Deleting files/folders safely.

[BIGALX58]

Recently, I downloaded a space-saving program. After using it, I wound up with 258 items(8.2MB) in my recycle bin. I'm not sure which files/folders I can delete. So far, these items are in the recycle bin and the computer seems to be working fine, and, frankly, I'm not sure if I really did save some space! Is there a guide that I can use to help me delete these file/folders safely?
Thanks.

 

[SavvyLady]

see if this helps
http://www.piersontech.com/07-CleanHardDrive.htm

 

[BIGALX58]

Thanks Savvy... I'll give it a try.

 

[BIGALX58]

I'm sorry, Savvy, but I couldn't get what I was looking for at this site...maybe I just couldn't find it.

 

[SavvyLady]

ok let me look again...sorry

 

[SavvyLady]

I don't seem to be able to put my hands directly on anything I can show you.
May I ask you are any of the items in the recycle bin... program files... exe files... or .dll's

Which program did you use to gather trash??

 

[BIGALX58]

The program I used was 4Diskclean Gold. I've uninstalled it since I found that it wasn't as easy to use as I thought. You still have to make the final decision yourself as to which files/folders to delete.
The recycle bin contains files/folders with the following endings:
.INI .Log .GID .tsk .dcr .txt .EXD .FTS .BAK
In addition, I also have: Genie.exe G_L55.exe MSCREATE... (about 50 of these) MSN-137710 (with different numbers) QMgrCache POWERPN... VBE ~Upg0 ~Upg1
I've deleted the files with tmp endings already...I hope that was OK?

 

[TonyKlein]

I would not scrap all of these files.

Install-log files, for example, are crucial if you want to be able to uninstall applications the right way.

Most ini files are essential as well, and what text files your clever little application selected for destruction we'll never know either.

The only thing you can have it remove without reserve are files with the following extensions: *.tmp, *.bak, *.old, *.prv.

Fts and Gid files are also expendible, but the necessity of removing those has always escaped me, as WinHelp will re-create them as needed every time you open a Help file.

Mscreate. dir files can go.

My advice: put everything back except for the ones I advised you to scrap.

Good luck,

 

[BIGALX58]

Thanks, I will try that. What is the fuction of *.fdr files??? I have about 40 of them.

 

[TonyKlein]

Flight Data Recorder files?
Flight Dynamic Request files?

No idea, really.
They're not very common.

Greetz,

 

[SavvyLady]

lol... FDR...lol
Franklin D. Roosevelt??????
Thats all I could find too

 

[BIGALX58]

Thanks to both of you. Have a great New Year!

 

[TonyKlein]

And the same to you and yours!

 

[slipe]

FDR files come from this: http://www.finaldraft.com/fd/index.html

Are you a screenwriter?

 

[WhitPhil]

The MSCREATE files "really" aren't expendable either.

This note explains what they are used for.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q132978