How do you remove hidden and useless files from a hard drive?

Unless you are an experienced and capable administrator (i.e. someone who has learned from the mistake of doing this sort of thing incautiously), you should generally rely on simple and free tools to do this.

For the most basic of cleaning tasks, use Windows 2000 and XP's own built-in tools:

1. Click Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup (you can also just click Start | run | then type: cleanmgr).

2. This tool will scan the drive, then present some options about cleanup. You can delete temporary files, clear internet caches, etc. Basic stuff.

3. On the 'more options' tab you can uninstall applications and components you are no longer using, or clear restore points (which are created when you install drivers and important software).

Once you have run through these steps, it's always a good idea to run the Defrag program to more efficiently use all that recovered space.

For more advanced (but still easy and bulletproof) cleaning, run the Microsoft Live Safety Center tool. Free, web-based, and does an excellent job cleaning not only useless files and defragmenting your hard drive, but also removing malware in all its forms. A one-stop shop.

http://safety.live.com/

Just click 'Full Service Scan', let it install the plugin, choose 'complete scan', then sit back and watch the action.

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You can set your folder options under My Computer, View to see hidden files, but that is dangerous to start deleting them. If you want a fresh start, you're better off to back up everything you want to keep onto another hard drive, cd burner, floppy, thumb drive, etc. then fdisk & format the hard drive to wipe it all out and reinstall your operating system and any games/programs, etc. you want on there. You can set your bios to boot from a windows cd or a floppy and it should walk you through the re-formatting of your drive.

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I apologize but I do not agree to going to extreme lengths such as formatting drive unless the operating system is not responding. Temp internet files, adwares, cookies, unused dlls from improperly uninstalled programs - all cause problems such as slowing down computer. However, most of the problems of a slow computer are caused by cluttered registry files. A good registry cleaner usually speeds up [use softwares such as pccon, errorkiller, errordoctor, they are the best]. An overall cleaning utility, which has never failed me is - Ace Utilities. It has everything that is needed to keep up and running - a drive cleaner, registry cleaner, startup add remove, etc etc - check yourself. These are inexpensive and worth their price shareware programs. The freeware programs I have never tried, but would surely try them someday. Right now, these are the best up on my saddle. ...... :) Komalsoft

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If you have broadband Internet your computer gets a lot of junk called data miners that monitor what you do and send this back to the company which send you pop ups. Very annoying. These data miners can take up a lot of room if they're left to accumulate and use up a lot of valuable CPU power so deleting them shows a considerable boost in power. They're usually very well hidden and it would take you from now till next year to delete them all as they're just continually downloading to your computer. There is software called Ad-Aware that will hunt them out and delete them. I seriously recommend it. lavasoftusa.com is the address I think.

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in the search for files and or folders on the c: drive...search for specific files called *.tmp and delete all found.You can also delete all ie5 files found in the windows temporary internet directory. If you are using a computer with a :restore: such as gateway goback or even windows system restore make sure you have a normal running machine at startup (no virus etc...)then in system troubleshooting disable system restore and all your restore points. On a reboot your system comes back healthy and clean. here is something I found by playing around...for those on AOL... type in your screen name in the search for files named(your screen name)look at what you will find! delete them all...and again on reboot all is well. Funny little thing called windows!

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well in my opinion never delete the programs manually do use the "add and remove" program in control pannel. bcoz in this way if u delete the installed program manually then some of the files ar eleft behind that are shared by other programs so in future this cause great problem.

secondly, if u want to remove the hidden files then u can goto views->folder option->files and folders->check the box with the option"show all files". then u can come back to ur drives and remove the files that u want to.

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I agree with using the free Windows tool Disk Cleanup which also works in Vista. When you invoke it with Start/Run/type: cleanmgr you should check all the boxes for removal EXCEPT the maintenance files for Microsoft Office 2002-2003 (over 200 MB) which should be left intact or you will need the original CD for repair later when problems occur with Office. Office 2007 does not leave maintenance files available for Disk Cleanup in Vista or XP as the maintenance files are installed to a hidden msocache folder. In XP you will see an entry checkbox for Office 2007 temporary files which you can check for removal. To sum it up...in Vista check all Disk Cleanup boxes, in XP check all boxes except for Office 2002-2003 maintenance files

I also like CCleaner and Cleanup!, but have found CCleaner is better in Vista. Cleanup! does run in Vista, but is slower than its performance in XP. For CCleaner you should leave unchecked Cookies so your saved web passwords will not be purged. Everything else I delete. I am not a big fan of registry cleaners as I find they can get the typical user in a lot of trouble fast by deleting important Windows registry entries. The Registry is the brains of Windows and best left to more experienced users.

How often to run temporary file removers? Often...and once a day is not excessive.

First answer by Chris Eberhart. Last edit by Texruss. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 395 [recommend question]

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