Note: For Windows 7 instructions see the comments below. It's generally the same, so you can follow the main article with just a couple of small changes.

Since I'm in the process of cleaning up some space on my computer I though I would do a little tutorial on how to do a disk cleanup and defrag your computer while in Vista. It really is quite easy and it can help speed along your computer.

Disk Cleanup

1. Click Start
2. Click Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup (you want to clean up prior to defragmentation)

3. Once you click on Disk Cleanup you will see these options

4. Click on Files from all users on this computer option (that way you clean it all)
5. Windows will ask for your permission to continue so click Continue.
6. Click on Drive C (or what ever your main drive is set up as - in most cases its C)
7. Now the Disk Cleanup will scan to calculate the amount of free space on your computer (this may take a few minutes).

8. Once it scans the computer and is complete you will see something like this:

9. ONLY check the following boxes:

• Downloaded Program Files
• Temporary Internet Files
• Recycle Bin
• Temporary Files

10. Click OK
11 Once again you will get a box that will ask you "Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files" click Delete Files.
12. Disk cleanup will delete the files and then automatically close

Disk Defragmenter (done after using Disk Cleanup for best results, although you can defragment whenever you want)

1. Click Start
2. Click Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter (just like above)
3. Now you can set up your computer to automatically Defrag on a schedule but to do it now you click on Defragment Now... to start it now

4. You will now be asked which drives you would like to Defragment. It will automatically locate the drives you have. Your main Hard Drive will be C (unless you have re-assigned the letter). Now my example below shows additional drives because I have additional drives (most do not). Check all of the boxes for the drives.

5. Click OK
6. You will now see that it is Defragmenting when it is finished it will automatically close.

Your computer should run faster and smoother now

You really should do a Disk Cleanup and Defrag at least once a month to keep your computer running its best as a rule of thumb. The more time you spend online the more often you should defrag and the less often then the less often you need to defrag. Because my computer stays on 24/7 I preform a disk cleanup and defrag more often. Basically when you find your computer slowing down its time to preform this. What happens if its been a long time since you last completed this, well then it might take a longer time to preform the cleanup and defrag.

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