How to clean a C drive in Windows operating systems

When working with Windows, users often need to solve a number of maintenance tasks for this operating system. For example, you have to learn how to clean the C drive.

What is it for

As you know, the available hard drive spacecan be broken into an arbitrary number of partitions - the so-called logical disks. The one on which the operating system is installed is called "system", and, as a rule, it is assigned the letter "C". Accordingly, if the hard drive is not partitioned, then there is only one disk C. Due to the peculiarities of the system, this directory is gradually clogged with unnecessary files, because of which the available space is reduced. Therefore, figuring out how to properly clean the C drive, you can to some extent save. The need to purchase a new hard drive after such a procedure is postponed.

Variants of how to clean a local disk C

There are several ways to clean the systemsection. One of them assumes the use of third-party programs, the other is based on the built-in Windows wizard, and the third is the independent removal of unnecessary ones. The best among them is not, because each has its own advantages.

Third-Party Applications

The most famous program is CCleaner,existing in the free version. After installing and starting from the left, select the "Cleanup" icon. In the "Applications" and "Windows" tabs, check the unnecessary files (in the Russian version everything is intuitively understandable) and click "Analysis". An approximate amount of data to be deleted will be displayed, which will be deleted after clicking "Clear". The advantage is obvious - there is no need to delve into the details of how to clean the C drive, since everything does the program. The disadvantage is that if the settings are incorrect, you can damage the operating system itself, which will require its reinstallation (precedents were).

Built-in wizard

In Windows systems, a softwareA mechanism that automatically removes unnecessary files. Many users know that if you do not clean the recycle bin and temp folder for a long time, a message appears on the desktop about the need for this procedure.

You can run this program forcibly, notWaiting until the set limit of the "aging time" is reached. To do this, open the "Computer" icon, invoke the properties of the system partition and click the "Disk Cleanup" button below the image of the disk space allocation. In the window, you will only have to tick off unnecessary data and confirm the changes. Obviously, there is nothing complicated in how to clean the C drive with this solution. The disadvantages include "narrow specialization" and, as a consequence, only partial removal of unnecessary files.

Manual erasure

A person who knows how to clean the C drive by hand,theoretically can most effectively carry out this task. The disadvantage is that it is necessary to understand well enough what file is needed for and what it is possible to remove without harm to the operation of the operating system. Here are just some folders that can be erased from the disk:

- the contents of the temp directory. It can be located on the path "WindowsTemp", as well as "Users a valid user name AppDataLocalTemp";

- When you install a Microsoft Office suite in the root directory of the system disk, a temporary Office directory is created. You can uninstall it after the installation is complete.