user profile is 3.2 Gigs!

[christa]

After weeks of uninstalling programs, zipping large
files, removing icons from the taskbar and desktop,
defragging, running virus and ad-aware scans, ensuring
windows updates are current, and deleting temporary files
and cookies, my computer is still slow.

Now I discovered my user profile is 3.2 GIGS (as opposed
to the regular 1.5 megs) !!! Apparently this is why my
computer runs so slow.

Does anyone know how I can find out why it's so large and
how I can reduce it (and how I can prevent this from
happening again)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Unknown]

Do you run clean disk, defrag, and a registry cleaner?

 

[Guest]

You don't have something large saved to your desktop, by
any chance? For example, instead of (the usual) shortcut
to "My Documents", you haven't accidentally copied the
folder to the desktop??? Just check all the properties
for the desktop icons...

 

[Kenny M]

Interesting thread! Questions:
1) Where do I look to find out the size of my user profile?
2) Are you saying the Desktop CONTENTS (not just settings) are saved into
the user profile? I usually save whatever I'm currently working on on the
Desktop rather than My Documents, so I can reach it quicker. Is this a bad
habit?

You don't have something large saved to your desktop, by
any chance? For example, instead of (the usual) shortcut
to "My Documents", you haven't accidentally copied the
folder to the desktop??? Just check all the properties
for the desktop icons...