Over time, Windows stores many backups in the system, temporary files, old drivers, which will gradually take up space on your hard drive. Of course, you can free up space on your hard drive, but what to do if old drivers for a device interfere with the installation of new versions? Particularly problematic are wireless mice, keyboards and other USB devices that sometimes do not want to work until we remove the old drivers and install new ones.
Drivers are small necessary applications to connect any device and make it work. The Windows system has a very large database of drivers for different types of devices: printers, mice, sound cards, boards, etc. Some manufacturers release their own versions of drivers that are necessary for operation, and drivers in the Windows database may not always work with a particular device. To do this, we need to remove old unnecessary driver versions and install new ones from the manufacturer.
How to remove a previous driver version
Every time the driver is updated over and over again, the old backup copies of the drivers remain in the system, thereby clogging the hard drive and preventing the installation of new driver versions. To remove previous versions of the driver, write in "Search" (near Start) Command line or CMD, right click on it and run on behalf of the administrator, then in the window that opens, enter the command cleanmgr.
Check the box next to the item Device driver packages and click OK. This will clean up all old driver packages.
How to remove old device drivers in Windows
Most often, native hidden installed drivers remain, which the above method will not remove them. Hidden drivers remain in the system and when a new device is detected, they automatically install their hidden, old drivers and therefore interfere with the installation of new ones.
- Press a combination of buttons Win+R and enter the following command devmgmt.msc to open Device Manager.
- In Device Manager, click View >
Note: If for some reason they are not displayed, then see below how to fix hidden display of devices.
We see poorly highlighted devices in the picture above; these are hidden drivers that sometimes interfere with us.
- To remove old hidden drivers, just right-click on it and Delete.
- If you have the option to check a box, check the box.
How to identify hidden device drivers in the device manager
Note: The command is related to displaying hidden drivers in Device Manager, older versions of Windows XP, 7.
- Run Command line as administrator and enter the command:
SET devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices = 1
You can go to Device Manager and try to show hidden ones.
You need to go to the “Settings” section in the “Main Menu”, and in it select the “Delete personal data” item. Selecting this item will open a dialog box where you need to expand the full list of data stored by the browser that can be designated for deletion. To do this, click the “Detailed” label and check all the data types that you need. The item “Clear browsing history” is also on this list. Pay special attention to the option to delete passwords - uncheck this item if you want to save them. Finally, click OK.
In Mozilla FireFox, to clean, you need to open the “Tools” section in the menu and select “Settings”. In the “Settings” window that appears, on the “Privacy” tab, click the lowest button - “Clear now”. This will open the “Delete personal data” dialog box, where you need to check the “Journal” box. If you need to delete other data, make the appropriate marks. Then click the "Remove Now" button.
In Internet Explorer, to get to the “Delete Browser” option, you need to select “Delete Browser” in the “Tools” section. This will open a window with several sections. In the “History” section, you need to click on the “Delete History” button. The browser will ask you to confirm the operation - click “Yes”.
In the Google Chrome browser, just press the key combination CTRL + SHIFT + DEL to open a window with the title “ Clear data". You can also choose the long way - click the icon with the image of a wrench in the upper right corner, select the “Tools” section in the menu, and in it the “Delete data on viewed documents” item. In the window for clearing browsing data, you need to specify the period and check the box next to “Clear browsing history”, and then click the “Delete browsing data” button.
Many users have upgraded their operating system to windows 10 from windows 7 or windows 8.1. After this, they noticed a significant reduction in free space on drive C. When analyzing it, you can pay attention to a folder called windows.old, the size of which can often be close to 10 GB. This folder stores files from the previous version of Windows that was before the update.
In this article we will tell you how to remove the previous version of Windows after upgrading to Windows 10 and thereby get rid of the windows.old folder on the system drive C.
Delete windows.old - the folder with the previous version of windows
To do this, click on the notification icon in the lower right corner of the screen near the clock. In the menu that opens, select “All parameters”.
Menu item - “System”
Then select “Storage” from the menu on the left.
