DAT files taking up space

[AZDSF]

Hello all. Newbie to the forums. I am hoping to get help with my computer. Recently my computer maxed out in storage space and I have been slowly getting it back. I ran WinDirSat and saw that 60gb was being used for DAT files. I don't know what any of that is, or if it's possible to remove them to get that storage back? I have included a screenprint of WinDirStat's findings. Win — ImgBB

Any help or suggestions on clearing up some space? Even if it is not DAT files. Thank you.

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. a .dat file is normally a data file for database or game. So we cant say what it is you could try opening it with notepad and look and the first part as that may give you info on what its for. The other way to deal with it is rename it use the pc for a couple of day and if everything work ok then delete it any problems you can rename it back. Have you got any big games what folder is it in and who ownes it that may give us a clue

 

[Snick]

You can try running Microsoft's Disk Cleanup verylowdisk
Click rb: in searchbox type cmd
right click it when it appears & choose Run as Administrator
copy and paste the below at the cmd prompt >
Cleanmgr /verylowdisk & exit

 

[file3456]

Try System Ninja and Ccleaner. You can add this to Ccleaner, but it will make Ccleaner take a little longer to load. System Ninja will find things Ccleaner doesn't. Do not use Ccleaner's registry cleaner unless you know what you are doing. Scan all downloads at Virus Total.

Download CCleaner | Clean, optimize & tune up your PC, free!

System Ninja - SingularLabs

In Ccleaner I'd ditch its automatic mode, automatic check of updates and don't allow it to run in your task bar. This is what I do.

 

[AZDSF]

Welcome to the forum. a .dat file is normally a data file for database or game. So we cant say what it is you could try opening it with notepad and look and the first part as that may give you info on what its for. The other way to deal with it is rename it use the pc for a couple of day and if everything work ok then delete it any problems you can rename it back. Have you got any big games what folder is it in and who ownes it that may give us a clue

Thanks for your response. I am the owner of the desktop. At one point years ago, there were two games installed. Sims, and H1Z1. But they were removed in 2017. As far as the computer goes, I kept nearly everything on external harddrives, except for programs and some downloads.

 

[AZDSF]

You can try running Microsoft's Disk Cleanup verylowdisk
Click rb: in searchbox type cmd
right click it when it appears & choose Run as Administrator
copy and paste the below at the cmd prompt >
Cleanmgr /verylowdisk & exit

Follow your instructions, and nothing has changed from the looks of it.

 

[samuria]

If you know its from a removed game simply delete it

 

[Snick]

AZDSF

Microsoft's Disk Cleanup whatever version you run, does not remove .dat files. It safely removes junk on your system freeing up disk space.
If you decide to delete some .dat files, I would recommend that you create a full disk image backup to an external hard drive. If you delete something that causes damage to your system, or you later decide that you shouldn't have deleted that, you can simply reimage your drive to its previous state.

It is always prudent to backup your system regularly, preferably to an external hard drive.

Snick

 

[AZDSF]

Thanks all, I appreciate the help. Problem not solved but if I figured it out fully, I will post back.

 

[davexnet]

Should have at least identified the folder holding these files.
That may have been a good clue