Where do i go to clean unneeded files from my hard disk?

[Guest]

My memory is 55.8GB, I only have 462MB of free space. I have to keep doing
disk clean every 20min. while on computer and go to tools/internet
options/delete history in order not to keep getting low memory pop ups and
virtule memory pop ups. I am unable to do the disk defrag. because it tells
me it needs at least 15% of disk space!!!
It tells me to delete unneeded files from hard drive. But I'm not sure
where to go and I'm afraid I might delete something i'm not supposed too. I
did back up with the help of Windows live onecare.

Can anyone help, please!!! I dont have the money to buy any clean up
software!
Just need help

 

[Guest]

I have Windows XP HP Pavilion

 

[Guest]

I have Windows XP HP Pavilion

Hi Babs,
I am a novice at all this, but I do have the same problems with low memory.
Maybe I can help a little.
When you go to tools/internet option/ delete history...also, delete all that
is there..a the bottom of right below passwords..it will have delete all...do
this and when the pop up appears, check the box that has also delete files &
settings stored by add ons..then click OK...
Where do you go to do a defrag? On my PC (Compaq Pesario) with windows XP..I
go to start/help & support/pc tune up & repair..from here I can do a defrag
and also do a disk cleanup..this is very important to do this disk
cleanup...I check all boxes except for the compress old files box...this
truly frees up a lot of memory to get rid of all those temporary internet
files & temp files...this should free up enough space for you to defrag..I
hope this will help...
You can also go to start/control panel/add remove programs...here you can
remove programs that you have dowloaded that you may no longer wish to
keep...you have to be very careful in here tho..to NOt remove anything that
your unsure about..but a lot of times I will find a program or two that I
know is safe to remove and clear up a lot of memory...
Good Luck Hun!!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Babs,
I am a novice at all this, but I do have the same problems with low
memory.

To both of you, please note that you are *not* talking about memory, but
about disk space. the word "memory" is reserved for RAM--the thing you
probably have 256MB or 512MB of. I don't say this to make fun of either of
you, but if you don't get the terminology right, others will almost
certainly get confused when you ask or answer questions.

Maybe I can help a little.
When you go to tools/internet option/ delete history...also, delete
all that is there..a the bottom of right below passwords..it will
have delete all...do this and when the pop up appears, check the box
that has also delete files & settings stored by add ons..then click
OK...
Where do you go to do a defrag? On my PC (Compaq Pesario) with
windows XP..I go to start/help & support/pc tune up & repair..from
here I can do a defrag and also do a disk cleanup..this is very
important to do this disk cleanup...I check all boxes except for the
compress old files box...this truly frees up a lot of memory

Again, disk space, not memory.

to get
rid of all those temporary internet files & temp files...this should
free up enough space for you to defrag.

Yes, running disk cleanup is good to do

I hope this will help...
You can also go to start/control panel/add remove programs...here you
can remove programs that you have dowloaded

*Installed*, not downloaded. They are not the same.

that you may no longer
wish to keep...you have to be very careful in here tho..to NOt remove
anything that your unsure about..but a lot of times I will find a
program or two that I know is safe to remove

Yes, that's also good to do.

and clear up a lot of
memory...

Once again, disk space, not memory.

 

[Guest]

My memory is 55.8GB, I only have 462MB of free space. I have to keep doing
disk clean every 20min. while on computer and go to tools/internet
options/delete history in order not to keep getting low memory pop ups and
virtule memory pop ups. I am unable to do the disk defrag. because it tells
me it needs at least 15% of disk space!!!
It tells me to delete unneeded files from hard drive. But I'm not sure
where to go and I'm afraid I might delete something i'm not supposed too. I
did back up with the help of Windows live onecare.

Can anyone help, please!!! I dont have the money to buy any clean up
software!
Just need help

Thanks you for those who replied!

Although I have tried all these suggestions it still doesnt give me enough
disk space to do the disk defrag. I'm now also having the problem of not
being able to get in my add and remove programs. It will open but nothing is
showing up/no programs at all just blank. I tried downloading some registry
cleaners and fixs but they did not fix the problem. I need help bad!!! when
on the computer or internet I have to do disk clean up and do the internet
tools/internet options/delete browsing history all of that just to keep it
from going to a major slow! now i cant even get into add/remove programs to
remove anything at all!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

My memory is 55.8GB, I only have 462MB of free space. I have to
keep doing disk clean every 20min. while on computer and go to
tools/internet options/delete history in order not to keep getting
low memory pop ups and virtule memory pop ups. I am unable to do
the disk defrag. because it tells me it needs at least 15% of disk
space!!! It tells me to delete unneeded files from hard drive.
But I'm not sure where to go and I'm afraid I might delete
something i'm not supposed too. I did back up with the help of
Windows live onecare.

Can anyone help, please!!! I dont have the money to buy any clean
up software!

You need to archive your stuff to CD/DVD or external hard disk drive.
Memory/RAM is *not* the same as hard disk space - for future reference.
You are low on disk space - not memory/RAM.

If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete the
uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed...
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

Used Disk Cleanup?
Is hibernate turned on and do you use that feature?
Uninstalled unnecessary applications lately?

You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your
latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files"..

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it..

When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the system's
memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys
file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If you
don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that Windows
uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps:

- Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings,
Control Panel, and click Power Options).
- Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then
click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the
"System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the
hiberfil.sys file.
- Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power Schemes
tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file.

You can control how much space your System Restore can use...

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the System Restore tab.
3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on
the "Settings" button.
4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest 5% or
higher.
5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again.

You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can utilize...

Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 128MB and 512MB..

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.

You can use an application that scans your system for log files and
temporary files and use that to get rid of those:

Ccleaner (Free!)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Other ways to free up space..

SequoiaView
http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

DX Hog Hunt
http://www.dvxp.com/en/Downloads.aspx

JDiskReport
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html

Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used.