DIY-Cleanup your Windows 10
Introduction
In Windows 10, clearing the cache, temporary files, and other unwanted data is crucial for the following reasons:
Enhanced performance: When your computer's hard disc is overloaded with temporary files, cache, and other unnecessary information, it can function slowly. Your system's performance can be enhanced by removing these files.
More storage: Over time, temporary files, cache, and garbage material can consume a sizable portion of the space on your hard drive. By deleting these files, you can help free up vital disc space and store more significant data.
Better security: Junk files, temporary files, and cache might hold private data like passwords, credit card numbers, and other identifying information. Clearing these files can assist in preventing unwanted individuals from accessing this information.
Increased stability: Freezes and crashes can occasionally be caused by temporary files and cache. Your system's stability can be increased by deleting these files.
Improved system administration: Cleaning your system's temporary files, cache, and junk data on a regular basis will help you better manage it and keep it operating efficiently. Being able to work with a cleaner system will make it easier to diagnose and resolve problems.
Follow these steps
For best results, it is advised to carry out the stages in a sequential order.
The information in this article is drawn from personal experience and is predicated on the idea that Windows 10 is being used to keep a computer system's load as low as possible.
Turn these options ON or OFF, as appropriate.
Settings -> Privacy -> Speech -> Make it OFF
You may operate your PC using only your voice and without a keyboard or mouse thanks to Windows Speech Recognition. However, if you are not using your computer in that manner, you can turn this setting OFF to reduce the stress on it.
To know more about speech recognition, kindly visit here
Settings -> Privacy -> Diagnostics & Feedback
Make ON -> Required Diagnostic Data
Make OFF -> Optional Diagnostic Data
Tailored Experience -> Make OFF
View Diagnostic Data -> Make OFF
Delete Diagnostic Data -> YES (Delete it)
In Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019, enhanced diagnostic data provides information on the websites you visit, how Windows and apps are used and function, and device activity. Microsoft has the ability to repair and improve its products and services for all users.
Settings -> Privacy -> Make all OFF
To choose how much information you want to share with Microsoft, modify your privacy settings.
Settings -> Personalization -> START -> Show Suggestions Occasionally in Start -> Make it OFF
Settings -> Update & Security -> Advanced Options -> Receive updates for other MS Products when you update Windows -> Make it ON
Turn ON->Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating
Settings-> Delivery Optimization->Turn OFF -> Allow downloads from other PCs
Settings -> Privacy -> Background Apps: Check ON / OFF what is required.
Settings -> Search -> Permissions & History -> Make ON / OFF what is required
Settings -> Search -> Searching Windows -> Make ON / OFF whatever is required.
Settings -> Accounts -> Sync your settings -> Make ON / OFF whatever is required.
Delete Temporary Files
Create a Restore Point: Make sure to create a Restore Point before removing / deleting any files. In Windows Start Menu Search bar search Restore for Windows then click Create a Restore Point and open the App then click Configure -> Make disk space usage to 5% then click Delete to delete all previous restore points and finally create a new “Restore Point”.
System Restore can restore a system to operational status after an unsuccessful install or data corruption without the need to reinstall the operating system. By returning to the files and settings that were saved in the restore point, it fixes the Windows environment.
After clicking Apply and OK you will return to box shown below, here click Create to create a new restore point (as shown below):
Next step is to open Run dialog box. For this, in the Windows Start Search Bar menu type Run. A dialogue box will appear with title Run, type %temp% to open a window containing temporary files. Now press Ctrl+a to select all files and press Delete key to clean the temp folder.
A pop-up box will display “You will need to provide Administrator Permission to delete this folder / files” then simply click CONTINUE
However, if some files do not delete, leave them behind because your computer may be using them as part of a process.
Now, in the File Explorer, enter into SoftwareDistribution folder through path c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution
Press Ctrl+a then Delete all files in SoftwareDistribution folder
Now open the File Explorer -> click File menu -> click Options then in General tab under Privacy frame-> Clear File Explorer History -> press Clear button -> click Apply -> click OK
Clear Prefetch files (These files help the PC in opening applications more quickly)
In the Windows Start Search Bar menu type Run. A dialogue box will appear with title Run, type %prefetch% to open a window containing prefetch files. Here press Ctrl+a to select all files and press Delete key to clean the temp folder.
