tags: clean windows

How to clean up data in computer ?

The article is mainly on windows and still keep update (if i find other better ways). Since size of memory is fixed, as a developer, I think that it's important to have sense of keeping computer clean and to have high performance for work.

Outline :

1. Delete
2. Clean temp file
3. Some tips

1. Delete

Here are some methods if you try to delete or remove something but don't work. If you just want to clear your computer, just jumpt to 2.Clean-temp-file

Method (1) Check if the application or file being used

• check if you're still using that file, close it if yes and deletion may work
• How to know I'm using that file
  • press ctrl + shift +esc
  • open task manager : just turn off the file or application you want to delete
    

Method (2) Use command line

I think this method works efficiently for those situation that just can't find out why cannot delete the file :)

• How to use cmd?

  • press windows + R and type cmd
    
  • see what's in directory : type dir
    
  • go to directory : type cd [test_directory]
    
  • go back last directory : type cd ..
    

• delete the file : type del [file name]
  

• delete the directory : type rmdir [directory name]

  • there's a director named test in C:\Users\i5-VivoB\test_directory
    
  • delete directory test : type rmdir test
    
  • then type dir see if successful :)

Method (3) Create .bat file to do it

Use this method if method(1) and method (2) don't work
I do not recommend this method in common situation because it's really dangerous if delete the wrong file.
There guys may say just press ctrl+z to recover it. The problem is that this file will delete it forever that even ctrl+z can't help to recover.
Therefore, make sure which is target file if you use this method.

• Create a .text file, name it whatever. And type these in it

    DEL F A Q %1

    RD S Q %1

• Save it as .bat file
  
• Delete file : just drag the file you want to delete to .bat file (here filename is file_del.bat) created just now
  
• and the file just disappear forever even ctrl+z don't work to recover it
  
• I recommend to put it in a directory to avoid drag file on it by mistake. Or just delete it if there's no need of it.
  

2. Clean temp file

• press windows+R and type %tmp%
  
• You'll see files in this directory. These are temporary files created by system and have no impact or use for user.
  
• Just select all(ctrl+A) file and delete

3. Some tips

These are some tips that I delete file. Welcome to have a look

• Simplest : clean trash can
  make sure you don't need files in trash can and just remove them since they also occupy the memory of your computer
• Delete .exe file
  • After installing the application, actually there's no need of .exe file. Therefore, I prefer to remove it.
  • If you did put it in environment variable, then don't remove it!
• Check Downloads regularly
  • Well, just clean files in it
  • To have a good management of large amount of files, I prefer to categorize files into specific directory instead of leaving them in Downloads

Reference

【逐步教學】在Windows電腦強制刪除檔案的6個有效方法
dare not remove files?