Disk Cleanup

A software utility first introduced with Microsoft Windows 98 and included in all future releases of Microsoft Windows that enables users to quickly remove files that are no longer needed or that can be safely deleted.

As can be seen from the above example of Disk Cleanup this program can quickly delete Temporary Internet Files (associated with Internet Explorer), old downloaded program files, empty the Recycle Bin, and delete Temporary Files. Newer versions of Disk Cleanup (e.g. Windows XP and later) also allow users to delete Offline Webpages, Microsoft Error Reporting Temporary Files, WebClient/Publisher Temporary Files, Compress old files and Catalog files for the Content Indexer.

How to open Microsoft Disk Cleanup

Microsoft Disk Cleanup can be opened by following one of the below methods.

1. Start
2. Programs, Accessories, System Tools
3. In System Tools click Disk Cleanup

or

1. Start, Run
2. In the Run line type: cleanmgr

or

1. Open My Computer
2.  Right-click the drive you wish to run Disk Cleanup on (e.g. C: drive)
3. Click the Disk Cleanup button.

What to do in Disk Cleanup

Once Disk Cleanup is open check each of the boxes you wish to run. To the right of each option is the disk drive space each of the items are taking on your hard disk drive.

Note: We highly recommend that users DO NOT check the option to "Compress old files". Often this option causes more issues than the small amount of space it recovers is worth.

Once each of the boxes have been checked click Ok to start the cleanup process. 

Also see:  Utility