Let's move on to analyzing the space on drive C
Your local drives will be displayed on the right side of the window. Click on drive C, where the windows.old folder is located.
The analysis will be carried out for a few seconds, after which data on the occupied space will be displayed. Files from the previous version of Windows are located in the Temporary Files section.
Open "Temporary Files"
Scroll down the window that opens and find the “Delete previous versions” button.
Computers are devices of fine technical and software organization. One of the conditions for their functioning at 100% of their existing potential is, naturally, cleanliness and order both inside and outside the system unit, and directly in the hard drive partitions. If you do not systematically clean your PC from dust, dirt and “digital debris,” sooner or later trouble will happen to it. It will begin to “slow down” and “glitch” or fail altogether - it will stop starting.
This article will help you clear drive C of unnecessary files manually and using special programs.
How to remove unnecessary files manually?
Empty the trash!
In Windows, all previously deleted folders and files are stored in a special directory called “Trash”. It performs the same functions as a trash can in a house or apartment - all the trash is thrown into it. You can restore data that you deleted from this software reservoir at any time.
However, if the “Trash” only stores everything unnecessary, it must be emptied. Because recycled “digital trash” continues to occupy system partition space. Why waste it? Still, it’s better to spend your free megabytes (or even gigabytes!) on a useful program or game. Agree.
To empty the Trash, do the following:
1. Right-click on the “Recycle Bins” shortcut on your desktop.
2. From the contextual set of options, select “Empty Trash.”
"Cleaning" in Windows directories
During operation of the operating system, so-called temporary files accumulate in its folders. After a one-time use of Windows or some other program, they turn into “ballast”.
To get rid of them:
1. Press the key combination - “Win” and “E”.
2. Right-click on the “Disk C” icon.
3. In the system menu, click “Properties”.
4. In the new window, on the General tab, click Disk Cleanup.
5. Wait a moment. The system utility needs to analyze the directories before deleting files from the disk.
6. Check the boxes next to the items that need to be deleted (“Magazine”, “Sketches”, etc.).
7. Click the “Clear...” button.
Upon completion of the procedure, you can also remove the saved OS restore points and thereby further increase the free space of the system partition. This is done like this:
1. In the same window, go to the “Advanced” tab.
2. In the “System Restore…” block, click “Clean”.
3. Confirm deleting backup points: in the request message, click “Delete”.
Attention! After running the command, the Windows utility deletes all existing restore points except the last one.
What's going on in the Temp folder?
The Temp folder also serves as storage for temporary files. Many programs and the operating system itself place their elements in it during various operations (unpacking archives, updating, installation, etc.).
You definitely need to visit Temp regularly and clean out all its contents. It can store not only temporary files, but also viruses. A huge number of digital “strains” are placed here after a successful attack on a PC.
To clear Temp:
1. Open the folder. It is located in the directory:
Drive C → Users → → AppData → Local
2. Press the combination “Ctrl+A” to select all files and folders.
3. Click the right mouse button. Select "Delete".
Have you been on the Internet? Clean up your browser!
After visiting sites, a fairly large amount of information, including confidential information, is stored in the cache (special storage) and browser log. Naturally, it also reduces the precious free megabytes of the C drive.
Therefore, make it a rule to clean your browser after finishing web surfing (working on the Internet). This procedure will not take much of your time - only 1-2 minutes, no more!
1. In almost all popular browsers (Opera, Google Chrome, Firefox), cleaning is launched by the hot key combination - “Ctrl + Shift + Del”. Click them simultaneously while in a web browser window.
2. In the settings of the panel that opens, specify that you need to delete the data that was saved for the entire period of using the browser. Also check the boxes next to the objects that need cleaning.
3. Click the "Clear history" button.
Get rid of unnecessary applications
Some users, especially beginners, experience “Plyushkin’s disease” during the process of selecting and installing programs and games.
