How often should you empty your recycle bin

Melissa · Apr 3, 2013

Dear Forum,

I am just enquring as to whether or not too permantely delete the contents in my recycle bin and if it is affecting the performance of my machine.

I had the Norton team delete the back up of the previous version of their software and I went for assistance online and they decided to go along with my idea of removing all the items in the %temp% and temp folder.

I gather that the other files - I am not too sure if I may require them down the track.

I did not know that there was that much in the recycle bin and have not been advised on the best action.

I took a few snap shots of what type of items are in the current file at the moment.

Mel

UsernameIssues · Apr 3, 2013

How often to empty that bin?
As often as you wish.

Will it impact performance?
In theory, yes. In reality, no.
In theory, the more files that you have on your computer, then the longer it takes for security software to complete a full scan.

Download CCleaner (avoid using the registry tool).
Let it clean up old files for you - as well as empty the recycle bin.

nilank · Apr 3, 2013

Hi Melissa!

Check your bin and see if there's any item there you might need. If you need nothing, empty it! Empty bin is always better than a filled one, whatever the reason be! Why keep things you don't wanna use and let them take up your precious hard disk space?

Also, you can right click Recycle Bin > Click Properties and set the amount allocated to the dustbin on each partition according to your needs.

jumanji · Apr 3, 2013

I am a paranoid.

I am forgetful.

And sometimes I do delete some files by mistake - and everybody does it

.

With these qualities, I do not allow CCleaner to do the job for me and I always believe in excercising my own control wherever possible.

Whenever I feel the urge to empty the trash on seeing a dirty bin - which happens once in two or three days - I go an extra mile of exploring the contents of the Recycle Bin, confirm I haven't made a mistake of my life and then delete them all manually.

I do not want to run Recuva.

In one sentence, it all depends upon your own personality traits and computer usage. ( I don't think I ever use my computer.

)

Melissa · Apr 3, 2013

Thanks for the realistic answer.

I am not that confident in using CCleaner as it has some components.

I had the old CCleaner - it told me to update it. I then went into the control panel and I removed the old version.

How do I download the new one. Do I run it or download it from the website. I am not that computer literate?

I also do not like the idea of some of the old components of CCleaner - like the 'Run" section.

I just need assistance in trying to load the most recent version. I do not have any money - so the free one if possible.

Thanks for your assistance

Step by step instructions - I am not one hundred per cent

nilank · Apr 3, 2013

Get the latest here: Download CCleaner 4.00.4064 - FileHippo.com

Run the setup to install it, it's easy and self explanatory.

Melissa · Apr 3, 2013

Just wondered if it does also cause any issues in the running of your computer.

I better get off this one for an update. I heard there where some issues with the New Platform Update KB2670838 - I did with Google and pasting. Hopefully they have fixed that. I went on the Microsoft Community for that one.

Thanks again. I guess it does depend on your personality and how you operate as a person with how you like your computer set up. I always forget where I file items or if I may have accidentally moved it to the recycle bin.

Thanks people.

nilank · Apr 3, 2013

You're welcome!

Run cleaner with default settings -- that's all you need!

Melissa · Apr 3, 2013

I tried to do a print screen - but can not.

When I go to open the .exe file and the User Acccount Control section comes up - I select the option yes.

Then I am getting no program installing at all. I have tried running and installing it to no avail.

Any troubleshooting I could do? Doing it on Internet Explorer

Joan Archer · Apr 3, 2013

In my opinion I'd rather not use 3rd party software but use what is built into Windows on a regular basis.

Always do it on a new boot up that way if anything is still updating or installing parts will have finished using the files.

Once a week I start with a Clean Up, which you will find in your Programs, that will clean out all the Temp files and empty the Recycle bin plus other files that can be safely cleaned out. There is an option to look at the files it will delete for you to check.

I then do a scan with my installed MalwareBytes program, even though I have the Pro version which runs all the time I'll still do a weekly scan.

The inbuilt Defrag is scheduled to run weekly at a time I'm not using my machine.

Hope that helps you.

Melissa · Apr 3, 2013

Thanks people.

I am not even sure what MalwareBytes does - but I am willing to learn.

Now my machine has the VAIO Gate having issues. So perhaps you are correct. I will wait until the update has been done and process everything. I think that I have a lot of 3rd (third) party applications on my computer and I do not know how to use them. For instance, I recently got told to download and update my external drive back up - now I am trying to find something user friendly.

I am going to post about my other issues - but I gather that a clean boot is when you boot the computer from scratch or by turning it on then off.

Joan Archer · Apr 3, 2013

MalwareBytes is an Anti-malware program and is highly thought of by a lot of the experts. I see from your screen shots that you have it installed and yes I did mean doing the clean up after first turning on the machine.

