Is Disk Cleanup on My Hard Drive a Good Idea?

Any computer can become sluggish after being used for a while.

Disk Cleanup Will Speed Up Your Computer

The Disk Cleanup utility found on Windows 7, Vista, and XP will make your computer run faster and more efficiently. It removes unnecessary files from your computer, freeing space for files that you need.

You Might Need Those Files

Temporary internet files, which the Disk Cleanup utility can delete, make pages load faster by storing pieces of the site on your computer. Disk Cleanup can also remove system files and empty the recycle bin. Always exercise caution when permanently deleting files like this.

Bottom Line

As long as you make sure that you're not deleting anything essential by double-checking which files will be erased, there is no reason not to run Disk Cleanup. Regular computer users should run the utility often to avoid buildup of unnecessary files.

References

• Microsoft Support: Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
• Microsoft at Work: 5 Ways to Speed up your PC