How to Clean Temporary & Old Files From a Drive With Windows 7

Temporary files and older, unused files stored on your hard drive can significantly decrease system performance. Finding and removing these files is one way you can speed up your computer and see smoother system performance. If you use Windows 7, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool to clean temporary files and the Windows Search functions to find and delete older files.

Instructions

How to Clean Temporary Files

1. Click on the "Start" button.

2. Click "All Programs." Click "Accessories."

3. Click "System Tools." Click "Disk Cleanup."

4. Check the box next to the "Temporary Files" option. Check the boxes next to any other file types you wish to clean from your system.

5. Click "OK." Click "Delete Files" in the pop-up window that appears to clean your system.

How to Clean Old Files

1. Click on the Start button.

2. Click on the Search box. Click "Date Modified" under the "Add a search filter" heading.

3. Click on a specific date or a series of dates that you would like to search. This will command Windows to display only files modified between a certain set of dates, allowing you to identify old files.

4. Type "datemodified:<" in the box at the top of the window, followed by a date if you want to search for all files modified before a certain date instead.

5. Press "Enter." Windows 7 will display all files modified on or before the dates specified in your search. Right-click on each file you wish to delete and click "Delete."

References

• AddictiveTips; Find and Clean Old Files from Your Hard Drive in Windows 7; November 2009
• Microsoft at homr: Slow PC? Optimize Your Computer for Peak Performance