Safe to use Explorer's Disk Cleanup?

Stevekir

Stevekir

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I have lots of .tmp files on my C: drive (its an SSD) and on my X: drive (a separate rotational HDD in the computer's case holding all my Documents. Pictures etc.). These seem unecessary, and are religiously included by my third party daily backup routine (FreeFileSync). I am the Administrator.

I would first boot the computer (to make sure that there were no temporary files that were being used by a program etc.), and get Windows 7 (Home Premium)'s Backup and Restore routine to make a backup, and I would create a Restore Point.

For the X: drive I would make a backup of the drive, then set Disk Cleanup to clean all "Temporary Files". If that went OK, next the C: drive.

For the C: drive: I would save elsewhere the WindowsImageBackup that Windows Backup and Restore is set to automatically make every day on X:, and use Disk Cleanup on the C: drive. If that went OK I would Cleanup the other types of files which are offered by Disk Cleanup, on each of these two drives .

Operations like this can go wrong. I really really don't want to screw up my computer.

>> Is the procedure I describe above safe? How could it be improved?

Thanks.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Gigabyte ATX case with 500 W power supply GZ-M1
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
CPU
Intel Pentium Edition G3220 3.0 GHz
Motherboard
Gigabyte Socket 1150 MicroATX Mot Ultra Durable, GA-H81M-S2H
Memory
8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
Not Known
Sound Card
Not known
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung LS24D590 23.6"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
256 GB Solid State Drive (C: on which Windows 7 is installed)-
1 TB internal conventional HD (X:)-
Two WD "Elements" " 2TB USB drives as backups
PSU
500 W
Case
Gigabyte ATX case
Cooling
Several fans!
Keyboard
Accuratus 301 USB Compact, white.
Mouse
Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse v2.0, two-button, tethered
Internet Speed
10 to 12 Mb per second
Antivirus
Kaspersky Internet Security 2016, Malwarebytes (paid)
Browser
Firefox (ocassionally Safari)
Other Info
The 256 GB SSD (C:) also has Adobe Photoshop CS6 and InDesign CS6, MS Office, Adobe Lightroom, and other small programs.
Hi
I use disk clean up and clean up system files too without any issues
The only reported issue with clean up system files and it's windows update clean up is the windows update system may send an update that was cleaned up again.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom assembled by me :}
OS
Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
CPU
i7-5930K 2nd i9-9940x both water blocked VRM's too
Motherboard
ASUS SABERTOOTH X99 2nd ASUS x299 Apex
Memory
Trident-z 3200C14 2nd Trident-z 3600C16
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA 1080ti ftw3 2nd Titan Xp both water blocked
Sound Card
Built-in Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24" 144Hz
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
2-Samsung M.2 Evo & Evo Plus
2-Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD's/ 3-2.5 W.D. Black 1tb-&3-1tb/3-3.5 WD Black 1tb hdd's
PSU
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000-P2 2nd 1200-P2
Case
2-Corsair Obsidian Series 450D Black ATX Mid Tower
Cooling
Custom water loops
Keyboard
Logitech G710+/ 2nd Logitech G910
Mouse
2-RedDragon M901 Perdition 16400 dpi Gaming mouse = wired
Internet Speed
Comcast Ping 19ms 89.31mbps download speed 6.12mbps upload
Antivirus
Malwarebytes Pro/ Superantispyware Pro
Browser
FireFox & Pale moon
Other Info
2nd ASUS X299 Apex/Intel i9-9940x with Custom water loop/7H-Prem-x64/Corsair 450D case/Ram Trident-z 3600C16 4x8gb / Samsung970Evo plus 500gb SSD/Dual ssd EZ swap evo/PSU EVGA SuperNova 1200w-P2 80+Platinum/GPU Titan Xp /8-ML-140 on push-pull on 2-280GTX rads

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops
OS
Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
CPU
from 1.6GHz Duo to i7
Monitor(s) Displays
2x HP w2207
Hard Drives
5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals
Keyboard
with trackball - no mices
Mouse
Trackball mice
Internet Speed
DSL 6000
I also use Windows Disc Clean up & I have never had a problem with it.

You do need to keep in mind that it does not actually remove any files etc. until you restart your computer. This is probably so any temp files in use don't get mangled. If you have a lot of files etc. to get rid of then it will give you notification when you shut down & may also notify you on restarting again.

If you want to delete completed Windows Update Clean Up & Windows Error Reporting, right click on Disc Clean Up & Run as Administrator.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built using existing case
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit sp1
CPU
Intel i5 3570 3.4Ghz Ivy Bridge SKT 1155 quad core
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z77-HD3 SKT 1155 2xSata 3, 4x USB 3.0
Memory
G-Skill Rip Jaws 16Gb (8x2) DDR3 -1600 PC3 12800 CL 10 red
Graphics Card(s)
Gigabyte NVIDIA GT610 1Gb DDR3 810/1200 PCI-E 2.0 Silent
Sound Card
NVIDIA High Definition & Realtech High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Philips 226V4L 16:9 aspect ratio
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 HD
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 Pro 256gb SSD, SATA 3.
Hitachi Touro Portable 1tb, USB 3.0 HDD used for image b/ups.
PSU
Corsair VS450
Case
Codeng
Cooling
PSU fan & CPU fan
Keyboard
Logitech
Mouse
Logitech Wireless trackball M570
Internet Speed
Wireless 3G. 3mg down & 550kb up.
Antivirus
Bitdefender Internet Security 2020
Browser
Opera (Current Version) & Firefox
Other Info
MS Office 2013 Pro. Davis weather station software. MGE Nova 600 avr UPS.
Yep tfc is great :)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom assembled by me :}
OS
Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
CPU
i7-5930K 2nd i9-9940x both water blocked VRM's too
Motherboard
ASUS SABERTOOTH X99 2nd ASUS x299 Apex
Memory
Trident-z 3200C14 2nd Trident-z 3600C16
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA 1080ti ftw3 2nd Titan Xp both water blocked
Sound Card
Built-in Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24" 144Hz
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080 144Hz
Hard Drives
2-Samsung M.2 Evo & Evo Plus
2-Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD's/ 3-2.5 W.D. Black 1tb-&3-1tb/3-3.5 WD Black 1tb hdd's
PSU
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000-P2 2nd 1200-P2
Case
2-Corsair Obsidian Series 450D Black ATX Mid Tower
Cooling
Custom water loops
Keyboard
Logitech G710+/ 2nd Logitech G910
Mouse
2-RedDragon M901 Perdition 16400 dpi Gaming mouse = wired
Internet Speed
Comcast Ping 19ms 89.31mbps download speed 6.12mbps upload
Antivirus
Malwarebytes Pro/ Superantispyware Pro
Browser
FireFox & Pale moon
Other Info
2nd ASUS X299 Apex/Intel i9-9940x with Custom water loop/7H-Prem-x64/Corsair 450D case/Ram Trident-z 3600C16 4x8gb / Samsung970Evo plus 500gb SSD/Dual ssd EZ swap evo/PSU EVGA SuperNova 1200w-P2 80+Platinum/GPU Titan Xp /8-ML-140 on push-pull on 2-280GTX rads
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