Windows-11 Clean up the system

ariespaan · Jul 17, 2023

Hi,

I work with Windows-11 and use Firefox and Edge for Internet-Browsing

I want to clean the system at any time and thereby i want only to clean the following items:

Windows-11: Temporary files, Cache files, History etc, to clean disk-space
Firefox and Edge: Temporary files, Cache, Cookies, History etc.

I want to know what actions i should take to do this task for cleaning

Has anyone suggestions about this, thanks already

zbook · Jul 17, 2023

One or more of these links may be useful:

Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10

How to Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Free up drive space in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn how you can free up drive space in Windows. Keep your PC running smoothly and up to date by increasing the disk space.

support.microsoft.com

Flashorn · Jul 17, 2023

ariespaan said:
Hi,

I work with Windows-11 and use Firefox and Edge for Internet-Browsing

I want to clean the system at any time and thereby i want only to clean the following items:

Windows-11: Temporary files, Cache files, History etc, to clean disk-space
Firefox and Edge: Temporary files, Cache, Cookies, History etc.

I want to know what actions i should take to do this task for cleaning

Has anyone suggestions about this, thanks already

You can use Windows Cleanup tool as suggested by zbook but, it won't clean all that you want to clean.
In conjunction with that tool MS has another one:

Another tool by MS is

Cleaner· - Official app in the Microsoft Store

PC Cleaner & AntiVirus for Windows 11. Free disk space clean up, optimize memory, and speed up Windows system. Optimize and clean my PC. Cleaner & PC Cleaner for free. CCleaner & Clean master alternative cleaner. Keep your computer clean and fast with Total PC Cleaner. It lets you clean your...

apps.microsoft.com

How to us it

Is Microsoft Total PC Cleaner Safe?

Is Microsoft Total PC Cleaner safe? In this article, we will explain to you in detail whether it is safe and how to use it to clean your PC.

www.diskpart.com

There are many of these tools out there but, best be aware that most free tools will have some sort of ads attached to it.
Personally, I use CCleaner. I have been using it for years and there are some aspects of it that should Not be used.
The Registry cleaner for one, should not be touched by anyone. You could purchase it but, I don't recommend it. The free version
will be more than enough to free up what you want. You can choose which programs are cleaned and which you want
leave alone.

Speed up, optimize and clean your PC for free | CCleaner for PC

Try CCleaner Professional for free. Clean up your PC automatically and increase your performances and online privacy.

www.ccleaner.com

You will most likely have lots more recommendations but, make sure they all have the options you are looking for.
To have a better understanding of what you are getting, I suggest you search for evaluations of that program.

In the mean time, I would use MS' cleaners until you are satisfied with your research.

ariespaan · Jul 17, 2023

OK, Thanks for all advises

I think (as Flashorn mentioned) I try Ccleaner for a start
All I want is to clean cash files, temp files etc and I do not want to clean the Windows-Registry.
In Ccleaner I can skip the Windows-Registry function, so that is fine.

Thanks again.

PenPusher · Jul 17, 2023

Also worth trying "Wise Disk Cleaner" Wise Disk Cleaner - Free Disk Cleanup and Defrag Tool .. lots of boxes to tick/untick

(Free)

Flashorn · Jul 17, 2023

ariespaan said:
OK, Thanks for all advises

I think (as Flashorn mentioned) I try Ccleaner for a start
All I want is to clean cash files, temp files etc and I do not want to clean the Windows-Registry.
In Ccleaner I can skip the Windows-Registry function, so that is fine.

Thanks again.

You are welcomed .
I would still be inclined to suggest that you use the cleaners from MS until you have made sufficient research
on the programs you want to use.
Yes, I have been using CCleaner for years but, that doesn't mean you will like it or know how to use it.
For one thing, the free version when you are installing it, you Have to use the More or Advanced link
in the installer as it might want to install more apps that you do not want. You have to uncheck or decline
any other offers that might be offred.

If you are to use this app, pls Only use the Clean (Broom) option. You can then choose what you want the app to clean.
You can also take a look at the other options in the free program but, make sure you really want to use any other of the options
offered by this program.

