Cleaning Your Hard Drive

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These instructions have been around for a long time. They've been updated from time to time to include new operating systems, but the basic instructions are the same. These instructions are followed by major software support firms that serve clients whose names you'll recognize no matter who you are. So, if they're good enough for the big guys, they'll work fine for you, too. I first made these instructions available through an auto-reply email and then finally posted them on the Internet.

Knowing how to clean your hard drive is probably the most important thing you can learn about your computer. Unfortunately, this information isn't provided with other basic information.

These steps are slightly more aggressive than the Disk Cleanup utilities provided by Windows.

Anyone is welcome to distribute this information freely and in any manner. Copy it, put your logo on it, pass it out to your friends, coworkers, etc. I think everyone should know how to maintain their PC without special software, which often causes more problems.

Note

In addition to the instructions below, it is imperative that you run virus- checking software and update the data files the moment new ones are available.

Running spycheckers, such as Ad-Aware, is also a good move.

Please read all of these steps carefully before implementing them. If you do not understand them, please do not continue to use them. We cannot be held responsible for any loss of data or equipment incurred as a result of performing these steps.

If the PC in question is your work PC, please check with members of your IT department, network desk, or help desk BEFORE performing these steps. Some companies have special setups and following these directions could cause problems.

Before you begin, shut down your PC and restart it. When it has completely restarted, close any programs that run automatically.
Hit Ctrl+Alt+Del and End Task on everything that appears in the list or Applications list EXCEPT Explorer and Systray.
Disable your screensaver if you use one.

Step 1: Delete trashy hard drive files.

These files are commonly referred to as 'temp files'.

Hit Start → Find → Files or Folders. (Use Start Search Files or Folders on Windows ME, 2000 and 2002/XP.)
In the Named box, type:

*.tmp,~*.*,*.chk

Caution
Be sure that you type the preceding exactly as it appears-double-check it to make sure it is exactly right. There are NO spaces between any of the characters.
The Look in box should have (C:) in it (or other hard drive[s]).

Note
The Include Subfolders checkbox must be checked (not with Windows ME, 2000 or 2002/XP).
Hit Find Now (or Search Now).
When the search is complete, hit Ctrl+A to select all of the files that appear and hit your delete key. Delete all files you possibly can, even if you get a warning. Some programs do not allow you to delete certain files. Do not be concerned if you can't delete files, just delete those that you can, even if you have to delete them one by one.
Send all the files to the recycle bin. Close the Find/Search window when you're all done.

Tip 57: Caution About File Extensions

There may be programs that actually use these file extensions, though I've never been told which ones they are. It's unlikely that you will have a problem, but this is why we advise NOT to empty your recycle bin for a few days.

Step 2: Delete Windows temp files.

Hit Start → Run and type % temp% and hit Enter. The contents of the Temp folder that your system uses by default should appear in the window.
Hit Ctrl+A on the keyboard to select everything in that folder and hit your delete key. Send the files to the recycle bin. Leave them there for at least a week to ensure that none of the files were needed. It's unlikely, however.
Close Windows Explorer.

Tip 58: Your Windows Temp Folder

The TEMP folder is a system folder. Do not use these folders to store your own files. Do not allow files to be stored here permanently.

Step 3: Delete temporary Internet files.

Step 3 is for Internet Explorer users only.

Open My Computer and note the Free space on your local drive by hitting View → Details. Now calculate a quantity of perhaps 10% of that amount. Close My Computer.
Open Internet Explorer and hit Tools → Internet Options. If you are having difficulty running Internet Explorer, rightclick the shortcut and hit Properties to bring up the Internet Options dialog.
From the General tab, click on the Settings button. Set the amount of disk space for Internet Explorer to use to an amount that is equal to 10% of your hard drive space. This is just a rule of thumb and is not necessarily appropriate for everyone.
If you've got DSL or Cable, check the box 'every visit to a page.' If you've got phone-line Internet (DUN), check the box 'every visit to a page' and groan while you do it. (There's no point in going to web sites and NOT viewing the most updated page. If you want to see the old page, then add it to your favorites and tell it you want it to be available offline.)
Hit Ok.
Click on the Delete files button. Do NOT click the checkbox for 'delete all off-line content.' Hit Ok. The history section has 20 days by default. Another rule of thumb-3 days ought to be enough.
Click on the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Security area and check the box that says 'empty temporary internet files when browser is closed.' This keeps them from building up and taking all the space on your hard drive.
Hit Ok.
Close any and all open Windows.

Step 4: Cleanup by running Scandisk and Defrag.

Ideally, at this point, you'll empty your recycle bin. The first few times you perform these steps, however, you may not want to. Give it a week or so. When it's obvious that you did not delete anything important, empty your recycle bin.

Hit Start → Programs → Accessories → System tools Scandisk. Run it on the C: drive, choose Standard test, and choose to Automatically fix errors. Hit Start.

Note

In Windows 2000 and 2002/ XP, Scandisk is available by opening Windows Explorer, right-clicking the C:\ drive (or other hard drive) and choosing Properties. Then click the Tools tab and choose Error Checking.

Hit Close. Hit Close again. Run a thorough scandisk once in a while if it makes you feel good or if you cannot complete a disk defragment (below).

Generally, Scandisk recommends that you run a thorough Scandisk when you need to. You can also run Scandisk by restarting the computer in MS-DOS mode (if this option is available with your version of Windows), typing 'scandisk' at the DOS prompt, and then hitting Enter. This is particularly useful if you get the message 'Scandisk has restarted 10 times.'

Note

In newer versions of Windows, you may need to double-click My Computer, then right-click your hard drive. Hit Properties, and then the Tools tab. Choose Error-Checking, which has replaced Scandisk.

Note

If you're using these steps to troubleshoot a specific problem, you can skip the next step, but you should definitely do it as soon as you can.

Hit Start → Programs → Accessories → System tools → Disk Defragmenter. Run it on the C:\ drive or other hard drive. If you have never run Defrag before, or if you have not run it in a long time, this could take several hours! You may need to hit the details button to watch your hard drive get defragged.
When it's done, hit the Yes button to exit the disk defragmenter and restart your PC.

Note
In newer versions of Windows, you may need to double-click My Computer, then right-click your hard drive. Hit Properties, and then the Tools tab. Choose Disk Defragmenter from there.

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