by This article is especially useful for owners of ultrabooks with low memory. -udalit-chtoby-ochistit-mesto-a24714b.jpg” alt=”7 Windows files and folders that can be safely deleted to clear up space” />
Dmitry Sazhko
1. Contents of the “Basket”
Path: shell:RecycleBinFolder< /p>
Actually, permanently erasing previously deleted files is the simplest thing you can think of. Open File Explorer, type “Trash” in the address bar, and press Enter. Then click “Trash Tools” → “Empty Trash”. Click Yes.
2. Windows Temporary Files
Path: C:WindowsTemp
It stores various data that Windows once used to speed up its work, but then they were no longer needed. In principle, the system itself periodically fills and clears this folder, so you usually don’t need to touch it. But if you don't have enough space and need to free it up urgently, open Temp, select all the files there by pressing Ctrl + A and delete them.
3. Hibernate File
Path: C:hiberfil.sys
Windows saves the contents of the computer's RAM into this file when it enters deep sleep mode – hibernation. This is useful for laptops and those devices that have to be turned on and off frequently.
But if you prefer not to disconnect your PC from the network and do not restart it for a long time, as many desktop owners do, you don't really need a hibernation file.
You can remove it like this. Press the Win + X combination and click on the “Windows PowerShell (Administrator)” item in the menu that appears. Enter the command:
powercfg.exe /hibernate off
After that, reboot – and the system will delete unnecessary files on its own.
4. Folder Windows.old
Path: < /strong>C:Windows.old
Whenever you install a major Windows update, the previous version of the system is stored in the Windows.old folder. This is necessary so that you can return programs and settings to the state that was before the update. But if you're happy with everything and don't want to roll back the update, you can delete the folder.
Press the Win + X combination and click “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” from the menu that appears. Enter the command:
rd /s /q c:windows.old
Then reboot.
5. LiveKernelReports
Path: C:WindowsLiveKernelReports
This folder contains the logs where Windows writes the state of its kernel. Their analysis can help if the so-called blue screen of death (BSoD) regularly appears on your computer. But if the PC is working normally and there are no problems with it, the records can be erased.
Select the DMP files in the LiveKernelReports folder (do not touch the rest) and delete them.
6. Downloaded Program Files udalit-chtoby-ochistit-mesto-647347a.jpg” alt=”7 Windows files and folders that can be safely deleted to clear up space” />
Path: C:WindowsDownloaded Program Files
The name of this folder can be a bit confusing – no, it doesn't store the apps you've downloaded. Instead, it contains the files needed to run ActiveX Internet Explorer and Java applets. This is absolutely useless data, and you can delete it without a twinge of conscience.
7. SoftwareDistribution
Path: C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution
All Windows updates are downloaded to this folder before installation. Usually it is filled and cleared without your participation. But sometimes it happens that system updates freeze and stop being properly installed. As a result, update progress is stalled, and the SoftwareDistribution swells up to several gigabytes.
Press the Win + X combination and click the “Windows PowerShell (Administrator)” item in the menu that appears. Enter the commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
These commands will stop the update service so that it does not interfere with deleting the folder. Then open the SoftwareDistribution, erase its contents, and run the commands in PowerShell again:
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
After that, the update will stop hanging.
Cover: Lifehacker
