Maintenance - What files to delete?

I don't care to use the automatic updates/scans for my antivirus programs and other maintenance items such as Spybot and Adaware. I do most of the maintenance processes manually (don't know why - just like to do it that way). However, as these scans are progressing, it seems like that sometimes I am scanning unnecessary files that could be safely removed before I start the process.

Question - prior to complete computer scans/defrag/etc, which files should/could be deleted? I know this has been coverid in previous threads but apparently I don't know how to phrase the search to find what I need. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

virginia--After a reboot and before you install any new programs, you can delete any file with the extension .tmp (dated yesterday or earlier) . You can also delete the files in the Temporary Internet Files folder. You can use DiskCleanUp (among other procedures) for this. (My Computer|right click on C:\ (or whatever is your system drive)|Properties|Disk Cleanup|Choose items to be removed|follow directions.)
You can usually also delete files with the extensions .bak, .old, .gid, .chk, .fts. (There are others, but they are less common.) Of the latter batch, probably best to put them into Recycle Bin for a week or so and see if you have any problems.
But much of this is small potatoes. Go into Control Panel|Add/Remove Programs and uninstall programs you never use.

 

Thanks Jim - exactly what I was looking for. I will also take a look at those unused programs I have cluttering up the place - AOL, Earthlink, and other preinstalled stuff. Not sure some times how to really get rid of that stuff but I guess that's another topic and if I run into any problems there I will post a new thread.

 

I worked on a Dell the other day that the owner complained took forever to reboot. There 67 processes running at start up. The pre-installed software is billed as a "value" or "convenience " for consumers (get it out of the box, and plug it in!) but for users with less than your experience level, the fluff is a nuisance they don't know how to get rid of. His state of the art P4 was choking under the demands of the extra software. Uninstall and dump what you know you do not need or want. For programs I want to keep, but don't need running all the time, I like Mike Lin's StartUpCPL to control what starts at boot. It adds an entry in the Control Panel that lets you easily identify and untick unecessary items. My computer boots with 33 running processes (yes, I know, but a third of that is Norton!)
HTH
Johanna

 

Johanna--I heartily agree with your suggestion about minimizing programs that start on boot as a way of improving a PC's performance. But I wonder if it is pertinent to virginia's question about scanning unnecessary files. I think the files of the various programs will be scanned whether they are in use or not. So the key would be to get rid of the files/programs.
Of course I suppose everything, including scans, would be slower if too many programs were running.