Regaining memory on your computer does not have to cost you a red cent and I will show you how.
Run Disk Cleanup: As simple or obvious as this maybe not everyone remembers to use this little program installed on their computers. This can be found under Control Panel. When prompted click "Files From All Users" this will delete files that are in the recycling bin and some internet junk that was stored on your computer while you surfed the web. Check here for more info.
Restore Points: Delete all but the most recent Restore Point. This is a good option after creating a Restore Point after having backed up your files. Windows Creates a Restore Point every time you download updates. I read on one site the Restore Points are set to be deleted on Windows Vista after 135 years.. insane!
Open the Add/Remove Programs List: Go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and skim through it. Do you really need four different audio programs? Also Add/Remove Windows Components helps.
Uninstalled? Not Completely: Even after Uninstalling some programs still leave files behind so go through your Programs Folders and check. Some programs leave behind user related files... games for example might leave behind games you saved.
Delete Files: If you have 3000 songs I can guarantee you do not listen to all of them. A person's taste in music changes... so remove the songs and music videos that simply don't rock your boat anymore. I have over 3000 songs on my laptop I burned a copy of them on a DVD+R data CD and deleted about half of them off my laptop because I honestly don‘t listen to ALL of them. Saved me a LOT of space.
CCleaner. This little free program which I use helped me regain approximately 3GB. It's like Disk Cleanup but more through well as registry entries that are no longer valid. (Each program you install leaves shall we say a footprint or two. Even after uninstalling most programs WONT delete their footprints... they leave you something to remember them by. www.ccleaner.com
Folders Folders everywhere! Yup that's right too many folders will eventually bite into your how many MB you have to spare believe it or not. Many of the folders you create will have a small file created by Windows (at times hidden depending on your settings) called Thumbs.db if viewed in Thumbnail or Strip views. The little ones do add up. It speeds up the previews of the pictures and videos in the folders as to not have to load every time, personally I did not disable the feature. So, reconsider if you really need to divvy up across so many folders. Check here for more information.
Duplicate Files moleskinsoft clone remover 2.5.1 Deleting duplicate files can be tedious. Instead of opening each folder and checking visually there are programs out there that do it for you. One such program is Duplicate File Finder will do this for you and doesn't take very long depending on the size of your hard drive. To make sure you don't accidentally delete something you want look at the file path names. For example: a picture titled bbq.jpg... will be.. My Documents/Pictures/Digital Photos/bbq.jpg -- each slash tells you what folder to look at next to get to the photo. If you have something like this: My Documents/Pictures/Digital Photos/bbq.jpg My Documents/Pictures/Pictures/bbq.jpg You know you got yourself a duplicate =) You don't have to install it which is a plus. Double click the .exe file -> add path (meaning folder) -> click start search. Note: Be careful which files you select to delete... because the delete is permanent.
Recycle Bin: Right Click on your Recycle Bin ->Properties. There you will see either a slider or Custom Size in the properties window. Drag the slider just above half way down. If the allotted space in the Custom size box is 5000 tap in 3000 or 2500 instead. This is space that windows keeps separate for your Recycle Bin. Friends have tried it and noticed a change... myself sorry I have not... maybe you wont either having done steps 1 - 8 =).
Setup Files: Programs you download come with a setup file that ends with-> .exe to install the program on your pc. Those executable files add up to a lot so delete them. For example if you downloaded OpenOffice, AVG Anti-Virus, Firefox, CCleaner, and so on you don't really need those files. If you want them - burn them to disk. The four I mentioned I have and their setup files add up to 170MB... I saved about 400MB by burning all my setup files to CD.
Bonus: Run Check Disk (AKA: ChkDsk Utility. Use this utility to check your computer for errors. Corrupt or bad sectors will bog down your computer and also take up memory.
Vista: Computer -> right-click on the drive you want to check -> Properties. Select Tools tab -> click "Check Now".
A box for ChkDsk will appear, check both options and click start. A message that Windows needs to restart in order to run ChkDsk might appear. Click ok.
XP: My Computer -> right click on the drive/disk you want to check -> Properties. Click on the Tools tab -> click "Check Now"
A box pops up, check both options and click start as in Vista you might have to restart in order to start ChkDsk.
If you found these useful or have any comments please let me know. Also, have any other ideas or tips? Like? Dislike? Share with the class and post a comment about them.
Pedro