The goal of good PC maintenance is to keep the PC running efficiently with minimal disruption. Apart from that process, it is to keep the PC as free of foreign data as possible. One way to do this is to run the disk cleanup utility that is part of the Windows operating system. It removes “unnecessary” files from the PC and gives you free disk space.
The disk cleanup program does not require administrative privileges and can therefore be run by any user. It is located in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools. You can run it by double clicking on its icon. You can also run it from a command line or automate the process. For more information, see this Microsoft web page: “How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP” at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315246
Select what you want to be processed by disk cleanup from the following:
* Downloaded program files
*Temporary Internet
* Recycle Bin
* Remote Desktop temporary files
* Configuration log files
* Offline files
* Compress old files
(This compresses the files instead of deleting them. If you need them again, there will be a short delay while they are decompressed. If you select this option, you will also have the option of the number of days the system will wait before compressing an inactive file.)
You may see other categories besides these. You can highlight the item to see an explanation of the category.
As a general rule, always consider the impact of the change on your system. Have a backup of all the data you may need. Please review what is in each of these categories to make sure it is what you think it is. Once you’re comfortable with what it is and can safely remove it, run disk cleanup. For years I have been running the disk cleanup utility with ALL categories selected and have not had any problems as a result. I encourage you to use this utility and follow it up with a disk defragmentation.
This article contains tips for using utility programs on the Windows operating system. They are based on years of use, but may not be the correct suggestions for you and your PC environment. Before following any technical suggestions, make sure you have a current (and tested) backup of all system files and data and that you can restore your system if necessary. You are welcome to contact me if you encounter a problem, but I do not assume any responsibility for your actions and/or use of the information provided and I disclaim any legal responsibility for the negative results of such actions.
Copyright 2006 by Tim Flynt. All rights reserved.