Disk Cleanup question
 

My friend has been given a laptop, OS windows XP. It is taking an age to view /load etc. In Local Disk (c) Properties it shows that the used space and the free space is almost equal. Time for a clean up, but is it safe to delete these files, and if not which ones to leave. Also would it be wise to create a restore point prior to doing the Cleanup? Oh! and any other tips to get it going faster please?

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

There are loads of disk cleanup tools out there... my favourite is FCleaner (free). Auslogics do great disk defrag and registry defrag/clean tools (free). Also try turning OFF system restore to clear LOADS of space, then turn it back on again after a defrag if you think you really need it..

You can also trawl through add/remove programs and get rid of any you will not use.

And check through your startup programs for ones that are not all that necessary as they can bring most startups to a crawl (Adobe Acrobat updater is one I found to do this).

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

I just clicked on the start menu/all programmes and found a folder 'startup' listed. It contains 'adobe gamma loader.exe' and 'adobe reader speed launch'.

I find that sometimes my PC takes quite a long time to boot fully so could these items be the cause? There are no other programmes shown in the folder so where are the rest hiding?

Cheers. :tu:

ps keeping my eye on your progress Tinky, you'll be my guinea pig.... ;)

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

hit win key and r and type msconfig. Have a look down the list. Most of whats there can be stopped. I personally just keep AV running on my tower. If on a laptop thats wifi enabled make sure any wireless app is running also you may want to keep the track pad running from start up.

Running apps are more likely to be slowing the system than fragmented files imo

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

The only true way to speed up a computer is to put more memory in it. Disk cleaning, etc. is just robbing Peter to pay Paul. In other words, you're not really solving the problem.

The files that Windows shows when you hit "Disk Cleanup" should all be safe to delete. If you have a large amount of Temporary Internet Files then getting rid of them may go some way to improving the situation.

As you won't be changing any root system related files then a Restore Point probably won't be needed. A back up would be more helpful should things go a bit awry.

In short, more memory is what you need.

John

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

lookie here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

I think I would re-install the OS.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Sorry to sound like a broken record but re-installing an OS or performing disk cleanups is just skirting round the real problem. Yes, a fresh OS install always performs better and yes a disk cleanup can have some speed benefit but ultimately you'll find yourself back where you started.

The OS install route is fine if you can store all your saved files and have the media or whatever to make sure drivers and applications can be re-installed but it's a whole load of faff just to grab a short period of better performance.

That's what I think anyway.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

that is not always true MTJR. A system could quite easily have so much running at boot it is using most if not all of available physical ram so anything and everything else is running in page file.
By stopping these processes you could quite easily clear up enough ram to allow windows to run smoothly

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

If she's been given a laptop I'd recommend a clean install. She knows nothing about the history of the machine and the former user's browsing habits. In that sort of situation there is always a danger of the machine being compromised by trojans/malware or rootkit installs.
You could spend a few hours hitting it with every anti-this and that scanner known to man or do a fresh install in less than an hour.

Personally I'd never trust an unknown computer with anything important. I've seen too many client computers riddled with malware and them totally unknowing.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Thank you all very much for your replies. Don't think she would be able to do a clean install as she has no disks. But now that I know that all the Downloaded progs/Temp Internet files/Temp files/etc (of which there are numerous) displayed in Disk Cleanup, are safe to delete I will suggest to her that that would be the way I would tackle her problem. She already knows how to defrag. I may also suggest she also downloads Eusing Free Registry Cleaner. Any further tips? :)

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Ccleaner is one of the most popular cleaning tools around today, I run this every night and everytime i do online banking or enter my creditcard details too and it only takes seconds.

This is also a FREE program.

http://www.piriform.com/

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

yes what I said lol

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

I don't mind being the guinea pig, especially if it will help others, and I am keeping in mind all that has been said. Will keep you posted on the results.:erm:

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Just for your information:
If the laptop has a license sticker for XP then she'd be OK to do a fresh install from suitable borrowed media. So long as it's a valid license that's all that really matters. (Although Microsoft would probably dispute that)

Another vote for Ccleaner from me but stay away from the registry cleaner option. It can be destructive unless you know *exactly* what you're doing.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Exactly why I made my recomendation.