Do your research.

abactuon · Jul 17, 2023

ariespaan said:
Firefox

about:preferences#privacy

C:\Users\you_name\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<random_number>.default-release

Create user.js :

Code:

/* disable disk cache ***/
user_pref("browser.cache.disk.enable", false);
user_pref("browser.cache.disk.capacity", 0);
user_pref("browser.cache.disk.smart_size.enabled", false);
user_pref("browser.cache.disk_cache_ssl", false);
user_pref("browser.cache.memory.enable", true);
user_pref("browser.cache.memory.capacity", -1);  //1Gb=1048576‬
user_pref("browser.privatebrowsing.forceMediaMemoryCache", true); // [FF75+]
user_pref("media.memory_cache_max_size", 524288);  //512Mb
user_pref("browser.cache.offline.enable", false);

TechnoMage2021 · Jul 17, 2023

I've been at this stuff for 40+ years, and I've never found any packaged software that will remove all the Temporary Internet files from both Edge and Firefox, in Windows 10 or 11.
And, what about those ".tmp , .old , and .bak" files?
You can delete those from the command prompt if you like, or just put those delete commands in a batch file.

Del /F /S /Q C:\*.tmp
Del /F /S /Q C:\*.bac
Del /F /S /Q C:\*.old

So, I wrote my own program (DOS Batch File) and I've written about it extensively in this and other Forums. It includes the above mentioned three lines.
Edge, for instance, creates .old files by the bushel. Most so-called Cleanup programs won't even touch them.

This line will clean out all of the Edge temporary internet files,
del /F /S /Q "C:\Users\Wayne11\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Default\Cache\."

And, this line will clean out all of the Firefox TIF's .
del /F /S /Q "C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\."

Combine all the above mentioned lines into one batch file, and you're well on your way to a quick and easy way to get rid of loads of junk files from your PC.

I've shared my batch file with other forum members, all over the world.
They PM me a request, including their email address, and I email them back with the text for the batch file.
Then they can cut and paste that text into either Notepad or Wordpad, and save the file as "Cleanup.bat".
It only takes a mouse click to run the program and get rid of all the Edge and Firefox temp files, as well as a lot of other junk files as well, even cleaning out the Recycle Bin.

I actually run my own Cleanup.bat program from a Desktop shortcut, so I can run the program as 'Administrator'.
As a little added touch, in my batch file, I count the number of files on the C: drive before and after cleaning and then it prints out the difference as "Files Deleted" along with the date and time.
like this: This was the report from Cinco De Mayo, 2023.

That was after only a couple of days of working the forums, with Firefox.

So don't waste your time or money on Packaged Software that claims it will clean up and speed up your PC.
It won't, and it may even harm your PC. I tried CCleaner twice and both times it totally disabled my Windows.
I had to do a Backup Image file restore, to get my Windows back.
What seems to work OK, on one PC, can totally destroy some other PC.

Good Luck,
TechnoMage

PS: My batch file can be copied to any PC running Windows 10 or 11 and run without having to 'Install' it.
I've sent it to friends all over the world, and they just run it with no trouble.

Flashorn · Jul 17, 2023

I think we have crossed paths before TechnoMage. Remember PC Help Forums by any chance?

OK, so , how do we get this .bat file from you ?

I don't mind exploring new avenues or programs for that matter.

abactuon · Jul 17, 2023

What's wrong with Windows?

For MS Edge, the cache can be redirected to the Temp directory.
For example
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" -Name "DiskCacheDir" -Type String -Value "E:\Temp\Edge"

Steve C · Jul 18, 2023

PenPusher said:
Also worth trying "Wise Disk Cleaner" Wise Disk Cleaner - Free Disk Cleanup and Defrag Tool .. lots of boxes to tick/untick (Free)

I use Wise Disk Cleaner too which cleans various large files missed by the built in Disk Cleanup utility

