Clean hard disk - Free up disk space on Windows XP/Vista

Clean up disk space and optimize hard disk performance for Windows ME/ XP/ Vista.

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1. Empty the Trash
   The first and easiest thing that you can do to clean up your hard disk is to empty the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage place for deleted files. You can often gain quite a bit of extra space simply by right clicking on it and choosing the Empty Recycle Bin option. Remember that once you empty the recycle bin, you will not be able to retrieve any of the files because they are now permanently deleted. It is a good habit to occasionally empty the Recycle Bin even when you don't do a full disk cleanup.
   
   
2. Remove temp files
   Temporary files are created when you download and install software, open files in e-mail and instant messaging programs, or transfer files. In most cases, your computer only uses these files at the time they are created. Generally, they live in a folder on your hard drive called C:\Documents and Settings\[user account]\Local Settings\{Temporary Internet Files, Temp}. Usually the program that created the temporary files deletes them when it's finished, but sometimes the files are left behind. This can happen for a number of reasons - the program might have been interrupted before it finished installing, or it crashed during a restart. Delete all files under these folder. You might get error messages telling files are being used. Just ignore them.
   
   
3. Compress infrequently used files
   Compressing files that are not frequently used frees up disk space, but does not slow down the computer.
   1. Compress old files: Go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools and run "Disk Cleanup", check all boxes including "Compress Files".
   2. After you click "OK" this may run for many hours if it is run the first time...
   
   
4. Remove unnecessary system files
   Delete unnecessary files: Go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools and run "Disk Cleanup", check all boxes but not "Compress Files". After a while you will get a report of the files you can remove and the amount of space that will be freed; click "OK".
   
   
5. Remove obsolete files
   Obsolete programs and Windows components take up space and may slow down your computer.
   1. Delete unnecessary programs: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel and run "Add or Remove Programs". In the "Change or Remove Programs" panel, carefully remove any programs you don't need on your PC. Leave all Windows programs and patches alone.
   2. Delete unnecessary Windows functions: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel and run "Add or Remove Programs". In the "Add/Remove Windows Components" panel, carefully remove any programs you don't need.
   
   
6. Empty Prefetch folder
   Windows XP's Prefetch folder helps programs to start faster. Unfortunately, it has a tendancy to get bloated - pre-loading for every program you ever start, not just the ones you use frequently. I empty the pre-fetch folder about once a month. You can simply delete the contents - it won't affect your programs or data. Or, if you want some automation, here's a great Prefetch utility.
   
   
7. Clear System Update Files
   When you install security fixes, updates, patches etc in Windows XP, several folders with odd looking names are placed in the Windows directory (usually C:\Windows). The folder names will look something like this: $NtUninstall. These are backup folders containing the files needed to uninstall updates, should they cause problems. After a month or less of using XP with the new updates, I delete the folders and remove their entries from Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs. Here's more information from Microsoft on safely deleting the Service Pack Uninstall folders.
   
   
8. Take back System Restore space
   If you're using System Restore, you can get back disk space by going into disk cleanup and clearing all but the most recent restore points.
   1. Start Menu / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Disk Cleanup
   2. from the Select Drive dialog, click OK or press ENTER
   3. click the More Options tab and click Clean up¡­ under System Restore click OK or press ENTER at the next dialog which asks if you want to clean up all but the most recent restore points

More tips that help you get better performance of your hard disk:
• Optimize hard disk IO performance
• How to delete temporary interenet files
• Clean IE cache folder
• Clean FireFox Cache folder
• Clean up Internet Explorer caches & tracks
• Clean up Windows & Keep your system clear of junk

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