best way to clean up windows

While everyone knows to keep your computer free from dust and clear of water, not everyone knows that part of keeping your computer clean and running smoothly is to clean out the inner workings of your computer too. Luckily this is a fairly easy job and can be done in five simple steps.

Cleanup 1: Clean out Old Files

First of all, remove any files you may not need anymore. It may seem overly simple, but taking the time to clean out unneeded files can give you a better sense of where you are storing important data, what type of files you collect the most of, and what types of files you don't need anymore.
Open up the start menu, and then go to your 'documents' folder. This is the most likely culprit when it comes to hiding unused files. Delete anything that you do not need anymore. This will include subfolders and should be repeated with the pictures, music, and movies files. Keep an eye out for duplicate files – duplicates can prevent you from keeping track of the important iterations of your files and clutter up your hard-drive space.
Cleanup 2: Uninstall Unused Programs

Next, remove any programs you don't use anymore. Not only do these programs take up space on your hard-drive. But older applications can hold outdated supplementary files, like .dll files, that could contribute various errors.
Open up the Start menu

Open the control panel.

From the control panel go to Add/Remove programs in XP, and Uninstall a Program in Vista.

On the Add/Remove Programs dialog. You are going to want to be very careful. The best rule of thumb is to not remove programs you do not recognize. A quick Google search will tell you what the programs are, but all in all, if you have a game or two in there that you installed and you're bored with, go ahead and get rid of it and those types of programs.
Also look out for Trial Versions of programs. If you know you are not going to want them, go ahead and get rid of the trial versions of different applications. New computers always come with these. They act as promotionals. Be sure to restart your computer when prompted to; this removes the program completely from your system.
Cleanup 3: Remove Temporary Internet Files

One of the many things we do while on our computers is surf the Internet. Whenever we surf, the computer keeps logs of where we go and of different events that took place. This is to keep your data easily accessible and to make sure that your browser can speed up tasks we do over an over again. Even so, all of this temporary data can become a big cluttering factor, contributing to PC slowdown and a lack of space. To clean out Temporary Files in IE,
Open up Internet Explorer

Go to the top right corner and locate your tools drop down menu and open that up.

At the bottom is an option for Internet Options, and open that up too.

Make sure the general tab is open, and in the middle is the Browsing History area. Click on the Delete button; another window opens up asking what you want to remove.

Delete your browsing history, your cookies, and your temporary files. When they have finished deleting, hit OK which should have you exiting both windows.
Cleanup 4: Windows Disk Cleanup

Within the system tools is the disk clean up option. This is an integrated cleaning tool that Windows has built in. It doesn't remove any files you make but instead looks for redundant data that Windows makes as a matter of course. Running Disk cleanup removes that data and could prevent some system errors.
Open the Start menu

Then find the link that takes you to All Programs.

Under all programs cetagory is an Accessories folder, and then the System Tools sub-file.

Open this up and select the disk you want to clean; the most common option is disk C, which is your hard drive.

Let the Disk Cleanup run, then select the options of stuff to get rid of. These can include emptying the recycle bin, getting rid of temporary files, and clearing out error reports.
Cleanup 5: Disk Defragmenter

Defragmenting a system allows a computer to consolidate the small unused spaces on the harddrive. When programs are added or deleted, they're not neatly stacked in the computer's memory. Instead, there are small gaps left behind when something is removed, and replacement data may or may not fill those gaps completely. Hence, whenever you move, remove, add, or delete a file, your disk becomes fragmented.
The Defragmenation Tool moves programs around on the disk to create a more efficient storage option. This gives quicker access to the files you need. This tool can take a while to run, so please be patient. To defragment your system, simply…
Open the Start menu

Then find the link that takes you to All Programs.

Under all programs category is an Accessories folder, and then the System Tools sub-file.

Select the disk defragmenter tool. There, you just follow the wizard instructions.
Once you have done all of this, you should have a faster, more efficient computer. For optimal performance and the best usage of space, practice these cleanups on a routine basis, at least every six months.