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How to clean a hard drive in Windows 7 and free up space? Step by step guide

How to delete temporary files in Windows 7 to optimize system performance? Step by step guide

While it is true, Windows is an operating system with great track record and worldwide recognition. Taking into account that its versions 7, 8 and 10 are now the most used. But, in this case, we will focus specifically on Windows 7 .

Thus, it is valuable to highlight the importance of having a hard disk or “hard disk” completely clean. Since, this is one of the most critical and most flawed components. Therefore, it is good to optimize and clean it properly every so often , in a mandatory way.

Bearing in mind that, in addition, that is where personal data and installed programs are stored; so it is vital to keep it in good condition . Especially, when the PC starts working very slowly. For this reason, in this post, we want to tell you the great relevance of performing this action and the methods you can use .

Why is it important to clean our hard drive from junk files?

Before specifying the steps to follow to clean your hard disk of documents that are classified as unnecessary, to get it to work quickly; It is decisive to know the importance of such action.

Thus, then some of the most substantial reasons :

To make space

By default, the dynamics of Windows operation consist in generating temporary files on a regular basis that are subsequently discarded. Thus, it creates copies of files continuously that are saved on the hard disk and are accumulated little by little . Which is known as “computer garbage” .

However, when you perform the correct cleaning of the hard disk, you ensure more space in it . Therefore, you must use tools and procedures that allow you to access the truly necessary content on the disks in a simple way. Improving thus, the performance of the PC and allowing to obtain a more optimal operation .

To improve performance

As we indicated in the reason detailed above, cleaning a hard drive can ensure better computer performance . Since, by removing all the junk items from it, it is possible to allow the hard drive to be lighter. This basically means that it will take less time to access the information and that way, your reading will be much more effective for the least amount of data to travel.

To increase disk life

Another of the most important aspects of cleaning a hard disk in Windows 7 and in any version is the possibility of prolonging its useful life and even the PC. Since, by deleting junk files, you will keep the hard disk away from unnecessary damage , as they are very sensitive and delicate elements.

In this sense, if you debug the hard disk of any useless data, you can optimize its performance for much longer and thus enjoy true efficiency when executing any action.

To avoid logical errors

While it is true, logical errors are the most common that occur on hard drives and even flash or USB. Which simply refers to hard disk file system failures or software related issues.

Thus, logical errors can prevent users from accessing a file or disappearing the content you had stored in any folder. Even these errors are also responsible for making the same operating system not detect the hard disk because the partition table is damaged.

But, if you focus on deleting unnecessary data on the PC, you can prevent this type of error from occurring and thus avoid worse damage.

To facilitate access to information

Once you clean the hard disk of the PC from any effective method for this, you will notice that its performance is completely fast. Which basically means that the hard disk is showing the ability to access information in less time and more easily . So, your reading is much faster.

What documents may be considered unnecessary?

But well, you will surely be wondering what kind of files can be considered junk and what are the unnecessary documents that you should remove from the computer, in order to achieve an absolute clean of the hard disk.

So, below, we detail the most relevant:

Temporary files

Archivos temporales

In case you did not know, every time you use software on your PC to carry out any task, at the same time files are created that are made by the same program and without That you can observe it. To which, they are known as “temporary” .

In this sense, temporary files are those created by a program with the aim of temporarily saving information , while the user keeps creating a standard file. Therefore, when you close the software you were using, the temporary file should be deleted automatically.

This means that, in spite of the fact that said files are used in order to recover data, in case of losing them; It is of great value to remove them when you stop using the program in question . Well, in this way, you can keep the equipment optimized and otherwise, you would be damaging its performance.

Duplicate documents

Documentos duplicados

Duplicate documents are also considered unnecessary for computers. Which, accumulate as garbage in an attic and end up occupy the available space on the hard disk in an invasive way . Taking into account that, unfortunately, these are mysteriously duplicating on the PC, from music files to dozens of copies of the last chapter of the university thesis.

Then, it is pointed out that it is really necessary to clean the hard disk by deleting the same files that are in different locations . Being absolutely annoying for the performance of the team and even for the user’s organization.

Programs you don’t use

Programas que no utilizas

Another of the types of files that are estimated as garbage for the hard drive, are the programs that you keep in disuse . Since, they are occupying an unnecessary space in him and in this way, they can diminish his performance remarkably. Therefore, it is also advisable to get rid of all the software you do not use .

So, once you can clean the hard drive in Windows 7 in this way and free up more space, you will notice the big difference. So, only, keep there the programs you manage day after day .

