Junk files

Question

Junk files

Anonymous

Have 8.1 and very slow. Need to delete junk files, etc., but there's a warning not to click on "disk cleaner". Must have a free tool. I need advice for what I do now? Keep in mind that I'm not very techy. Thanks.

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9 answers

Answer 1

You do use the built-in Disk cleanup Tool.

And right click on the far left Windows icon in the Taskbar > then select RUN > type is %temp% > Windows will delete files not in use.

If your problem is running out of hard drive space:

Use this free Program to see what is taking up the space.

http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

Here is how to understand Treesize Screenshots:

http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/screenshots.shtml

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Also check to see how much space System Restore is using and change if necessary:

"How to Change Maximum Disk Space Used by System Protection and System Images in Windows 8 and 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4691-system-protection-change-maximum-disk-space-usage-windows-8-a.html

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Tips to free up drive space on your PC > Applies to: Windows 7/Windows 8.1

https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/17421/windows-free-up-drive-space

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You can clean up your Hard Drive using these methods.

"Delete files using Disk Cleanup"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup#delete-files-using-disk-cleanup=windows-8

How to Use Windows Update Cleanup in Windows 8 and 8.1

https://www.eightforums.com/threads/windows-update-cleanup-in-windows-8.44274/

Using the Free CCleaner Program:

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Under NO condition use the Registry cleaning Option in CCleaner

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And download, install, update and scan your System with the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Cheers.

Answer 2

But for overall performance improvements:

See if this assists you to improve performance.

Scan for Malware with the FREE version of this Program.

And do not accept the "Pay for version" Trial option during installation

Download, install, update and scan your System with the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware::

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

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You can clean up your Hard Drive using these two methods.

"Delete files using Disk Cleanup"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup#delete-files-using-disk-cleanup=windows-8

Using the Free CCleaner Program:

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Under NO condition use the Registry cleaning Option in CCleaner

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Make sure that you have the latest updated Drivers:

Go to your Computer or Hardware Manufacture's website > Driver and Software Support Section > look up your Computer or Hardware Model number > then your Operating System > locate the correct Drivers > download and install them.

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Speed up your computer:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/3064207/speed-up-your-computer

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"How to Optimize the Performance of Windows 8 and 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/37511-optimize-performance-windows-8-a.html

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This is worthwhile reading too:

"How to Optimize Windows 8.1 for a desktop PC"

http://www.howtogeek.com/167013/how-to-optimize-windows-8.1-for-a-desktop-pc/

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"Performance & maintenance"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/performance-maintenance-help#performance-maintenance-help=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1

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And I would check to see if there are corrupted System Files.

Each Method/step below progresses to the next if the first does not fix any corrupted files that are found, etc.

"Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files"

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

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And these eightforums.com Tutorials are very detailed for problems resulting from SFC Scan:

"How to Run "SFC /SCANNOW" Command at Boot or in Windows 8 and 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

Read this Section there in conjunction with the rest of the information they give in above link.

Note

If SFC could not fix something, then run the command again to see if it may be able to the next time. Sometimes it may take running the sfc /scannow command 3 times restarting the PC after each time to completely fix everything that it's able to.

If not, then run the **Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth**command to repair any component store corruption, restart the PC afterwards, and try the sfc /scannow command again.

If still not, then try using OPTION ONE above to run the sfc /scannow command at boot

If still not, then you could do a **refresh** of Windows 8, or run a **System Restore** using a restore point dated before the bad file occured to fix it. You may need to repeat doing a System Restore until you find a older restore point that may work.

If still not, then you can use the steps in the TIP box in the OPTION THREE section to manually replace the files that SFC could not fix.

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"How to Refresh Windows 8 and Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Refreshing your PC goes like this:

The PC boots into Windows RE (Recovery Environment).
Windows RE scans the hard drive for your data, settings, and apps, and puts them aside (on the same drive).
Windows RE installs a fresh copy of Windows.
Windows RE restores the data, settings, and apps it has set aside into the newly installed copy of Windows.
The PC restarts into the newly installed copy of Windows.

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"How to Reset Windows 8 and Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

"When you reset your PC, the drive will be completely reset, and all your apps and files will be removed from it. Windows 8 will be reinstalled, and you'll need to change any settings and reinstall any apps that you want to get back after resetting. If you know if any files that you don't want to lose, then you should back those files up before starting the reset"

Cheers.

PS: A word of advice:

You should always have your data backed up to at least two external media destinations (external hard drive, DVDs, flash drive) in case of system file corruption and/or hard drive failure

Answer 3

Anonymous

Wow, I'm impressed. I just got your suggestions and am anxious to forge ahead - thank you for your effort to help. It was great!

I'll try to let you know how successful I am.

Cheers to you, too.

Answer 4

Anonymous

You said I should back up - I have done that with files and folders from the desktop to a flash drive. How would I back up much more than that so to prevent loss of programs, etc. or have hard drive failure?

Thank you

Sharlee

Answer 5

You can not back up programs by themselves.

For that you need to make a system image:

How to backup files:

Open File Explorer from the Taskbar > Go to the file/s you wish to save > right click on it > hover Mouse Cursor over Send to > select an external Hard Drive or Memory Stick that you have plugged in to save them to.

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"Set up a drive for File History and Restore files or folders using File History"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/set-drive-file-history

"Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Backup Data with File History"

http://www.7tutorials.com/introducing-windows-8-how-backup-data-file-history

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Use System Image Backup

You can still use System Image Backup in Windows 8/8.1.

I personally don't use it as there are often problems with it when Restoring an Image.

"System Image Backup in Windows 8.1"

https://www.winhelp.us/system-image-backup-in-windows-8-1.html

"Windows 8.1 Tip: Use System Image Backup"