Quick overview:
Experienced computer users know why they should use program and driver installations as sparingly as possible, because all sorts of small tools or applications that you don't even need later on not only increase the Windows registry but also complete the chaos that is created on the hard disk. Fragmentation and error messages are the result and, of course, hard disk space suffers as a result.
The cause is usually crashes in Windows or programmers who have not learned to create their uninstall routines properly. The user then pays for this in the form of a lot of trouble and even a new installation!
Question: How is it possible for fragmentation to occur?
Answer: As you here as we have learned, frequent deleting, copying, moving, installing and uninstalling creates chaos on the hard disk, which is called fragmentation. The orphaned files, the deletion of which is the subject of this article, are then shuffled between the program files by a defragmentation program and therefore the optimization is of no use if gaps (caused by these superfluous files) still occur.
Question: How can these data cause errors - they don't bother anyone?
Answer: Not at all! Especially leftovers in the temporary folders are bad players when it comes to program installations. Let's take the following (imaginary) file as an example: The msui.dll of Office 97 remains in the folder C:\Windows\Temp after installation. Now NetObjects Fusion 7.0 also wants to set up this file, sees that it already exists and no longer overwrites the new version, which is specially tailored to NOF 7.0. Now install! The first program start may go well because the msui.dll has not yet been used, but what happens if Fusion now needs this file? The complete algorithms of the program are based on a special msui.dll, which does not exist in this form. Clear consequence: Crash!
This article is divided into 3 parts to finally eliminate the annoying residual files:
- Part I: Find temporary folders and delete them with a batch file!
- Part II: Other temporary files with extensions such as .old, .gid, .fts etc.
- Part III: Delete useless file extensions and their files
Have fun cleaning out your Windows system completely!
Part I: Create temporary folders with our batch file!
I have put together a small batch file for you that completely removes the most common temporary folders from Windows. This file deletes the following folders: Cookies, History, Temporary Internet Files, Temp, Recent, InstallShield Information. (Change the paths in your folder structure accordingly)
It is advisable to run this file once a week! Please be aware that this data does not end up in the recycle bin - make sure that you no longer need this data. Explanation of the individual folders:
Cookies: Cookies are small text files that are stored on your page by websites to keep you logged in to forums, for example. If you delete them, you will have to log in to the Windows Tweaks forum again with your user name and password (do not confuse this with registering).
Course: The last pages you visited are saved here. You can change how far this history should extend under Extras/Internet options.
Temporary Internet Files: All images and HTML files that are transferred while surfing. Depending on the activity, this folder can easily be hundreds of megabytes in size!
Recent: Documents that you last opened are listed here again.
InstallShield Information: All installations are stored here - to avoid errors it is sometimes advisable to delete this folder.
A little tip on the side: You can also have WinTweaks Cleaner run automatically on shutdown, which saves you having to go to the.
1. Enter this under Start/Execute the command gpedit.msc and confirm with OK. Now double-click on Computer configuration (If you are the sole user of the PC) or on User configuration (For multiple accounts).
2. Now select Windows settings/scripts (start/shutdown) or Windows settings/scripts (log in/log out).
3. Under Add, select the path to the WinTweaks-ProfCleaner.bat and double-click on the file. A confirmation with OK is sufficient to execute the file during the shutdown process!
Part II - Find and destroy all scattered temp. data on the hard disk
In the program folders alone, there are still hundreds of hidden temporary files that have stuck due to program errors or installation. This is how you can delete them:
1. Click on Start/Search/Search for files and folders.... Let us help you at Extras/Folder options/View to display the hidden files by clicking on All files and folders and view the Protected system files... to be displayed .
2. Now enter the following terms in the search field:
*.tmp - These are the known files that are created for temporary use by Windows or applications.
*.gid, *.fts - Files with this extension are created when using Windows Help to make them a bit faster the next time they are accessed. My opinion: Delete!
*.~?? - All files with the ~ (called a tilde) in the extension (e.g. .~02) can be deleted. Simply search for .~??. If, on the other hand, you want to search for files with the tilde at the end, simply enter .???~. You must proceed according to this principle!
*.bak, *.old, *.001, *.002, *.$$$ - These are backup files that were created by programs and are usually no longer needed.
We recommend that you do not delete this data: Do not delete this data, but store it temporarily in the recycle bin! When Windows and all programs are running properly (which will be the case), you can turn to Empty wastebasket dare.
Part III - Delete all unnecessary files that you no longer need
Now it's time to delete file types and their files, which in the first case drastically eases the Windows registry represents. I advise you to create a complete backup of the system beforehand using a separate program (e.g. Acronis TrueImage). First remove the files in the conventional way so that they are temporarily stored in the recycle bin. After the radical deletion tour, test your computer for functionality - in some cases, one (or more) error message(s) will appear once after a restart, asking you whether you want to keep the changed (in our case: deleted) system files, which you answer in the affirmative. The complex help files in particular suffer from the removal of image, sound, text and video material. You need to know for yourself how far you want to go with deletion, as there are no general rules! I can only share my experience with you: What has proven to be fairly safe to remove and what there is to consider.
We are not liable for any damage that occurs (e.g. if your system no longer boots up), as you must decide for yourself how far you want to go with data deletion. In the vast majority of cases, Windows restarts at lightning speed and with a few errors for unnecessary components. You delete the files by searching for a "file type" in the search function. The following files can be removed with a clear conscience (but with caution):
All audio formats (AIFF, WAV, MP3, MIDI etc.)
