Disk Clean Up

How do I use the Windows disk clean up tool to clean hard drive data?

The Disk Clean Up tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by searching your disk for files that you can safely delete. You can choose to delete some or all of the files. Use Disk Clean Up to perform any of the following tasks to free up space on your hard disk:

• Remove temporary Internet files.
• Remove downloaded program files.
• Empty the Recycle Bin.
• Remove Windows temporary files.
• Remove optional Windows components that you are not using.
• Remove installed programs that you no longer use.

You Can Start Disk Clean Up by Doing Any of the Following:

• Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type cleanmgr, and then click OK.
  
  
• Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Clean Up.
  
  
• In Windows Explorer or My Computer, right-click the disk in which you want to free up space, click Properties, click the General tab, and then click Disk Clean Up.
  
  

Disk Clean Up - Remove Files Stored on Your Hard Disk

To remove files stored on your hard disk that you no longer use, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• Right-click the disk in which you want to free up space, and then click Properties.
• Click the General tab, and then click Disk Clean Up.
• Click the Disk Clean Up tab (if it is not already selected), click to select the check boxes next to the files that you want to remove, and then click OK.
• Click Yes to the proceed with this action, and then click OK.

Disk Clean Up - Remove Windows Components

To remove Windows components that you are not using, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• Right-click the disk in which you want to free up space, and then click Properties.
• Click the General tab, and then click Disk Clean Up.
• Click the More Options tab, and then under Windows components, click Clean Up. The Windows Components Wizard starts.
• In the Components list, click to clear the check box next to the component(s) that you want to remove.
• A shaded check box next to a component indicates that only some of its subcomponents are installed.
If you want to remove a subcomponent, click Details, click to clear the check box next to the subcomponent(s) that you want to remove, and then click OK.
• Click Next.
• In the Completing the Windows Components Wizard page, click Finish.
• Click OK, click Yes to proceed with this action, and then click OK.

Disk Clean Up - Remove Installed Programs

To remove programs that you no longer use, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• Right-click the disk in which you want to free up space, and then click Properties.
• Click the General tab, and then click Disk Clean Up.
• Click the More Options tab, and then under Installed programs, click Clean Up. The Add or Remove Programs dialog box is displayed.
• In the Currently installed programs list, click the program that you want to remove, and then click Remove (or Change/Remove).
• If you receive a prompt to confirm the removal of the program, click Yes.
• Repeat step 5 and 6 to remove other programs that you no longer use, and then click Close.
• Click OK, click Yes to proceed with this action, and then click OK.

Disk Clean Up - Remove Restore Points

To remove all restore points except the most recent restore point, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• Right-click the disk in which you want to free up space, and then click Properties.
• Click the General tab, and then click Disk Clean Up.
• Click the More Options tab, and then under System Restore, click Clean Up.
• Click Yes to remove all but the most recent restore point.
• Click OK, click Yes to proceed with this action, and then click OK.

Source: Microsoft Corp.
"Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP"

Disk Clean Up - Permanently Remove Data with SecureClean

Although the Windows Disk Clean Up tool helps to remove Internet files and Windows components, the information won't be permanently deleted, and you may be exposed to identity theft. To completely erase traces of your personal information including passwords, credit card numbers, and previously deleted data and e-mail, you need advanced disk clean up software like SecureClean to completely overwrite the data. Protect yourself from identity theft by downloading SecureClean right now and scan your hard drive for sensitive information.