Your computer is getting fat.

Hmm..where is all of your hard drive space going?? Anyone, Anyone?? Bueller? Don't be surprised, your computer is a safe haven for all sorts of junk that clutters up your hard drive space and ultimately slows things D - - O - - W - - N.... I know, it sucks. But, Dell and and other companies must love it because typically when these things start to happen, people start to think "my computer is dying", spend a lot of money trying to get it fixed, or ultimately go out and purchase a new one. Well, you don't have to be one of these people. There are many things that you can do to help your computer lose weight...

Here is my disclaimer - your actions as a result of this blog cannot hold me responsible for anything you screw up.

For Windows XP

Windows Updates -
We love Microsoft right?? Well, every time Windows Updates run, depending on how many updates get applied to your computer, all of these files get archive and saved on your hard disk. Now, it's generally best practice to allow your newly updated computer to run for a few days/weeks, whatever your preference is to ensure the updates do not affect your other programs. The files (for XP) are located at C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download. If your confident that your computer is running fine since the updates have been applied and do not plan on uninstalling any updates, you can remove the files located in that folder. You can also delete the $NTUninstallKB files located at C:\WINDOWS. Please note you may have to stop the Automatic Updates service before doing so.

Temp Folders -
The folder TEMP, located in the C:\WINDOWS folder contains all sorts of junk. The files normally evolve as a result of other programs accessing and using files that get stored in this folder. Overtime, this folder can get quite large. So..the contents of this folder can go to. If there are files that cannot be deleted, it's because they are most likely in use by another program that is currently running. This is normal.

Recycle Bin -
Empty your recycle bin...come on, it's trash - delete the crap already!

Temporary Internet Files -
Depending on the browser you use, IE, Firefox..etc. Websites you visit will also store files onto your computer. These files are used so that the same pages can load faster. The official word from Microsoft can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260897.

Disk Cleanup -
For XP users, there is a program called Disk Cleanup that will safely scan your computer for files that can be deleted. The program is located in the Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools folder.

Add/Remove Programs -
If you stop using a program that is installed on your computer, it will not uninstall itself. It waits for you to do so. If your not using a program any longer and have no plans on doing so...Remove it. It's always a good idea or so to go through Add/Remove Programs and do a quick audit to clean things up. It's common for me at least to install an app for testing purposes and sometimes forget that it's still there months after I'm finished with it.

When everything is all set and done and you've deleted the contents of your entire C:\ (just kidding), run a Disk Defrag. It too is also located in the Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools folder. Disk Defrag will organize your hard drive in way so that files can be accessed quicker, now that you have some free space. It could take a while to run so be patient.

So there you go, summer is quickly approaching and your iTunes need a place to be stored on your hard drive.