What files can I safely remove?

Hi, Given that the laptop "will not run now," our immediate goal is to free up enough space for Windows to operate normally again. Please read all steps before proceeding, as deleting the wrong files can make your computer unable to start.

First: Free Up Space Immediately (Safe Options) First, let's use built-in Windows tools to clean up space safely. If your laptop is unresponsive, you may need to boot into Safe Mode (instructions at the end).

Use Disk Cleanup (Most Important First Step):

Press the Windows Key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.

Select your C: drive and click OK.

Click "Clean up system files" (you may need to do this as an administrator).

Now, select ALL the boxes, especially:

Windows Update Cleanup (This can often free up 5-20GB+)

Temporary Internet Files

Previous Windows Installation(s) (If present, this can be 10-30GB)

Delivery Optimization Files

Temporary files

Click OK and let it run.

Empty the Recycle Bin: This seems obvious, but it's often overlooked. Right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin."

Second: What You Should NOT Delete Never manually delete files from these folders unless you are using a trusted tool like Disk Cleanup:

C:\Windows - This is the operating system. Deleting anything here can break Windows.

C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) - These contain your installed applications.

C:\Users[YourUsername]\AppData - This contains critical application settings and data.

Third: What You CAN Safely Delete (If You Must) If Disk Cleanup wasn't enough, you can carefully check these locations for large, non-essential files:

C:\Users[YourUsername]\Downloads - Double-check that old downloads weren't left behind.

C:\Users[YourUsername]\Desktop - Look for and move large files (videos, zip files) to your D drive.

C:\Users[YourUsername]\Videos and \Pictures - These often contain very large files. You can move them to your D drive instead of deleting them.

If Your Laptop Won't Start: Boot into Safe Mode If Windows is too unstable to start normally, here is how to boot into a mode that uses minimal space:

At the sign-in screen, hold down the Shift key while you select Power > Restart.

After the computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

When the computer restarts again, press the F4 or 4 key to enable Safe Mode.

Once in Safe Mode, run the Disk Cleanup tool (Step 1) as described above.

Keep in mind that once you have recovered at least 15-20GB of space and the laptop is running again, I strongly recommend using a visual tool like WizTree (free) or TreeSize Free to see exactly what is using your space. These tools provide a clear, visual map of your C drive, making it easy to identify large folders and files you may have missed.

Please prioritize Step 1 (Disk Cleanup) as it is the safest and most effective method. I hope this guide helps you recover your system.

If this information was helpful in resolving your issue, please feel free to mark it as "Accept Answer" 😊.

Best regards,

VP

Here are some files in C drive you can usually delete safely:

Temporary files and cache: Type "Disk Cleanup" in the search bar. You can use Windows built-in Disk Cleanup tool to safely remove the files.

Old downloads: Open the "Download" folder. After checking that there are no files you need, you can delete them all.

Duplicate files: Over time, duplicate photos, documents, archives, etc. can take up much space. You can scan your "C:\Users" folder with "Cisdem Duplicate Finder". It's a professional and easy-to-use duplicate file finder that helps identify and safely remove duplicates on computer.

Hi Irene Lesley Browning,

Has your issue been solved? If it has, please accept the answer so that others can benefit too. If not, is there anything I can help you with? Please let me know.

Vivian