Clean up Windows files and folders

Fred Langa, author of the LangaList newsletter, offers great tips. His 2002 series on cleanup of multiple versions of Windows is still a classic. The linked page contains:

• Basic cleanup for all versions of windows
• Advanced cleanup batch file (Win 9x)
• Advanced cleanup for other versions of Windows (including XP)
• Sageset tips
• Sagerun tips
• Cleaning of temporary files folders
• Advanced use of cleanup commands

At both work and home I use a custom version of "cleanxp.bat". It's fast and handy. You wouldn't believe how many problems it "magically" fixes. I often tell clients to exit from all programs and then run it before trying more advanced troubleshooting. Too many programs leave behind temporary files that they should delete when you close them.

Fred's LangaList newsletter comes in two versions -- free and an inexpensive paid ("Plus") version. It's available in varied emailed formats as well as on the web. The Plus version gets you even more juicy tips. Oh ... and despite coming from New Hampshire, Fred doesn't take anything for granite.