IanMosley · Jul 18, 2023

ariespaan said:
Has anyone suggestions about this, thanks already

In addition to replies #7 & #10 try this-

flashh4 · Jul 18, 2023

Here is a cleaner that we used when i was just going to Malware School to clean temp files ! I still use today !
Download and Run Temp File Cleaner (TFC.exe)
Download Temp File Cleaner and save it to your desktop. >>>> http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...e Malware Removal Forum&txt=Temp File Cleaner
You might want to Save any unsaved work. TFC will close ALL open programs... including your browser!
Right click the TFC icon and choose Run as administrator.
If you have a lot of junk files to remove, it could take a while, so please be patient and let it finish.
When it's done, it will report the total size of files removed. If it asks to Reboot, choose to do so. This will remove files that could not be removed while Windows was running.
After Restart, log back in to your usual account.
You can keep TFC on your desktop and run it every week or two to clean out excessive temporary files. It does usually require a restart.
-------------------------------------------------------------

OAT · Jul 18, 2023

flashh4 said:
Here is a cleaner that we used when i was just going to Malware School to clean temp files ! I still use today !
Download and Run Temp File Cleaner (TFC.exe)
Download Temp File Cleaner and save it to your desktop. >>>> http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_141281366400610&key=9b4efad421c8b103b2c94b796db973b0&libId=b51db1a9-6a6c-4947-9d8b-c6c3c45742d9&loc=http://www.malwareremoval.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=63117&start=15&subId=ada8cd58e448a82cf9bb2f2782266d43&v=1&out=http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/TFC.exe&ref=http://www.malwareremoval.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=63117&title=Malware Infection, Overwhelming Popups, LuckYaShoppper | Free Malware Removal Forum&txt=Temp File Cleaner
You might want to Save any unsaved work. TFC will close ALL open programs... including your browser!
Right click the TFC icon and choose Run as administrator.
If you have a lot of junk files to remove, it could take a while, so please be patient and let it finish.
When it's done, it will report the total size of files removed. If it asks to Reboot, choose to do so. This will remove files that could not be removed while Windows was running.
After Restart, log back in to your usual account.
You can keep TFC on your desktop and run it every week or two to clean out excessive temporary files. It does usually require a restart.
-------------------------------------------------------------

It says Please note TFC is not suitable for use on Windows 8.1 or 10
and that was last updated in 2017 before Win11 came out.

flashh4 · Jul 18, 2023

Yes ..... and i ran it 15 minutes ago ! Cleaned a lot of old temp files out !

OAT · Jul 18, 2023

flashh4 said:
Yes ..... and i ran it 15 minutes ago ! Cleaned a lot of old temp files out !

No wonder you've been having so many issues then. :lmao:

TechnoMage2021 · Jul 18, 2023

Flashorn said:
I think we have crossed paths before TechnoMage. Remember PC Help Forums by any chance?

OK, so , how do we get this .bat file from you ?

I don't mind exploring new avenues or programs for that matter.

It's totally possible. I started out with the "Lockergnome" forum years ago and have joined and worked at least a dozen or more PC forums since then. They come, and they go! It gives the OLD Man something to do.
I even had my own forum for a season, till my site mgr. failed to pay the rent on the server and I lost the site.
If you ever worked the old original Windows 8 forum, I was a Moderator on that forum, till it was finally closed by the owners.

As stated above, PM me, with your email address, and I'll email you back the text to my Batch File.
Being a Batch File, you can edit it to add or remove items as you choose. Or just RUN it, for a very thorough HD Cleanup.
After I've run my Cleanup batch file, I can run any number of other so-called cleanup programs, and they find nothing, Zero, Zilch, nada, nunca, nicht!!!

TM

PS: I once set up a Cleanup regimen for a fellow who was afraid of his PC falling into the wrong hands.
Well, it did! The FBI came in and grabbed it one day. They gave it a forensic examination and their report said it looked as clean as a brand new computer, right out of the box.
He only had to hit one shortcut to wipe his HD clean of any incriminating data.

flashh4 · Jul 18, 2023

@OAT i don't have any problems with my computer ! And that program was used prob before any of the new Cleaners & it did a wonderful job ! Don't knock it til you have tried it !!

OAT · Jul 18, 2023

flashh4 said:
@OAT ! Don't knock it til you have tried it !!

I wouldn't attempt to drive a Ford model T, so I don't think I will try that software from the time of the colonies either.
However, thanks for the offer.