Windows folder is 365 GB

I still would like to know what application was creating the files...

I can't guarentee it, but if you run Process Monitor for a while then the next time a large file shows up, you should be able to trace it back to the creator.

If you'd run CCleaner when I suggested it then you'd know by now if those files would have been cleaned up by it. It regularly finds 3-5 gb of schmutz when I clean up computers. It is perhaps the most highly respected little app in all of the tech world. Disk Cleanup isn't.

Did you miss my post or was I wasting my time typing out my careful thoughts for you?

gregrocker said:

If you'd run CCleaner when I suggested it then you'd know by now if those files would have been cleaned up by it. It regularly finds 3-5 gb of schmutz when I clean up computers. It is perhaps the most highly respected little app in all of the tech world. Disk Cleanup isn't.

Did you miss my post or was I wasting my time typing out my careful thoughts for you?

CClean won't do anything if the files are not where it's expecting, iirc.

That being said, I wouldn't trust anything that deletes random stuff out of my C:\Windows folder, no matter how good it is supposed to be at figuring out what not to delete.

CCleaner is calibrated flawlessly to know which are disposable temp files. I watched it being done over 15 years. It doesn't make mistakes. There are no worries with running it. I'm growing weary of the ankle-biting.

"I still would like to know what application was creating the files...

I can't guarentee it, but if you run Process Monitor for a while then the next time a large file shows up, you should be able to trace it back to the creator. "

These files that I'm concerned about are all from 2010 so I don't think running process monitor now will probably help for those . . .


"If you'd run CCleaner when I suggested it then you'd know by now if those files would have been cleaned up by it. It regularly finds 3-5 gb of schmutz when I clean up computers. It is perhaps the most highly respected little app in all of the tech world. Disk Cleanup isn't.

Did you miss my post or was I wasting my time typing out my careful thoughts for you? "

gregrocker - I do very much appreciate all the help I have gotten on this forum, however I'm not a computer genius just a mom that is trying to fix her computer and trying to sift through what I should and shouldn't do. Since there were other comments warning me about this I choose to go another route, your way may have been the best way, but I have no way of knowing this. And personally regarding the ankle biting comment you seem to be the only one getting offended by differing opinions. Thank you for your input.

gregrocker said:

CCleaner is calibrated flawlessly to know which are disposable temp files. I watched it being done over 15 years. It doesn't make mistakes. There are no worries with running it. I'm growing weary of the ankle-biting.

I am a fan of CClener as well. I have used the "Cleaner" portion for years after seeing it recommended on GRC by some of my peers. It now includes a "Registry" function. Since Windows 7 has a good reputation for maintaining the registry, do you suggest it as a viable tool or better to ignore it? My opinion is to advise against its use, so that newbies don't get themselves in trouble with it.

I deleted those files and restarted my computer and so far no problems and I freed up a lot of space. Thank you everyone for your help!