1. Identify the programs or files you want to delete. Review both installed programs and the contents of your hard drive to determine which ones are no longer needed.
2. Uninstall any programs or applications you no longer use. To do this, open the Start menu, type “add or remove programs” into the search bar, and then select “Add or remove programs” from the list of results.
3. Carefully examine your hard drive’s contents to identify any unnecessary files. Sort files by “date modified” to easily find files that you no longer use.
4. Delete any unnecessary files by selecting them and pressing the delete key on your keyboard. If a file is associated with a program, you should also uninstall the program before deleting the associated file.
5. Empty your recycling bin. Once you delete a file, it will not be permanently removed until you empty your recycling bin. To do this, right-click on the bin icon and select “Empty Recycle Bin.”
6. Defragment your hard drive. This process reorganizes the data on your hard drive, allowing your computer to access files more quickly. To do this, open the Start menu, type “defragment” into the search bar, and then select “Disk Defragmenter.”