You do seem to have quite a lot of programs installed and I notice you have Adobe Reader, I use Foxit Reader which isn't as bloated as Adobe plus I use Microsoft Security Essentials as my anti-virus program and have had no problems with it, it's something else that is built into your Windows 7 so that's another expense saved.

You also have a built in backup program that you can use to make a system image, that is something you want to put onto an external drive for safety.

OK think I've said enough for now and you'll need the experts to tell you what you ought to get rid of after looking at those shots.

Most of all try to enjoy your computer and not fret about it and remember we are here to give you help.

Gary · Apr 3, 2013

I do it several times a day.

UsernameIssues · Apr 4, 2013

@Melissa,
Judging from these screenshots of yours, you should uninstall Java 7 Update 7 - the current version is Java 7 Update 17. I would suggest that you uninstall Java it and leave it off of your computer.

Also, you probably do not need these:
JavaFX 2.1.1
Adobe AIR
Any app that needs them should let you know to reinstall them.

AddRAM · Apr 4, 2013

I never even let items go into my recycle bin, it`s set to delete them straight away.

UsernameIssues · Apr 4, 2013

Melissa said:
Just wondered if it does also cause any issues in the running of your computer.

I better get off this one for an update. I heard there where some issues with the New Platform Update KB2670838 - I did with Google and pasting. Hopefully they have fixed that. I went on the Microsoft Community for that one.

Thanks again. I guess it does depend on your personality and how you operate as a person with how you like your computer set up. I always forget where I file items or if I may have accidentally moved it to the recycle bin.

Thanks people.

It [CCleaner] has a very good reputation. And if you only use it to clean out files that it thinks you do not need, then it is safer than you attempting to do that manually in all of the places that such files hide. That is why I suggested it. You can do some of the same cleanup using the Disk Cleanup tool built into Windows. Just know that both tools will (by default) delete thumbs.db files that you discussed keeping in one of your other threads. You can uncheck that option if you want or let the thumb.db files go away. You might see a slight delay when viewing thumbnails as a particular thumb.db file is rebuilt... but this delay should only happen one time (until the next time you delete thumb.db files).

> New Platform Update KB2670838:
It probably will not be an issue for you... but you can read thru this thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...40-platform-update-kb2670838-windows-7-a.html

Melissa said:
I tried to do a print screen - but can not.

When I go to open the .exe file and the User Acccount Control section comes up - I select the option yes.

Then I am getting no program installing at all. I have tried running and installing it to no avail.

Any troubleshooting I could do? Doing it on Internet Explorer

I think that the quote above is dealing with CCleaner not installing. If you want to work on that issue, then start a new topic just for that; otherwise, just use the native Disk Cleanup applet.

nilank · Apr 4, 2013

UsernameIssues said:
@Melissa,
Judging from these screenshots of yours, you should uninstall Java 7 Update 7 - the current version is Java 7 Update 17. I would suggest that you uninstall Java it and leave it off of your computer.

Also probably do not need these:
JavaFX 2.1.1
Adobe AIR
Any app that needs them should let you know to reinstall them.

Hey UI, could you tell me what Adobe AIR actually does? I have that installed too but have no idea what purpose does it serve.

AddRAM · Apr 4, 2013

If you don`t use it, there`s no reason to have it. Adobe will just keep bugging you to update it every other week.

Adobe AIR
Deliver engaging applications beyond the browser across screens

The Adobe® AIR® 3 runtime enables developers to use HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash® software, and ActionScript® to build web applications that run as standalone client applications without the constraints of a browser.

For more information, visit the Product page

http://www.adobe.com/products/air.html

UsernameIssues · Apr 4, 2013

It is a "runtime environment" like Java. Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR)

Programmers can write an app in AIR and that app should run on a Windows OS, Apple OS, Android...

60+ Useful Adobe AIR Applications You Should Know

Adobe bundled it with the adobe reader several versions back, then they stopped doing that.

nilank · Apr 4, 2013

AddRAM said:
If you don`t use it, there`s no reason to have it. Adobe will just keep bugging you to update it every other week.

Adobe AIR
Deliver engaging applications beyond the browser across screens

The Adobe® AIR® 3 runtime enables developers to use HTML, JavaScript, Adobe Flash® software, and ActionScript® to build web applications that run as standalone client applications without the constraints of a browser.

For more information, visit the Product page

Adobe AIR | Adobe AIR 3 | Deploy applications

UsernameIssues said:
It is a "runtime environment" like Java.

Programmers can write an app in AIR and that app should run on a Windows OS, Apple OS, Android...

60+ Useful Adobe AIR Applications You Should Know

Adobe bundled it with the adobe reader several versions back, then they stopped doing that.

That's enough to convince me that I don't really need it.

Thanks guys!

How often should you empty your recycle bin

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