Windows Cleaning Tips

The Windows operating system provides you with a great deal of functionality and allows you to do amazing things with your computer, things that were unimaginable just a few years ago. But event today’s powerful PCs can get bogged down with clutter that slows them down. These Windows Cleaning Tips will clear out the junk and get your PC back up to speed.

Windows requires regular cleaning because of the way it stores information. It places a great deal of information in its cache and temporary folders in order to let you access data faster. For example, frequently visited websites load faster because many of the images are downloaded and stored locally on your PC temporarily.

Another way Windows gets bogged down is with unnecessary entries in the Windows Registry. This registry stores information about all the hardware, software, and user settings on your PC – even obsolete ones. Imagine all the temporary and obsolete information that accumulates over time. No wonder your PC is slow.

In addition, many programs are loaded each time you boot your PC which takes a bite out of your system resources such as memory and processor power.

Now that you understand why Windows needs a good, regular cleaning, how are you going to clean it up? Here are three tips to get you started.

Windows Cleaning Tip #1: Clear the cache and delete temporary files. Not only will you free up disk space, your PC will run more efficiently and shouldn’t freeze up as often or generate as many errors. To do this, open Internet Explorer, choose Tools, and Internet Options. In Windows Vista, you’ll find settings for clearing temporary internet files located under Browsing History.

 
Windows XP will have a section called Temporary Internet Files and an option for to Delete Files.

Another related task is to use the Disk Cleanup utility. To access this utility, go to My Computer (Computer in Windows Vista) and right-click the drive you want to clean. Choose Properties and click Disk Cleanup.

You can clean out temporary files, downloaded program files, Recycle Bin files, old system Restore Points, and programs and features that you do not use.

Windows Cleaning Tip #2: Defragment your hard drive. Your hard drive stores data across the entire disk, splitting files at will in order to make them fit in the various storage areas. For example, you may have a file that started out small but has grown as you’ve edited it. Soon, the file no longer fits in the section of the hard drive where it was originally stored. Windows breaks the file up into smaller fragments and puts the file back together when you need it. While this accomplishes the goal of saving your data, it slows the system down.

As the drive becomes more fragmented, it becomes harder for Windows to piece the files back together. Defragging the drive realigns the bits and pieces of each file so that they are stored in a more efficient manner. As a result, your PC speeds up.

To defragment your hard drive, go to My Computer, right-click the drive you wish to defrag, choose Properties, and click on the Tools tab.

Click the Defragment Now button and follow the prompts.

Windows Cleaning Tip #3: Clean up the Desktop. You’d be surprised at how many icons some computer users have on their desktop. If you’re not surprised, then it’s safe to say you probably have too many on your desktop as well. Each icon represents a shortcut to a file or program. It takes time and resources for Windows to load each icon and reference the appropriate shortcut. While you’re at it, consider removing the wallpaper or choosing one with a smaller file size. If you have a large image that must be loaded, resources are diverted from other processes to it.

Even after cleaning Windows, some junk remains in your system including remnants from uninstalled programs and disabled device drivers, file associations, system shortcuts, and even spyware entries. Your registry can become clogged with garbage that typical built-in Windows utilities can’t deal with. Third party registry cleaners will do the trick and act both as a cleaner as well as a performance enhancer.