I'm an artist and have been using my PC for drawing, recording VRChat videos, and editing them over the years. I thought that just sending everything to the recycling bin and emptying it would clean things up, but a friend told me that it doesn't really get rid of files completely. Lately, my PC has been slower, crashing more often, and lagging in games that used to run smoothly. I have an MSI PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 1700 eight-core processor running Windows 11 Pro. Can anyone recommend a free PC cleaner that can thoroughly wipe old files, bugs, cookies, etc.? I want my computer to feel as if someone just hit the reset button after a wild night out!
4 Answers
You might want to think about securely deleting files with a process called cryptographic deletion. Basically, you encrypt your files and then wipe everything clean. If you lose the recovery key, the data is completely gone. Alternatively, if there’s nothing important on your drive, you could also consider doing a factory reset. It tends to refresh your system and clear out all the software you've accumulated over time. Just remember to back everything up first!
Just to clarify, if you're looking to permanently delete files or not let them be recoverable, simply deleting them or emptying the recycle bin doesn’t really secure them. For a solid solution, consider using a secure disk erase option through the BIOS if you really want to start fresh. Or if all else fails, simply replace the hard drive for a totally clean slate!
If you're asking about cleaning up your system, I recommend using Microsoft's PC Manager. Other so-called 'cleaner' tools can mess up your registry and create more issues. Also, if you're not using an SSD as your boot drive yet, consider upgrading—it'll make a huge difference in performance. Don’t forget to regularly defragment your hard drive if it’s not an SSD since that can help boost speed too!
I completely agree! SSDs are a game changer for speed.
Honestly, I’d suggest not relying too much on ‘PC cleaner’ programs. They can do more harm than good by messing with the system. If your computer’s performance is really sluggish, it might be worth wiping the disk and starting with a fresh Windows install. You can always reinstall essential programs afterward.
I second this method. It's a solid choice if you're looking for a fresh start!