Isn’t it amazing how quickly your hard drive resembles the home of the worst hoarder?
- Photo downloads
- PDFs from all over the place
- Music files
Computer manufacturers build larger and larger capacity – definitely a hoarder’s paradise.
- You probably clean up your email inbox periodically
- Do you ever think about your hard drive?
While this is in my Techie Tips category, if you know me, the association is a bit of an oxymoron.
This post offers more non-techie than techie tips for reclaiming your hard drive.
Download Discretion
I love when I get a new computer and all that lovely, clean space.
- It’s out with the old
- And in with better organization
For a while.
Feeling buried has led to an aversion to downloading more “stuff” to my computer.
No, I am not a neat-freak (you would know that if you saw my desk at times).
- Too much “stuff” overwhelms
- I hate adding to the information overload
Ask yourself ~
Do you need that download?
One of the best ways of avoiding hoarder status is by not downloading files in the first place.
Online Alternatives
It seems there is a new software application released weekly.
Before I download another app, I look to see if there is an online equivalent. I’d much rather have someone else using up their space.
For example, before I replaced my pdf software, I used online apps for creating a pdf, instead of free software downloads.
However, that brings me to an ebook dilemma.
I’m not ready for an eReader and I don’t want to download one to my PC.
- If I wanted to read it onscreen, I’d buy a Kindle
- What do you do when the Kindle version is the only option?
Of course, I have no problem downloading an ebook pdf.
I know – I am a strange person – moving on
Print Please
My boomer eyes demand more hardcopy than *ahem* younger eyes.
I have a bad habit of downloading a pdf, printing it, and later realizing I don’t need to save it.
A better alternative would be ~
- Print it
- Use it
- Recycle it
Download Dump
In spite of your best efforts at download discretion, you still accumulate downloads.
Transfer Files
Music and photos are two common downloads that probably don’t need to stay on your hard drive.
- Schedule a regular transfer date (e.g., annually, semi-annually)
- Transfer files to an external drive
Use Cleanup Software
Look at this – an actual techie tip.
Disk Cleanup on a PC and other types of software clean up temporary files, downloaded program files, and other unused files.
Here is a list of cleanup software from PC World.
Another software tip I found was for the removal of all that “stuff” put on a new computer that you don’t want or need.
A free app called The PC Decrapifer (don’t you love that name?) removes that pre-installed “stuff.”
Cleanup Mission
By combining the practical with the techie, you can clear a path to your hard drive.
- Use discretion in downloading
- Transfer files to an external drive
- Use cleanup software regularly
Or you could always just buy a new computer.
What cleanup tips do you have?
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Guilty as charged, Cathy – I download lots of stuff for later, and sometimes later never arrives. I’m trying to download less, but it’s amazing how much stuff accumulates after a while.
Isn’t it amazing, Sharon? I’m right there with you (which is what prompted this post-a Sunday cleaning session :-)).
I’ve developed a good system of creating and naming folders to organize all my files so I can find them easily, so that helps me a lot.
However, I recently bought an ultrabook (love it!) that only has a 125 gb hard drive. I went through my files and folders and organized some more and did a lot of deleting.
The monster files are the photos and videos. All the older ones are now on portable hard drives and on the hard drives of my old computers.
Well, I know you are way more organized than I am, John. 🙂 I am in the market for a new laptop and was looking at the ultrabooks. What kind did you buy?
Thanks for the perfect reminder to clean out our hard drives. When a file cabinet is full, we’re forced to clean it out or buy an additional one. It takes longer to fill a hard drive and we’re less likely to clear it out.
A few things I do are to think before I print and to avoid downloading anything. Usually I look at the preview before I download. These are very helpful tips that are worth reading several times.
Guilty, and unwilling to do anything about it today, and probably not tomorrow… maybe I’ll put it on my todo list…. or not. The software to help clean up is interesting.
Thanks, Lisa. You offer some good ones as well. I wish my boomer eyes didn’t need to print so much, but I do recycle to try to help.
Thanks for stopping by.
LOL, Anne-been there. It just got to me yesterday and my computer is not all that old. 🙂
I am not a fan of paper. I download and/or view items. However, I also save items that i want to read ONCE with a useless moniker… 000. And, they are repeatedly overwritten. This limits items that I wanted to view once from overrunning my directories.
I’m not either, Roy Unfortunately, paper is how I absorb information best. That’s a clever system you have, Roy. Why am I not surprised? 🙂 Thanks for sharing that.
There’s so much to be said for not accumulating “things” and what’s on our hard drives counts at “things” in my book! I always feel so good when I clean up the junk. Takes a while but so worth it. That’s goes especially for emails too! And, Cathy, can I say. . . . go get the Kindle. You will LOVE it!
I know, I know, Martha, but I am not ready for it yet. 🙂 I know I will, but I spend so much time looking at a screen that I love the break to a paper book.
Reading is my favorite activity so I know it’s only a matter of time. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I’ll let you know when I get that Kindle. 🙂