How To Clean A Windows 10 Computer

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Content

• Helpful information
• Method 1: third-party software
• Method 2: System Tools
• Method 3: Selective cleaning
• WinSxS
• Temporary Files
• Software Distribution
• Prefetch
• Fonts

In the catalog Windows the data necessary for the normal operation of the system is stored, so you should not touch it again. At the same time, it accumulates a large number of temporary and unnecessary files, which can be deleted in a situation of critical shortage of free disk space. Today we'll show you how to do this on your Windows 10 PC.

Helpful information

Before you start cleaning up one of the most important folders in Windows 10, back up your system. Use an external hard drive whenever possible. We have written in detail about the methods of backing up the "dozens" in a separate article.

Read more: How to back up Windows 10

To conveniently monitor the cleaning results, you can use disk space analyzers. They clearly show in one window how much space each directory takes up in a folder. Windows... Using the TreeSize Free program as an example, it looks like this:

Download TreeSize Free from the official website

1. Install the application, right-click on the shortcut and run it as administrator.



2. In the tab "The main" push "Choose catalog", and then "Select a directory to scan".



3. Find the folder on the system drive Windows and click "Select folder".



4. When the application parses the directory, it will show you how much and how much disk space each subfolder is occupying.



5. To re-scan the folder, click "Refresh".

Although you can delete files with TreeSize Free, you shouldn't do this in this case. The program simply will not have permission to clear most of the system data, and some folders cannot be cleaned without special OS tools.

Method 1: third-party software

One of the easiest and fastest ways to reduce folder size Windows and other directories of the system disk is special software. Let's see how to do this using the CCleaner program as an example:

Download CCleaner

1. We launch the application, go to the block "Standard cleaning" and open the tab Windows... The file types that are recommended to be deleted are already marked here. We press "Analysis".

   

   In addition, other points can be noted, but usually they do not free up a lot of space, but they significantly increase the cleaning time.



2. Push "Cleaning" and wait for the application to exit.

SyCliner is primarily a system optimization tool, so it removes only the most unnecessary files. Deep into the folder Windows it will not climb. Therefore, when you need to free up disk space, this method is more efficient to use in conjunction with the following two.

Method 2: System Tools

Slightly more system files allows you to clean the built-in OS application Disk Cleanup.

1. Using the Windows search, open the application Disk Cleanup.

   

   See also: How to open search in Windows 10

2. Select the system drive and click "OK".



3. Push "Clean up system files" and wait for the application to re-evaluate the amount of space that can be freed.



4. We select the files, read the descriptions for them at the bottom and put a checkmark in front of those that we are going to delete. Remember that the system will not allow you to erase what it cannot work without. We press "OK".

   

   We confirm the action. The application will take time to complete cleaning. As in the first method, files will be deleted not only from the folder Windowsbut also from other directories of the system drive.

Method 3: Selective cleaning

Consider a method that allows for more targeted cleaning, i.e. erase only the data that is within the directory Windows... At the same time, we will figure out which subfolders from it can be additionally cleaned without harm to the system.

WinSxS

This is the Windows Component Store, which is designed to support the functionality needed to update and customize the system. For example, the files contained in it are used to enable, disable and install new versions of Windows components, restore the system, remove problematic updates, etc. Manually delete or move "WinSxS" it is impossible, since these actions can harm the system. But you can reduce its size using the tools built into the OS.

1. In the Windows search, enter "Command line" and run it with administrator rights.

   

   See also: Run "Command Prompt" as administrator in Windows 10

2. Enter the code in the field:

   Dism.exe / online / cleanup-image / AnalyzeComponentStore

   Push "Enter".



3. The utility will analyze the system component store and report if it needs cleaning.



4. To clear, enter the code:

   Dism.exe / online / cleanup-image / StartComponentCleanup

   Push "Enter" and wait for the process to complete.

"WinSxS" the directory itself is large, so if it is less than 8 GB, you will hardly be able to free up a lot of space. Other cleaning methods "WinSxS" we have described in detail in a separate article.

Read more: Ways to Clean Up WinSxS Folder in Windows 10

Temporary Files

Catalog "Temp" is used by the system to store temporary files that may be useful to it, but are not important. Therefore, if it takes up a lot of space, you can delete it. Learn more about cleaning "Temp" we wrote in a separate article.

Read more: How to clear the system Temp folder

Software Distribution

Windows Update uses this folder to download updates and then install them. It is sometimes specially cleaned to troubleshoot system update issues. This can be done manually. In this case, if any updates did not have time to be installed, they will be re-downloaded. We find "Software Distribution" in the catalog Windows and delete all data from the folder "Download".

Prefetch

After each start of the computer, Windows keeps track of which programs users use most often. She stores this information in the form of entries in the folder "Prefetch"to run this software faster next time. Many applications are removed over time, but records of them remain. If they take up a lot of space, we delete all data from "Prefetch"... After several launches, the system will still restore all the information it needs.

Fonts

The operating system, in addition to the standard ones, stores the fonts of the software installed on the computer. If the folder with them is too large, you can delete the unnecessary ones, leaving only those that were installed with the system.

1. Go to the Windows folder and find the directory "Fonts".



2. A list with fonts will open. Below you can see how many positions there are in total.



3. Scroll the list to the right to the column "Designer / Publisher" and remove any fonts that are not owned by Microsoft Corporation.

Now you know how to safely empty your Windows folder. It all depends on the situation. If you just need to remove junk from your computer, CCleaner and others like it are the best option. If the goal is to free up as much disk space as possible, it is better to use all methods at once.

How To Clean A Windows 10 Computer

Source: https://en1.drunkentengu.com/how-clean-windows-folder-in-windows-10-1982

Posted by: henrythadermly.blogspot.com

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