Steps to clean your SSD and improve its performance in Windows 7

Now, it’s time to detail the steps you can take to clean your SSD and simultaneously optimize its performance in W7.

Taking into account that, fortunately, they are very easy to do:

With the disk cleaner

In order to allow its users to recover and free hard disk space, Windows 7 has a built-in disk cleaning tool that is very simple to use to clear disk space as quickly as possible. Thus, it is the disk cleaner it contains and is identified as “Windows 7 Disk Cleanup” , which allows you to delete many types of unnecessary files safely and efficiently.

In this sense, the steps to complete to perform said cleaning and debugging procedure with this tool are the following:

  • First of all, you have to access the “This equipment” option of the PC or similar and right click on the C drive. For now, select the option ” Properties ”.

Con el limpiador de discos

  • Subsequently, click on “Disk Cleanup” and wait a few seconds or minutes while the W7 tool calculates how much space it will be possible to erase. Basically, the time will depend on the disorder on the hard drive, because the scanning process will be more tedious.

Con el limpiador de discos

  • At this point, choose the files you want to delete and click on the “Ok” button to proceed. We recommend highlighting each option in order to see which files the selected category adds and what exactly you are going to delete.

Con el limpiador de discos

  • Now it’s time to clean the system files in the same window . Where after a few minutes, additional options will be displayed regarding the type of files that will be deleted. For more details, each of these types means the following:
  • Temporary Windows installation : These are installation files used by the W7 installation. It is advisable to delete these types of files.
  • Service Pack backups : These are the files updated by the Service Packs, which belong to old versions. If you remove them, it will be impossible to uninstall the Service Pack.
  • Windows Updates : They belong to the copies of each newly installed Windows update. You can delete old versions of updates that you no longer require.
  • Finally, if you want to get more free space, you can click on the “More options” tab that allows clean all installed programs, as well as system restore points.

Con el limpiador de discos

With CMD

Con CMD

It is also possible to use the CMD console or batch files to delete useless files from your PC and thereby clean hard drives much more effectively and quickly. That is, basically, it is about using the tool “Disk Cleanup” directly from the Windows 7 command line .

In this sense, you can make use of certain commands and perform such system cleaning in a much more personalized way . For which, you will have to adjust your preferences and create several profiles from the CMD console. So, you should not be checking and unchecking boxes .

Thus, then we indicate the procedure to be performed:

  • First of all, running cleanmgr and followed by the / sageset parameter: N , opens the Disk Cleanup configuration . Where N refers to the number between 0 and 6553.
  • After that, you can choose the tasks that you want to be executed when you start such a tool.
  • Now, once you have selected your preferences, click “Accept” to create a key in the registry where the information you specified will already be saved.

By completing this, you are making sure that the next time you run cleanmgr followed by the parameter indicated in step 1, where N belongs to the number you saved, Disk Cleanup will start automatically. That is, without displaying any dialog box and with it, the cleaning will be carried out with the tasks that you stored in the key .

Uninstalling programs

As we indicated in the previous section, programs that you don’t use can also be considered unnecessary files on the PC, so they can generate less hard disk performance. So, it is also important to uninstall specific software in order to clean your SSD .

Now, in case you do not have full knowledge to know how to uninstall a program on your W7 PC, here we indicate the step by step to carry out :

  • In principle, you have to go to the Start menu of the computer by simply pressing the Windows logo button.
  • Subsequently, you need to select the “Panel” option control “ that you can see in the right side menu.
  • Now, it is time to click on ” Programs and features “ or ” Uninstall a program ”.
  • Once this window opens, you have to navigate between the list of programs and select the one you want to uninstall from the PC.
  • When you have already chosen the software in question, you just have to click on the top button that prints permittedDesinstall•.

Desinstalando programas

  • To finish, you must confirm the uninstallation by clicking on the “Yes” button. It’s all.

List of the best programs to keep your SSD clean in W7

If before any alternative you prefer to use a program dedicated to cleaning hard drives in Windows 7, fortunately there are several optimal solutions for this.

Therefore, here is a brief list with the five best existing software to optimize your SSD :

Tweak-SSD

TweakSSD

It is estimated as one of the best programs to keep your SSD fully optimized, because it provides all the tools required to do it quickly and efficiently . Taking into account that, in addition to being compatible with Windows 7, it is also compatible with version 8 and 10.

It should be noted that, you can obtain this program for free from its official and additional website, it has a paid version that costs € 10 and provides some additional functions. For example, improve the TRIM command of the PC storage units .

Download Tweak-SSD Windows