Vista Disk Cleanup

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Vista Disk Cleanup

Oh, I'm so glad you asked! We've preached and preached on this topic for Windows XP, so there's no reason why we shouldn't do the same for Windows Vista. The disk cleanup process is a little bit different with the Vista operating system, so it's really no surprise that you're having a hard time finding it. I'm sure you're not the only one either. So, if you need to free up some of your disk space on your Vista computer, keep reading, because that's exactly what I'm going to teach you how to do today!

We all know that hard drive capacities are growing more and more everyday, but that doesn't mean we're still limited on the storage space we have. Most people think that if they have a large hard drive capacity, they won't have to worry about running out of room. Well, that's just not the case! It really comes down to the more space you have, the less time you'll spend cleaning it out, which can lead to major build up. Your data will just continue to pile up and once you do finally run out of room, it will take you forever to get the job done.

Yes, you can try doing frequent clean ups, like deleting unused files and uninstalling unnecessary programs, but what if all of that isn't enough? After so much time, doing those things just won't cut it. And that's when the Vista Disk Cleanup comes into play. Just like in XP, the Disk Cleanup will help you free up your disk space so that you won't reach the point of having no storage room left at all. This process is very easy to do with Vista, because it allows you to search for the files that are safe to erase and it lets you make the final decision on what goes and what stays. Here's how to use it!

First, right click on the Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Next, click on the General tab and then hit the Disk Cleanup button. A window will then come up asking you what you'd like to remove, etc. Just choose what you'd like to delete and press OK. Like I said before, you have the final say on what is deleted and what's not. You gotta love that!

There is also a More Options button you can use if you want to clean up some files from other users on your computer. For example, if you want to clear out some of the files your children put on your PC, you can do that here. Note: Keep in mind that you may be asked for your Administrator password before you can begin this though. Once you're all set, you can choose between two other options.

The first is the Programs and Features choice. This one allows you to uninstall programs you no longer need on your computer. With this, you can also see the size of each program, which is nice, because you can really see what's weighing your storage space down. The second option is System Restore and Shadow Copies. This one allows you to remove all your restore points (except for the most recent ones) and any backup images you may have on your hard drive. Getting rid of that old data will really free up a lot of your space.

That's all you have to do to enjoy more storage space again. So, if you haven't done a Disk Cleanup in awhile, I recommend doing it very soon. It won't hurt, I promise!

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