Keep it Clean

Originally, I had planned to release these as one post. Space limitations, a lack of time and length comments from my readers, however, have caused me to change my mind. Each section has been expanded and will be released on my regular, two-week schedule.

It's astonishing how much junk can build up on a PC. Old metadata files, system and internet browser temp files, prefetch data, cookies- need I continue? Depending on your system usage, it's easy to build up multiple gigabytes of stored information that is doing little more than taking up space on the hard drive. All of this excess data will take up free space on your drive and slow your computer down; because of the physical limitations of your hard disk, bloating your drive with junk files will slow down your computer's capabilities and shorten the lifespan of your drive. Regularly cleaning out these files is necessary to maintain a speedy, optimized system.

Windows has a Disk Cleanup tool that tries to accomplish this, but don't waste your time with it. Instead, use CCleaner from Piriform. Available as a free download (who doesn't love free?), CCleaner will delete internet browser files, temp metadata files, system logs, prefetch data, and more. It even gives security buffs and paranoid nuts the option to wipe the free space on the drive, increasing security and making it more difficult to retrieve lost data. In addition, CCleaner will scan your registry for errors and invalid entries and delete them. While this doesn't save a lot of space on your drive, it boosts the efficiency of your file system and keeps your computer from making a log of unneccessary files.

There's no scientific formula for determining when to clean out old files. I know this can be frustrating for users looking for a quick, no-bull answer (myself included), but the truth is the answer depends heavily on how much you use your computer. The cubicled office jock should probably clean out their system on a regular basis; every one or two weeks should do the trick. More sparing users, like my mother, probably don't have to worry about this very often, and can think of it as a spring cleaning-esque chore.

Running CCleaner won't take too long, unless you select the 'Wipe Free Space' option. Take a quick coffee break while you run this application. It can also be done overnight, though taking two minutes out of your day probably won't hurt that much. If you're that pressed for time, hire a secretary. Keep in mind, though, that you will be permanently deleting these files; while they are by no means essential to your computer's ability to function, it will mean re-entering information like passwords and online form entries again (unless you choose not to delete these. Smart cleaner, you).


'Keep it Clean' is part one in a seven-part series discussing computer performance and maintenance.