I just want to clean my computer off so it will generally run faster. All the programs I do not use anymore I want totally gone, and I find when I uninstall things from the control panel, the files and folders are still in my Program Files folder. I know to perform defrag, error checking, and virus scans, but since my C drive is getting full, I need to clear a bunch of stuff off so its like semi-new and runs faster. Any suggestion on how I should do this?
Tagged with: c drive • control panel • folders • program files folder • suggestion • virus scans
Filed under: Clean Up Computer
Delete anything from Program Files that you are certain you don’t need or is related to uninstalled programs, and any other files you may have downloaded that you don’t need. Alternatively, store music and video files on an external storage device or something.
Open your browser(s) and go into the menu option that lets you disable/manage/delete add-ons, and clean up any you don’t recognize or need.
In your Internet options, delete browsing history and temporary files, change the settings to use minimal storage space on the hard drive and only store history for a few days if at all.
Check your startup programs in Windows Defender Tools -> Software Explorer -> Startup Programs section (if you have XP, you can still install Windows Defender from Microsoft’s web site), disable any startup programs you know you don’t need, especially those that only run to enable quicker first-time usage of programs like MS Office.
Run a registry cleaner like CCleaner (Crap Cleaner), which is free, to clean up your registry (after you have uninstalled programs and deleted files).
If you have related files that can be archived, consider zipping/compressing them. Clean out your email program, delete old emails, organize the remaining ones in folder.
hi there
give these a try (FYI they are 100% safe to use and FREE)
iobits advanced system care free version –
http://iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html?Str=download
glary utilities
http://www.glaryutilities.com/gu.html?tag=download (click on download from download.com link on the page the link takes you to as i find this easiest to navigate and understand)
argente registry cleaner
http://www.freewarefiles.com/Argente—Registry-Cleaner_program_40811.html
these programs used separately and independently i.e. one program use at any one time will:
clear out unused or junk registry files, junk files, obsolete settings, optimize system performance, defragment registry (a part missed by a normal defrag) etc…
now for uninstalling programs, if you want a program gone and i mean GONE then revo uninstaller
http://www.revouninstaller.com
revo is excellent, it will: back the system up first up, then scan the program to be uninstalled, use the programs uninstaller to uninstall the program then clean up after it (this part of the process is manual and you need to select and delete the files left over that are shown), revo can also get rid of programs that refuse to uninstall as you simply cancel the uninstaller (but not revo) then let revo find all the files and get rid of the program
FYI with revo if instructed to restart after uninstall decline this and let revo finish then restart otherwise revos file cleaner can’t find the files that otherwise clog up your hard drive
a defragment would help performance also but if you use these programs you will see a BIG difference in performance
Get and use one of the free registry cleaners like CCleaner. and run it regularly, in addition to all the other stuff mentioned. It will make a huge difference after you’ve deleted a bunch of unused programs.
disk cleaner
UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU ARE USING WINDOWS:
Well, first of all, defrag doesn’t necessarily clean your hard drive; it makes access to files on your hard drive quicker and efficient. If fragmented files are in sectors that other contiguous files could be in, then running defrag to put the broken files back together could use space a little more efficiently. Disk cleanup is a good tool. Also, look in the windows32 and windows folders for .dll files that you do not need. I think that you are just going to have to manually clean up a lot of stuff that remains after uninstalling through the control panel. You could use system restore, but doing so could result in an unwanted loss of files.
If you are unable to uninstall a certain file or delete it, go to run and type in MSCONFIG. Then configure your startup options, programs, and services. Sometimes, while certain programs and services are running from the moment your computer boots into your OS, you are not able to delete certain files and they will keep coming back; this is what irks most people when they try to uninstall or use a different antvirus program.
Disk cleanup. Do the same as going to the defrag but instead go to Disk cleanup under the system tools. Before u do this get rid of all unwanted programs and program files. Even if the cleanup takes forever let it run. Also make sure all the boxes are checked when the results screen comes up. This will make ur computer run so much faster.
Try deleting those folders and files that are left. If you deleted via control panal it is safe to delete them.
Also get ccleaner to clean up some files too