A pop-up box will appear saying “You don’t currently have permission to access this folder” here click Continue and then press Ctrl+a and Delete all files. A pop-up box will appear saying “Action can’t be completed sys main….” click SKIP and let it delete all files.
Make Microsoft Store open and work fast
In the Windows Start Menu Search Bar type Command Prompt and click Run as administrator to open command window. Here on command prompt, type the command "wsreset.exe" without quotes and press enter key from the keyboard. C:\windows\system32> wsreset.exe
WSReset.exe is a troubleshooting tool for resetting or clearing the Windows Store without changing account settings or deleting installed apps.
Flush DNS
In the Windows Start Menu Search Bar type Command Prompt and click Run as administrator to open command window. Here on command prompt, type the command "ipconfig /flushdns" without quotes and press enter key from the keyboard. C:\windows\system32>ipconfig /flushdns
Make sure to keep one space between ipconfig and /flushdns
Flushing DNS will clear your cache of any IP addresses or other DNS records. This can aid in the resolution of security, internet connectivity, and other issues.
Use Storage Sense of Windows
Settings -> System -> Storage -> Storage Sense -> Here configure / customise according to your need.
Now use Disk Cleanup App
In the Windows Start Menu Search Bar type Disk Cleanup and click Run as administrator to open Disk Cleanup utility.
Here, select the drive you wish to clean:
After selecting the drive and clicking the OK button, you will be prompted to choose which folders to clean with the Disk Cleanup utility:
After selecting the folders, click Clean up system files button and click OK to finish the disk clean task.
Cleanup Google Chrome's Browsing Data and Cache Files
Follow these steps to cleanup Google Chrome's Browsing Data and Cache Files:
Startup Apps
You may control the installed applications that load during the boot process, which will speed up the loading of the Windows operating system.
In the Windows Start Menu Search Bar type Startup Apps and click it to open Startup Apps interface as shown below:
After doing the needful, close the interface.
Important Tips
For best performance be sure to use genuine / licensed Windows operating System. You will get the most recent product features, support, and on-going enhancements while using genuine Microsoft software, which will keep your PC operating at its peak. The most affordable option to obtain qualifying Windows OS license is to purchase a PC with a pre-installed copy of the genuine Microsoft Windows Operating System (OS) from the machine manufacturer.
If you purchased a desktop computer that has been assembled from a local vendor, purchase a genuine or licensed copy of Windows from the Microsoft website or a Microsoft authorised partner/dealer/retailer in your town or city. Software purchased from an unidentified source cannot be guaranteed to be the genuine. If you want to feel full potentiality of Windows Operating System, then go only for its genuine/licensed copy.
If you do not want to perform the aforementioned steps to clean and maintain your Windows Operating System, you can install System Mechanic. System Mechanic is compatible with Windows 7 through Windows 11.
After uninstalling the software, delete any leftover files. Sometimes, even after removing a software program via the Windows Control Panel's Programs and Features section, some of that software's files can still be found on the computer.
Before doing following steps, it is recommended to unhide the files and folder with going into File Explorer-> File menu->Change folder and search options-> click View tab->click Show hidden files, folders, and drives->click Apply->click OK
In the Windows Start Search Bar menu type Run. A dialogue box will appear with title Run, type %programfiles% to open a Program Files folder. If there is a folder with the name of the program/software that you have uninstalled, delete it.
Again, in the Windows Start Search Bar menu type Run. A dialogue box will appear with title Run, type %appdata% to open a Roaming folder. If there is a folder with the name of the program/software that you have uninstalled, delete it.
Conclusion
Cleaning temporary files, cache, and junk data is crucial for keeping Windows 10 systems fast and effective. These files can build up over time, which can cause the system to run worse, reduce storage space, develop security holes, become unpredictable, and also be difficult to manage.
Regular or alternatively clearing of these files helps to increase security by preventing access to sensitive data, improve speed and responsiveness of the system, increase stability by lowering the likelihood of freezes and crashes, and provide better system operation by facilitating easier diagnosis and troubleshooting.