Whatever they come across on torrent trackers, websites dedicated to software, and other Internet sources, as well as on disks and flash drives borrowed from friends and acquaintances, they are sure to install on their PC. And at the same time they are guided by the same thought as the well-known literary hero: “I’ll take it, keep it, it’ll come in handy someday.” As a result of this approach, computer clutter occurs almost exponentially.
To neutralize an unnecessary game or utility from Windows, follow this guide:
1. Click Start (the first icon on the left at the bottom of the display).
2. In the pop-up panel, click “Control Panel”.
3. In the “Programs” section, click “Uninstall...”.
4. Left-click once in the list on the program you want to get rid of.
5. Click at the top (above the list) the “Delete” option.
6. Follow the prompts of the uninstaller that opens to neutralize the software from the computer disk.
Advice! You can also open the uninstaller in another way: Start → All Programs → folder of the application to be removed → Uninstall file, or Uninstaller (or in Russian - Delete, Uninstall).
How to remove applications installed with the system?
The Internet Explorer browser, the Notepad application, games (Klondike, Solitaire, etc.) and other applications integrated into Windows cannot be uninstalled using the method described above, or using special utilities. They can only be disabled - make sure that they are not displayed in the operating system.
1. Open: Start → Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
2. In the window that opens, in the list on the left, click the last item - “Turn on and off components...”.
3. Uncheck the box next to the component that you want to remove (for example, Games → Mahjong).
4. Click OK. Wait until the operation completes.
Automatic removal of unnecessary files
Cleaner programs
This category of software is designed to help you clean up your system partition in a matter of minutes. Using special algorithms, these utilities delicately remove all existing “software obscenities” from the registry, OS directories, browsers and other applications.
Let's look at the most effective solutions.
Accurately detects and neutralizes temporary, unnecessary folders and files from drive C (Temp folder, thumbnail cache, memory dumps, system log). Correctly cleans browser directories (cache, cookies, browsing history, saved passwords and logins) and other trusted applications (WinRAR, Nero, Google panel, etc.). Brings order to the registry: checks its integrity, eliminates errors in “branches”.
One of the most powerful utilities for optimizing the OS and cleaning drive C. It efficiently cleans system folders and eliminates problems in the registry. Provides the user with the ability to comfortably manage startup, scheduled tasks and uninstall useless applications. Has special settings for selective cleaning.
The most convenient tool for global and selective cleaning of the system disk. Uses more than 90 algorithms for removing unnecessary objects. Highly optimizes the registry, startup, and general OS settings. Able to perform detailed monitoring of consumed system resources in real time. Very easy to operate.
To use nCleaner:
1. In the utility window, click the “Clean System” section.
2. To clean the directories on drive C, in the “Clean system...” block, click the “Clean Now” button.
To fix errors in the registry, click the same button, but in the “Registry clean...” block.
3. Upon completion of the analysis of the selected objects, click “Remove”.
What to do with unnecessary drivers?
Of course, delete it. If a device is no longer on the PC, for example, a video card, hard drive, webcam, then, accordingly, its driver is not needed.
To solve this problem, it is best to use specialized utilities. For example, Driver Sweeper. This tiny program is indispensable when you need to find out which drivers are installed in the OS and remove unnecessary ones. It has additional useful functions (registry cleaning, backup, etc.). Equipped with a multilingual interface.
Uninstaller programs
These maintenance utilities uninstall programs and games in a semi-automatic mode. They find and launch the uninstaller of the specified application, and then, after completing the standard uninstallation, free the system partition from the remaining elements of the removed application.
Let's look at the most popular uninstaller utilities on the Internet.
A worthy alternative to the system applet responsible for uninstalling software. Endowed with advanced functions, carefully analyzes directories. Finds all program remnants in folders and the registry. Equipped with an easy to use control panel.
It analyzes the disk and cleans it from “digital garbage” at lightning speed. Neutralizes objects from folders and the registry without interfering with the performance of the system and programs.
Solution from Chinese developers. Endowed with powerful algorithms for scanning system objects. Has the Force Scan function.
How to delete undeletable files?
