Cleaning the glass surfaces
Cleaning the glass surfaces
To clean your C partition, you can use tools that remove unnecessary files and junk. There are free options available, such as disk cleanup utilities or specialized software that help declutter your system without needing ongoing fees. Your antivirus feature might work for basic removal, but for more thorough cleaning, consider dedicated partition management programs.
Begin by utilizing the native Disk Cleanup tool. Running it with administrative privileges ensures you remove as much data as possible. You might also consider using a utility like space sniffer (http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/) to map your drives and visualize unused space. This often works best when executed with admin rights.
You may notice unexpectedly large amounts of space consumed by certain system directories, such as C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore. Tools like DriverStoreExplorer (https://github.com/lostindark/DriverStoreExplorer) can help clean these up safely.
For folders like C:\Windows\Installer or C:\AMD, you can delete files without risking system issues, but proceed with caution. Files in C:\ProgramData and %USERPROFILE%\AppData require careful evaluation based on your usage.
A pagefile that expands excessively can also consume significant space—consider using powercfg.exe to disable hibernation if needed.
The "Documents" folder often gathers temporary files from various programs, sometimes hidden or otherwise. Managing these areas thoroughly is essential.
If you find it challenging to clean everything properly, a fresh installation might be the best option. This suggestion applies especially if you've encountered unauthorized installations.
Just keep it as is until you run out of space. THEN if you do cleanup, you'll notice the changes. You can use Autoruns to see what programs start or run at boot and check installed software without your consent. Or RAPR if you need to remove old drivers, like those from NVidia. Don't spend time cleaning unnecessarily. It's not just dust; often people who over-clean end up with a broken system because the Windows folder holds too many unused files.
You might want a sandbox to limit what changes are made. It won’t fully clean your PC, but it could prevent unnecessary buildup. Today’s computers handle issues better, and we have more free space, so it shouldn’t noticeably slow things down unless you install many programs. I only remove files when I’m sure I don’t need them anymore or when clearing temporary data like cache and cookies. Otherwise, I usually run a full system check once a year, restoring everything to its original state with the software I already use.