How to Clean Your Hard Drive

Digital Literacy For Dummies

Clean your hard drive to keep it in tip top shape and your data safe. The best repair is the one you don’t have to make. If you can keep your computer up to date and in tune, you and your PC will live a happier, more productive life. Start by making sure that you clean your hard drive to keep it in tip-top shape with regular cleanings.

Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories. Select System Tools and click Disk Cleanup.

The Disk Cleanup dialog box appears.
In the Files to Delete list, check the boxes next to the names of the files you want to remove and clear the boxes next to any files you want to keep. Click the Clean Up System Files button.

The list of files you can remove safely expands, and the More Options tab appears.
Click the More Options tab to clean up programs you don’t use or to remove System Restore files.

You should remove System Restore files and shadow copies only if you’re desperate for hard drive space. These files can help you get your system back to normal if the current installation files become damaged or your configuration gets out of whack.
Click OK to start the cleanup process.

Windows asks whether you’re sure that you want to delete these files.
Click Yes.

Your hard drive is now cleaned up.