See if you can download the restore disk(s) from the computers manufacturers site.

My Daughter was in a similar position with a second hand HP Pavilion. I spent a lot of time clearing out the crap, malware and virii on it but it was to no avail as one problem after another kept cropping up. Eventually I bit the bullet and restored the system and it ran fine after that.

IIRC I think I or she got a set of restore disks from HP or somewhere.

It was a long time ago and my memory is not what it was. :(

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

So what's the alternative?

Actually, as noted above, if you've been given the laptop, it's good to a re-formation/re-install anyway as you have no idea what the previous owner had on there, whether it is good or bad, legal or illegal.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

In short, there isn't an alternative.

A software solution is only ever going to get you so far. In my experience adding physical memory to a unit has always greatly improved performance.

Also, unless you are reasonably experienced in these things a re-install is something that can easily go wrong. The OS part of the process isn't that difficult but you then have the issues regarding device drivers. It can be a headache for even the experienced IT person.

However, if disk cleanups and what not work for you or anybody else then fair enough.

John

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

its not always possible to add ram to systems. Plenty of Socket A motherboards for example can only support 2x256 meg of ram.

Systems over time have lots of programs added and quite often these have start up elements that run in the back ground when then system boots up. These all swallow up available ram so stopping them auto start up helps.

In short just saying add more ram is not very helpful and it most certainly is not the only option

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Guys, guys, let's all just get along.....:D

The optimal solution is probably a combination of both approaches - more RAM if it can be fitted, and a system clean-up (with possibly an OS re-install if the OP is confident enough).

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

No issues here for me. :) Just chewing the fat.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

No issues here either..

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

ditto lol

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

It would be interesting to know a little more about the laptop. If it's a real old clunker then it may not be worth too much time or money for RAM.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Update

Spent all morning at my friend's house. We decided to delete all the files which showed up in Disk Cleanup and things seemed to speed up a little, it took an absolute age! Strangely some files still remained namely 'compress old files' which consisted mainly of Java thingies which dated back to 2008. Is it safe to delete them manually? Also off topic, I have made Outlook Express her email client, but I am unable to import the address book from her Hotmail account, even though I have followed the instructions and created csv(?) file. Her lappy is a Dell Inspiron 2200 but has very little RAM? 34GB and she has used 11.6 does that make sense? She has entrusted me with her lappy overnight, I would like to give it back to her in much better working order, if that is poss. :)

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

I think you mean that it has a 34.6Gb hard disk, if it had 34.6Gb of RAM then I think it would fly, literally.

If you can leave the thing running overnight you may want to do a defragmentation of the hard disk (right click, select PROPERTIES and then TOOLS).

Not having experience of converting Hotmail contacts I'll have to leave that to someone more knowledgeable.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Maybe this will help with the contacts problem.

Never had to do it myself so hope it works for you. :)

---------- Post added at 20:48 ---------- Previous post was at 20:39 ----------

I still think you should re-install the OS.

Check out this site for some info and help.

Apparently you should have a restore partition already on the HDD which you can access with Ctrl + F11.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Thanks for that MTJR! I do tend to get my Gb's and Mg's confused but you knew what I meant lol. I will also try defragging that is a good idea, that should also help.

Thanks also Mick for your help. Unfortunately she doesn't have Excel, I am going to persevere for a bit with other methods, if all else fails I will have to enter them manually, so all is not lost. Reinstalling the system is not an option for her.

Thanks again everyone! :tu: :)

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

OpenOffice ( http://www.openoffice.org/ ) is a free alternative to MS Office.

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Paul it's very kind of you to suggest that, another alternative which is my favourite is Serif Page Plus SE which is a free application, it's a small file and doesn't take up much space. I make cards, type letters and all sorts on it.

I'm learning something new every day and it's all down to those on CF who unstintingly come to my rescue. That is why I like the 'Most helpful' thread as I think their efforts should be recognised. I'd also like to thank my agent, my friends, the man across the road, the milkman.............lol! :D

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

Don't tell me.

You'd also like to work with children and animals?

;)

Re: Disk Cleanup question
 

How did you guess lol? !:D:D:D