Clean Hard Disk

Cleaning the hard disk will improve the performance of your computer

Clean hard disk data to improve performance and remove the unwanted files that may be on your hard drive. Unfortunately, a common obstacle is knowing what you can clean off of the hard disk without causing any problems.

This page does require the reader to have an extensive knowledge of Windows and where Windows folders are located.

If you don't have that expertise, don't fear! Software tools exist to make this process quick and simple. SecureClean is a program tool that can:

• Clean hard disk data to improve system performance.
  
  
• Safely and reliably reclaim wasted disk space.
  
  
• Find and erase past web surfing history.
  
  
• Clean your hard disk of unneeded traces of personal information left on your computer.
  
  
• Protect you and your family from identity theft.
  
  
• If you are getting rid of your computer, or want to clean everything off your computer, including your operating system, then check out WipeDrive.
  
  

Clean Hard Disks - It Starts With Knowing What You Can Throw Away

When you install (or upgrade to) a new version of Windows, there are many files placed in your root directories and Windows directories that can be deleted. To access the root directory you will need to open the "My Computer" icon, then go to the local hard drive (most cases it is C). Now open the Windows folder. The files to remove include:

In Your Windows Directory:

• Anything with the extensions:
  • *.TXT
  • *.PRV
  • *.LOG
  • *.OLD
  • *.BAK
  • *.000, *.001 (and so on...)
  • and *.- - -.
    
    
• Any files with the following dates can also be deleted, for they belong to old versions of Windows:
• 03-10-92 - Windows 3.1
• 09-30-92 - Windows for Workgroups 3.1
• 11-01-93 - Windows for Workgroups 3.11
• 12-31-93 - Windows 3.11
  
  
• Do a search (Start Menu - Find Files or Folders) and search for any *.BMP and *.TXT files in the Windows directory. Use QuickView to view them, and delete them if desired.

In Your Windows System Directory:

• The entire WIN32S directory under your System directory - this is used only in Windows 3.x to allow certain 32-bit applications to run, but some older applications errantly install it in Windows. If you remove this directory, make sure to remove any references to it in your SYSTEM.INI file, and restart Windows.

In Your Temp Directory (usually WindowsTemp):

• You should never delete any files from this directory, unless the dates of the files are earlier than the last time you booted up. Your applications use these files to store temporary information, and won't function properly if you try to remove them. Usually, any files in this directory that are more than a day old can be safely removed.
  
  
• If you don't ever plan on uninstalling Windows, you can delete WIN95UNDO.DAT (Windows 98 only).

This information was written by:
Annoyances.org, August 2001

What Are All Of Those Strange Files In My Root Directory? Can They Be Deleted?

source: http://home.cvc.org/howto/strangefiles/

If you look in the root directory (C:) on a computer that runs Windows 95 or Windows 98, you will run across a lot of strange files. There are some files in your root directory that are just taking up room and make things look complicated. However, there are other files that are essential for the operation of Windows. Even the files that can be removed must be done so in the correct way, or trouble can result. Therefore, if you get the urge to remove some files from your root directory, read about each file first.

Some of you may find files in your root directory that are not on this list. Especially if those files end with the extensions.jpg.gif.bmp.wav.doc. wpg.htm and other ending associated with office programs, the chances are that you put them there yourself without realizing it. You may wish to move them to your personal folder. Removing files to clean the hard disk needs caution and careful planning.

Thus read about each of the following files carefully before moving or deleting files from your root directory. When in doubt, these are all relatively small files, so leave them... or notify me.

Read Carefully before deleting any of these files:

• Autoexec.bat - Windows configuration file
  This file contains commands that should be run by Windows before the 32-bit portion of the operating system is started. This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.
  
  
• Autoexec.dos - Previous MS-DOS Autoexec.bat file
  This file contains the original Autoexec.bat file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.
  
  
• Bootlog.prv - Previous Windows startup log file
  This file records the progress of the previous Windows startup process. When you request a logged boot (or if Windows performs one automatically), the previous Bootlog.txt file is renamed to Bootlog.prv before the new Bootlog.txt file is created. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Bootlog.txt - Windows startup log file
  This file records the progress of the Windows startup (boot) process. It is created if you request a logged boot, and is also created automatically by Windows if Windows detected that the previous boot was unsuccessful. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Command.com - Windows command line processor
  This program is the Windows command line processor. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.
  
  
• Command.dos - Previous MS-DOS Command.com file
  This file contains the original Command.com file from the previous operating system. It is used if you request to boot the previous operating system.
  
  
• Config.dos - Previous MS-DOS Config.sys file
  This file contains the original Config.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.
  
  
• Config.sys - Windows configuration file
  This file contains parameters that describe the real-mode (16-bit) drivers that should be loaded into memory as part of the Windows startup process. This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.
  
  
• Cvt.log - Drive Converter (FAT32) Log File
  This file is created by the Drive Converter (FAT32) when you convert a drive to FAT32 and may be useful for troubleshooting failed conversions. To remove this file, delete it from Windows Explorer.
  
  
• Detlog.old - Previous Windows detection log file
  This file records the progress of the previous Windows hardware detection process. When you request that new hardware be detected, the previous Detlog.txt file is renamed to Detlog.old before the new Detlog.txt file is created. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Detlog.txt - Windows detection log file
  This file records the progress of the Windows hardware detection process. It is created during hardware detection and is consulted by the hardware detection recovery process if the previous attempt to detect hardware caused problems. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Io.dos - Previous MS-DOS Io.sys file
  This file contains the original Io.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.
  
  
• Io.sys - Windows MS-DOS
  This file contains Windows MS-DOS. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.
  
  
• Logo.sys - Windows logo
  This file contains the Windows logo that is displayed as part of the startup process. Note that Windows 98 does not use the Logo.sys file. If you are running Windows 98, this file may not exist in the root folder.
  
  
• Msdos.dos - Previous MS-DOS Msdos.sys file
  This file contains the original Msdos.sys file from the previous operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.
  
  
• Msdos.sys - Windows configuration file
  This file contains parameters necessary for the early phases of the Windows startup process. This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows and should not be deleted.
  
  
• Oemlog.txt - Windows Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) log file
  This file records the progress of the Windows OEM preinstallation process. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Scandisk.log - ScanDisk log file
  This file is created by the ScanDisk program to record the result of the most recent disk scan. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Setuplog.txt - Windows Setup log file
  This file is created by Windows Setup to record the progress of the installation procedure. It is consulted by Windows Setup as part of installation recovery. This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted.
  
  
• Suhdlog.dat - Windows Setup hard disk log file
  This file contains a copy of all Master Boot Records and Partition Boot Records on the system both before and after the upgrade to Windows. This file is used by Windows Uninstall to restore the hard disk master boot sector as part of the uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.
  
  
• System.1st - Windows first registry
  This file contains a copy of the original registry created by Windows setup. Although this file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows and can be deleted, it is recommended that the file be retained because it can be used to restore the registry should it become damaged.
  
  
• Videorom.bin - a copy of your onboard video card's ROM.
  This file is used by Windows 98 to support multiple monitors. It is created during startup, when the system has only one video adapter (if the file does not already exist). If you delete this file, you lose support for multiple monitors until you remove all but your primary video adapter and restart Windows (so that this file can be re-created).
  
  
• W95undo.dat - Windows 95 uninstall data file
  This file contains a compressed backup of Windows 3.x files that were replaced as part of the Windows 95 installation process. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.
  
  
• W95undo.ini - Windows 95 uninstall script file
  This file contains a listing of files backed up in the W95undo.dat file. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall process. To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.