Windows is the most popular operating system around the world. Even if you use it or not, it comes with all of its perks. Also though Windows has a lot of features, still you’ll find some problems down the road.
One of those problems is the overloading files and folders. While most of them are essential but some files are entirely unnecessary. They only clog up space and reduce the overall experience.
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Some are old files that you probably don’t even know exist. These files can be hidden caches or temp files that would take up a lot of space after some time. As a result, your PC would slow down.
So, it’s better to get rid of these files and folders and have a fast working PC. But before I move into the main part there are a few things you should remember before doing anything.
First of all, you need to close all the programs, browsers or folders on your PC. If you keep them open, some files will cause trouble while deleting. And you should, of course, repeat these steps monthly.
#1. The Hibernation File
C:\hiberfil.sys
We all know about the hibernation mode. It’s kind of like the sleep mode, but the system saves all of your open work and then shuts down. The best thing is that hibernation mode allows you to start right from where you left off even if it’s been a week.
That’s right, you can even remove the battery, but still, it’ll restore the files you kept open for the last time. And all of this process takes up a lot of space.
It is unnecessary once your system starts from the hibernation mode. The folder size depends on your hard drive, and it can be up to several gigabytes. That’s way too much space getting clogged up.
Well, you can go to the location and delete the files, but it’s best to disable it if you don’t have any intention of using it. Just follow the steps below to disable it.
Step-1: First of all, you need to open up the Command Prompt (Admin). For that, go to the start menu and then search for cmd. After finding it, right click on it and Choose Run as administrator. It will open up the Command Prompt in Admin mode.
Step-2: After opening it, type in the following command and press enter:
powercfg.exe /hibernate off
And that’s it! Your hibernation mode will be disabled. But remember disabling it will prevent your PC from using fast startup on Windows 10. It’s a sacrifice you have to make if you want to save up spaces.
#2. The Temp Folder
C:\Windows\Temp
Well, temp files aren’t that important in Windows 10. Once you complete its initial use, there isn’t any reason to keep those data.
The files inside of this folder only contain info that Windows only use one time but then it doesn’t need anymore. So, you can just go to the location and get rid of the files without any problem.
Windows might show some error message while deleting the files. Ignore those and clear the folder.
You’ll find another type of temp file in the following location:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp
This folder also contains temporary files. Here, Username is the name of your account. If multiple persons use the PC, then you need to go into your Username and then delete the files. You can also remove the other users’ data if they don’t need it for some reason.
Just follow the following steps and get rid of these files,
Step-1: Firstly, Press Windows Key + R, this will open Run.
Step-2: Now type in the following and press Enter:
%temp%
This command will automatically take you to the desired location.
Step-3: Now select all the files and folders that you want to delete if you don’t want to remove them all. Then Press Del or Right-click and choose Delete.
Note: You’ll also get warning messages here too! Click Skip if you see an error message stating a File In Use or a Folder In Use.
It might be several gigabytes, and it might take a little bit of time. If the folder size is small, then it’ll get moved to Recycle Bin. And, if the size is big enough then they’ll be permanently deleted.
#3. The Recycle Bin
shell:RecycleBinFolder
Well, it’s not a folder as you may know. But it’s better to know about it if you don’t. Whenever you delete a file, it gets sent to the Recycle Bin, unless you shift + delete it of course.
It’s a place where deleted files are kept until you permanently delete or restore them. So, if you don’t get regularly clear it up, you should, as it can take up to several gigabytes of space.
You can just go to the shortcut on your desktop and delete the files. But if you don’t have it, then just go to Run and type in the shell:RecycleBinFolder or just go to the File Explorer and type the path and click Enter.
You can choose to delete items permanently or restore them. Just click on the files you want to restore and then click Restore. They’ll be back to the location from where you removed.
Or Just press Ctrl + A and select all and click Delete.
If you want to change how it works, then just Right click it and select Properties.
After that, you’ll see options like change the maximum size of the bin or select Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. This way any files you delete would get permanently deleted. It isn’t a recommended feature though. It’s better to be safe in the first place.
#4. The Windows.old Folder
C:\Windows.old
Whenever your Windows upgraded itself, the system keeps a copy of its older version. The file is called Windows.old. The system keeps it just in case something went wrong. So that, it can always go back to the previous version.
You can choose to delete it, but it might be difficult in case of an emergency. It’s because the system won’t be able to recover the previous version. But if you think it’s unnecessary, then you can delete it.
You can also save up some selected files, just in case.
#5. Downloaded Program Files
C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files
The folder name is a bit weird and confusing. It holds all the files used by Internet Explorer’s ActiveX controls and Java applets.
It’s to make sure that any website using the same plugins would load without any problems. But, if you don’t use it then just go ahead and delete it. ActiveX is an old deal now, and you probably won’t encounter it.
So, it’s better to delete this folder and claim the used space.
The Best Way to Clean these Folders
Cleaning these files can be a bit of risk, as you can delete essential data without even knowing. So, I would recommend you to delete them unless you know what you’re doing manually.
If you are unsure, then you can always get help from a third party tool. It would be safer, and you’d be able to get rid of all the unnecessary files without a fuss.
Though Windows Disk Cleanup does a good job, you don’t have a lot of options here. You can try out CCleaner for a change. It gets the job done and comes with a lot of perks.
Clean up All the Unnecessary Files
Windows has a lot of files and folders that are unnecessary and won’t even cause a problem if you delete them.
Unless you’re low on disk space, you shouldn’t delete these files. Using Disk Cleanup tool will do the trick for you.
Hasib is a born geek and loves tweaking his computer and gadgets for effectiveness and productivity. At WindowsChimp, he specializes in writing Tutorial guides and discovering new hacks to share.