To optimize the functioning of the equipment it is necessary to clean the hard disk of your PC with Windows 8. So you will need to know why it is important to perform this task regularly to benefit your computer.
This information can be found in the following paragraphs, in which also We will explain in detail the step by step you must do to correctly clean your device with W8.
But this is not all, you may know a list with the best external tools you can use to always keep clean the storage drive of any unnecessary programs.
Why is it important to clean your hard drives regularly in Windows 8?
Every time you turn your computer on and off junk files are likely to remain in the HDD, and over time this number of items take up considerable storage space. Apart, to this you must add programs that you installed to use them 1 or 2 times and that you have not occupied it since then.
In addition, it is sure that you have it hosted on the storage disk duplicate or similar photos without you knowing, so they also occupy a prominent space on the hard drive. The question that would come next is How important is it that all these items take up disk space on my Windows 8 computer?
The answer is very simple, having a full hard disk, the processor takes longer to find the information you request and the RAM works more. So the slowdown is guaranteed and the equipment overheating as well. But this is not all, If you don’t have space on your disk, you probably won’t be able to install new programs, especially antivirus programs. This means that your computer begins to be in danger of being attacked by viruses and other malware.
Further, it is easier for an intruder to find information on a computer full of private data than on an empty one. Finally, by having files that you don’t need on a hard disk, the reading components that the storage unit has are used up faster than when you have little data saved (just because you work less time). Thus, the useful life of the hard disk also depends, in a certain way, on the amount of information you have saved.
Learn step by step how to clean a hard drive on your Windows 8 PC correctly
If reading the previous paragraph you realize that you have a hard drive full of obsolete information on your computer and that it needs cleaning correctly, we recommend that you continue reading.
We will explain in a detailed way the step by step that you must do to carry out this task successfully:
Use the Disk Cleanup feature
The Free Hard Drive Space tool it is a very useful function that you can use to perform an automatic process in the search for unnecessary files and delete them permanently. To access you will have to click on the button Start from Windows and then write Control Panel, when you see the application that bears this name, you must click on it. Once you have entered you will have to go to the option Management tools, to select Security system and choose Free disk space.
This will Windows 8 show a popup called Disk Cleanup, which is a table that notifies the progress of the analysis of the operations you are performing. This process can take several minutes. When the analysis is finished, the OS will show you a report in which you can choose the files that can be deleted. For this you will have to activate each of the boxes that are next to the unnecessary data, then you must click on To accept to end.
Empty the recycle bin
In case you do not want to use the tool that we show you in the previous paragraph We will indicate below each of the aspects that can take up space on your disk and that contain unnecessary files. So we will show you from this step and subsequent the manually deleting items that may take up space.
One of those components is the Recycle Bin. Every time you delete a document or folder, they are not permanently deleted from the computer, but for security measures the operating system sends them to the recycle bin. For this reason, they did not disappear from your PC and they continue to occupy space on the disk, this means that emptying the trash is a good idea.
For this you will have to carry out this guide:
- Go to the Windows 8 Desktop, that is, to the home screen every time you turn on your computer.
- Find the recycle bin, is usually located in the upper left part of the screen and is represented with a garbage can.
- Right click in it and choose the option Empty Recycle Bin.
- Then click on Yes, when the operating system asks a warning question.
Delete temporary files
These files, which are installed on the computer silently, are components used by applications and the same operating system to perform certain tasks and benefit the user experience. The problem arises when these programs vacated the files and do not need it anymore, but it doesn’t erase them. For this reason, it is important to empty the folder TEMP to increase the storage capacity of the hard disk.
You can do this by following this guide:
- Close all programs that you have open.
- Open the Run box. For that you will have to press the keys at the same time Windows then R, this will allow you to see a box in the lower right part of the monitor in which you will have to write a command that will work directly with the OS.
-
Enter in the Open field: the word
cleanmgr. - Then press Enter.
- Choose the drive you want to erase. Usually the hard drive bears the letter C.
- After a few seconds you will have to click To accept for the process to begin.
Another way you have is go to the menu Setting through Charm bar. You will have to select the option Properties, to choose Internet and then click on the tab general. Next, you must click on Remove… so that later you can activate the box Temporary Internet files and website files. If you prefer, you can also enable the box of cookies to have even more space. This option is called Cookies and website data.
Delete programs you don’t use
As we explained before, the software that you do not use takes place on the disk and impair team performance. For this reason, it is convenient to eliminate them by entering the Control Panel (in the same way that we told you in previous steps).
When you are in this tool choose the option Programs and functions. Then select Programs and characteristics, then do click on the program what do you want to delete and finally press the button Uninstall. When a warning message appears, click on the option Yes.
Configure restore points
The system restore points they work as a backup that is created by means of a set of files that serve to return the OS to a certain state. In this way, installation errors made by the user can be corrected. These restore points take up a lot of space on the hard drive and therefore it is advisable to configure this option to save space.
You can do this process in the following way:
- Enter the Control Panel, then choose Security system and then System.
- Then, click System protection.
- Enter the administrator password in case it is requested by the operating system.
- Choose System Properties and click on the tab System protection.
- click in Set up.
- Find the Maximum Usage field and slide the option to 2%. This will make the amount of data stored for restore points not exceed the 2% of the total hard disk.
Modify the size of virtual memory
Although this step is not advisable when you have already saved space with the steps that we have mentioned before because it may affect the performance of the computer a bit, you can do this if you have too small a hard drive.
For this you must enter the Control Panel and then continue with these steps:
- Head to option Security system and click System.
- Then, Choose Advanced system settings. You will find this option on the left side of the screen.
- Find field performance and click on the button Setting.
- Choose the tool Virtual memory and click Change.
- Check the box No paging file to free up a little more disk space.
- To end click on To accept.
List of the best programs to clean hard drive from unnecessary files in Windows 8
If you are one of the people who does not like to do these tasks manually you can choose an external program to clean the hard drive unnecessary files on your computer Windows 8.
We will show you below a list of the best applications that you can download:
CCleaner
This is a classic among the most popular cleaners for computers with operating system Windows 8. It can be downloaded for free to obtain faster equipment and eliminate tracking files in navigation programs, but if you prefer you can choose a paid license in which you will get extra tools. For example, Defraggler that will help you keep the hard drive in good condition or Speccy used to have a detailed analysis of driver problems and updates.
Download CCleaner Windows
Glary Utilities
With this tool that you can install in Windows 8 you will have the benefit of Increase PC speed and fix frequent internal errors in a very easy way. You just have to open the application and then click on the button Advance Tools To free up space on your disk, this process will take a few minutes and you can run it in the background. You will have a trial period with a 100% money back guarantee, in case you don’t like how it works.
Download Glary Utilities Windows
Revo Uninstaller
It is a widely used application when you want to free up space on your hard drive, especially those residual programs left behind every time you remove software you’ve installed, but the uninstallation did not complete efficiently.
It has a free license in which you will have professional support and 8 cleaning tools. If you prefer, you can contract a paid version that will include a free trial and other additional functions that will improve the performance of your Windows 8 hard drive in a significative way.
Download Revo Uninstaller Windows