Windows Disk Cleanup: The disk cleaning program you forgot you had

By | December 17, 2014
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Windows Disk Cleanup – The Disk Cleaning Program Every Windows User Has

Windows Disk Cleanup is on every Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8x and Windows 10 computer. And for those of you who have never used it, you will find it works very, very well. Much better than many of the freeware cleaner programs you’ve probably tried. If you haven’t given Windows Disk Cleanup a try, why not try it right now?

To start Windows Disk Cleanup, press the Windows Key plus the “R” key, then type cleanmgr.exe in the command line and press Enter. Windows Disk Cleanup will begin to scan your system looking for junk to remove – well that’s what it does!

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You’ll then be presented with a dialog that allows you to choose which files you want to delete. The files in this list can be deleted – without worry.

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If you want more options, for instance cleaning up old system restore points, click “Clean up System Files”. Another scan dialog will appear and then a dialog – that looks exactly like the first one but with a More Options tab at the top. Click on More Options. You’ll be able to delete all the old system restore files but the most recent one. Do not do this if your computer is running poorly. You may find you need to go back further than the most recent restore point, and if you clean up all the old ones, you won’t have the option to go back further than the most recent restore point. So please use this option with care.

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5 thoughts on “Windows Disk Cleanup: The disk cleaning program you forgot you had

  1. Gail

    Not sure what I have done wrong but I can’t get the disk cleanup to work using the instructions above.

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      They are very simple. You press and hold down the Windows Key and then R key. When the Run Dialog appears type in Cleanmgr or cleanmgr.exe .

      You can also type Disk Cleanup in the search on the start menu.

      Thanks.

      Reply
  2. Patty

    I probably go the long way around. I have Vista. I go to start, all programs, accessories, system tools and select disc cleanup.

    Reply
  3. Larry Hubble

    What is the difference between the “disc clean-up” and the “disc scanner”? Are they the same thing or are they different. I have heard both terms used.

    Reply
  4. Nancy

    I purchased an external hard drive and want to copy my computer to it. I have windows vista home prem. Should I run this disk clean up first? Is there anything else I should do prior to making a copy? My computer seems to be working ok but last time monthly hardware test was done under storage smart short self test failed. Everything else passed. I want to protect what I have in case there is any failure. I am pretty much computer illiterate. Thank you for any help you can give me. I am hoping to hold out buying a new computer until windows 10 is released.

    Reply

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