These files can usually be deleted without hesitation. Make sure that you do not steal any (important) sound files from games and applications, but limit yourself to the Windows directory and your own music tracks.
Animated cursors
Can be deleted without hesitation!
Applications for MS-DOS
If you no longer use MS-DOS applications, you can remove the files found (except for ntdetect.com).
Appfix packages
These updates are installed by Windows when programs are accessed. They update certain program files in terms of security and compatibility. Delete this data in the recycle bin as a test and make sure that your system continues to run without restrictions.
All image files (BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG etc.)
Here too, you must take a close look at the folder in which the data is located. Image files can be deleted in Windows, although some cannot be removed. If such a file is located in a program directory, caution is advised, as otherwise the range of functions may be restricted: In image editing programs, masks, effects and objects are usually saved as BMP, PNG etc. - deleting them would probably render your tool useless down to the bone.
Channel file
If you do not use Internet Explorer Channels (used in Windows 98 times and almost completely forgotten today), you can press the DEL key.
Cursor
Don't need a cursor? Delete!
Database files
Thumbnail database in image folder (Thumbs.db) and IconCache.db can be deleted without hesitation. The IconCache is then rebuilt, which leads to fewer errors with icons.
Dial-up files
Must not be deleted, otherwise an Internet connection will no longer be possible! You should only remove these if no connection to the network is required.
Help assistant file, help file
If you have never used the digital help (which is partly understandable), you can move these files to the recycle bin.
HTML application
Can be deleted without hesitation if you do not use any of them.
HTML document
You will find hundreds of these on the system: Help files can be deleted, while other HTML files are wizards. So only delete the removable files once as a test so that you can restore them if necessary.
ICC profile
Color schemes used by the monitor driver. Can be deleted in most cases if you do not want to work with them.
Cascaded stylesheet document
Format setting for HTML files. If you find these in help folders, they can be deleted - however, you should leave your own CSS files, e.g. from your homepage, on your hard disk.
Compiled HTML help file
All help files can be deleted.
All video files (media clip, AVI, MPEG etc.)
The same applies here as for the pictures - otherwise: Remove!
Microsoft Word Assistant
If you do not need any of these wizards: Delete!
PKCS #7 certificates
Key or certification for certain files.
Registration file
Windows contains some registry files that change system settings but do not affect the normal user. Can be deleted without hesitation!
Security catalog
Contains some system files that can also be installed from the Windows CD.
Icon
.ico files are mostly used by programs. If you delete one of these icons, one or more shortcuts may lose their icons.
VB Script File
See registration file. Can be deleted if you do not use sample scripts such as pagefileconfig.vbs.
Link with Windows Media...
Can be deleted without affecting the system.
Windows Installer Package
Can be deleted, as they only contain relatively useless setup applications.
Windows Media Player design package
You can delete the various WMP 8/9 skins if you do not need any of the visual redesign options.
XML files
Should not be deleted, as many components of Windows XP are based on XML services (Windows Media Player, for example).
ZIP-compressed folder
Go through the files carefully and decide which can be deleted and which cannot.
If your system is still functional after several hours of operation with all programs and several restarts without serious errors, you can try emptying the recycle bin. Note: You are welcome to search for all file types and remove them, but act with great caution and find out on the Internet (e.g. with google.de) whether a file type is important or whether you can delete the files found with a clear conscience.
A little tip on the side: Search for large files via "How big is the file? in the Windows search by entering "2000 KB. Remove unnecessary files from your computer, such as images, game saves, videos or audio files that have long since been forgotten.
Remove file types - simplify the registry!
The Windows registry is the core of Microsoft operating systems. The dozens of file types put a strain on the registry and therefore on system startup and access. In many cases, you can delete file types if no data is found under them.
Proceed as follows: Search for Appfix package, for example. If nothing is found or you no longer need the search results and delete them, you can remove the file type. To do this, click on My Computer/Extras/Folder Options/File Types and remove SDB - Appfix package from the list. Proceed in this way with all file types that you are absolutely sure you will no longer need. In my test, the following file types were deleted: 323, ACA, ACF, ACS, ACW, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, ANI, ASA, ASF, ASX, AU, AW, BKF, BLG, CDF, CDX, CHK, CHM, COL, CTT, CUR, DIC, EMF, HOL, HTA, ICC, ICM, ICO, ICS, JFIF, JOB, LWV, M1V, M3U, MHT, MHTML, MMM, MP2, MP2V, MPA, MPV2, MSRCINCIDENT, MSP, MSWMM, NMW, NWS, PKO, system monitor types, RDP, Schedule+ types, SHB, SHS, SND, SPL, ULS, VCF, VCS, WAX, WBK, WMX.
The changes to the system did not result in any noticeable impairments, although this cannot be a general formula for your computer. Be careful and inform yourself about certain file types!
Even after the first restart, you can feel the relief of the registry, as the system starts up a little faster and programs work (noticeably) faster. I hope that this gigantic article has brought you a little closer to perfect performance!
NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.
On Windows Tweaks you will find time-saving tech guides for PC, software & Microsoft. For a stress-free digital everyday life. Already we have been "tweaking" Windows since 1998 and just won't stop!