If you have not yet encountered a situation where an unnecessary file “does not want” to be deleted, you will definitely encounter it in the future. This occurs because the object being deleted is being used by an application or driver.
Such problems are also resolved with the help of special utilities. Here are some of them:
Has a tiny size. Integrates into the OS context menu. Tells the user which specific process is blocking the application. Correctly removes files in directories. Operates with just a few mouse clicks.
Can remove a large number of file locks related to user rights, access and security. Instantly terminates all blocking processes and safely sends the selected item to the trash.
It is protected from inappropriate use: it does not delete files without which the system cannot work and in which confidential user data is stored. Effectively removes locks and deletes files of almost all categories.
Beware, memory eaters!
Windows, by default, reserves system partition memory for its special files. They can have a fairly substantial volume - 4.7, 10 GB or more. But if there is no need for these files, or rather for the functions that they support, of course, it makes sense to remove them. Who wouldn't mind another 5-10 free gigabytes on drive C?
Pagefile.sys
The swap file is a kind of software reservoir for PC RAM. It temporarily stores data that the RAM cannot accommodate. But if you have a powerful computer with about 6-8 GB of RAM, then this file can be removed by disabling a special option.
1. Go to: Panel → Control Panel → System and Security → System.
2. Click “Advanced options...”. In the properties panel, click "Options" in the "Performance" block.
3. Go to the “Advanced” subsection.
4. In the “Virtual Memory” block, click “Change”.
5. Uncheck the “Automatically select...” option.
6. Click the radio button “No paging file”, click “OK”.
Advice! To reduce the size of pagefile.sys., click “Specify size” and enter the file size in megabytes in the “Initial ...” and “Minimum ...” fields.
Hiberfil.sys
This file stores data when the PC enters a special “Sleep mode” - hibernation. If you do not use this option, do the following:
1. Open Start. In the search bar, type - CMD.
2. Run the application that appears in the panel with administrator rights.
3. Enter the directive - powercfg.exe /hibernate off
4. Press "Enter".
You can also disable hibernation through the “Run” panel (launched by the “Win + R” combination). Type in its line - powercfg –h off and click “OK”.
Successful Windows cleaning!
In today's step-by-step instructions, we will look at a convenient way deleting attendance history in the Internet browser, clear the cache, delete cookies, and let's clear the history file downloads. Let me remind you that we will do this in the world's most popular Internet browser. Google Chrome.
In order to clear the cache (temporary files) in the Google Chrome browser, you will need to perform the following operations on your personal computer:
Open google chrome ( in the upper right corner directly above the "Close" button) by clicking on the button with the image of three horizontal lines. After completing this action, an additional Internet browser menu will open.
In this menu item you need to hover over the item "Story" or "Tools" in the drop-down menu click > deleting browsing data.
Also in the browser Google Chrome there are very comfortable ones Hotkeys to perform these actions.
The key combination CTRL+H (pressed simultaneously) in any browser window opens the “History” tab. In this tab, you can click on the “Clear history” button. After completing this action, a new tab will open with a selection of actions. You can choose which data to delete and for what period. For example, you can delete information about visits for the last hour, day, week, or delete history for the entire time you worked with the Google Chrome browser. To do this, check all the boxes and select "All time". All browsing data will be permanently destroyed.
If you choose another action, do not forget to check the boxes next to the data that needs to be deleted in the window that opens. For example, you don't want to delete autofill form data (the function helps to automatically fill out web forms, such as saving a login and password when logging into a mailbox or a site login form in contact). If you want the input form data to remain, you need to uncheck two items: “Clear saved passwords” and “Clear saved form autofill data.”
Let's proceed to describe the second method of deleting data using hotkey combinations
Ctrl+Shift+De l (+ mean pressing all these keys simultaneously)
After clicking keys Ctrl+Shift+Del The “Clear History” form will open, which you are already familiar with from the description above.
I hope that completing all these simple steps was not a hassle for you, but if anything is unclear, you can leave a comment. We will definitely answer.
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