clean up file system

[KRK]

Hello,

I need to clean up my file sytem, delete temporary files etc etc, and
perhaps cleanup the registry as well.

I have (it seems) large amounts of disk space allocated to temporary or
zero-length files / directories. I don't know which can be deleted & which
cannot.

I am prepared to buy Norton systemworks (which worked well on my old XP
system). but is there a downloadable freebie that is recommended ?

Thanks for all advice

K

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Start/.../system tools/Disk Cleanup will do that job.

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Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
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[Malke]

Hello,

I need to clean up my file sytem, delete temporary files etc etc, and
perhaps cleanup the registry as well.

I have (it seems) large amounts of disk space allocated to temporary or
zero-length files / directories. I don't know which can be deleted & which
cannot.

I am prepared to buy Norton systemworks (which worked well on my old XP
system). but is there a downloadable freebie that is recommended ?

I definitely don't recommend anything by Norton. You can use Vista's own
Disk Cleanup for starters. If you want a third-party program, CCleaner is
excellent and free. However, I strongly suggest you do *not* use the
registry cleaner tools. There normally is no reason to mess about with the
registry and if you don't know how to do it manually, relying on some
third-party tool to do it is a recipe for disaster. Unless they are from
malware, extra entries in the registry are harmless.

Malke

 

[Ken Blake]

Hello,

I need to clean up my file sytem, delete temporary files

Good. Do so. You can do it manually, use the Windows disk cleanup, or a
program like ccleaner.

etc etc, and

Words like "etc etc." in this context scare me. Exactly what do they
embrace? Some things included within them are safe and good to do, but
others may not be. Specifically what do you want to do?

perhaps cleanup the registry as well.

That's a good example of something you should *not* do.

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the registry
isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any
registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of
registry cleaning software try to convince you of, having unused registry
entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit it may
have.

I have (it seems) large amounts of disk space allocated to temporary or
zero-length files / directories. I don't know which can be deleted & which
cannot.

I am prepared to buy Norton systemworks (which worked well on my old XP
system). but is there a downloadable freebie that is recommended ?

Norton Systemworks, like almost all Norton products, should be strongly
avoided. It is an unreliable product and can hurt you more than help you.

Before recommending another product (or products), I need to know
specifically exactly what you want to do.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Even though I might be only repeating what others say, it pays to emphasize:
I would not touch the registry, period.

More to that, avoid anything "Norton" - as I think the experiences with
their software have been more bad than good - especially utilities like
SystemWorks (or any similar product).

Even freebies like CCleaner has a "Registry Cleaner" in it, but members
here, who recommend CCleaner (for disk clean up) don't recommend using the
Registry cleaner aspect of that product.