Most files are system files and/or hidden, so make sure you can see those type of files in the Windows Explorer (Tools, Folder Options, tab View, enable Display the content of system folders, enable Show hidden files and folders, disable Hide extensions for known file types and disable Hide protected operating system files).

For better result the follow the link.