Just like that old sweater that's laying on your closet floor and hasn't been worn or touched for weeks, you may well have some programs on your computer that are not being used but taking up space. Time for a little healthy maintenance!
Even if you aren't using a program, it could still be consuming resources and affecting your computer's performance. Many of us have tried a program once or twice, or used to use one regularly, but no longer do. By removing unused programs from your disk drive, you'll be performing some proper maintenance and recover some disk space.
Here's how:
Windows XP:
1. Click Start, then Control Panel.
2. Click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Scroll through the list and examine each program. You'll see the size of the file, how often it's used, and the last day you used it.
Note: Do not remove anything labeled "Update" or "Hotfix." These programs help the security of your PC environment.
4. If you see a program you no longer need, click on it and then click Change/Remove. You may be prompted - if so, simply follow the prompts to remove (i.e. uninstall) the program. Otherwise, the program is removed.
Windows Vista:
1. Click Start, then Control Panel.
2. Click Programs and Features.
3. Scroll through the list and examine each program. You'll see the size of the file, how often it's used, and the last day you used it.
Note: Do not remove anything labeled "Update" or "Hotfix." These programs help the security of your PC environment.
4. If you see a program you no longer need, click on it and then click the Uninstall button. You may be prompted - if so, simply follow the prompts to remove (i.e. uninstall) the program. Otherwise, the program is removed.
That's it - you've recaptured some valuable disk space and there's a good chance you've helped your computer's performance. And you should feel better, just like picking up that sweater.
If you are interested in PC software must-haves, listen to our podcast with Rich Elswick owner of IT consultancy Bizznetworx.