Clean a Startup Disk

You may have gotten a notification on your computer that the startup disk is full. Most PCs come with a disk cleanup feature that you can run to clean up the startup disk. Macs have automatic processes that keep the startup disk tidy, but further cleaning can be done by removing cached files and deleting old backups. Optimize your computer so it runs better by upgrading the drive or improving its memory.

Steps

Running Disk Cleanup (PC)

  1. Open the disk cleanup feature. Turn your computer on. Click the start button in the lower left corner of your desktop or press the ⊞ Win button on your keyboard. This should bring up a search box. Type in “Disk Cleanup” and select this option from the list provided.[1]
  2. Select the drives you want to clean, if necessary. When you select the “Disk Cleanup” function, a dialogue box will appear. In some cases there may be a drop-down box, in others there may be a list of drives you can select for cleanup. Select the C: drive from the drop-down box or list and select OK.[1]
    • The C: drive is another name for the startup disk for most computers. Some computers may have other drives for backup purposes or other reasons. Disk cleanup can be used on any drive.[2]
    • Once you select a drive to clean up, your computer should analyze the drive. This process may take several minutes or longer.[3]
  3. Choose files for removal. When the Disk Cleanup has finished analyzing the drive, a new dialogue box should appear. This should list the suspected files that can be deleted without harming your computer. Select the boxes for file types (like Temporary Internet Files) that you’d like removed and press Clean up System Files or OK.[1]
    • Some of the most typically wasteful file types include Temporary Internet Files, Temporary Files, Recycle Bin files, and Previous Windows Installations.[3]
  4. Delete the unnecessary files to clean the startup disk. After pressing Clean up System Files or OK, you should receive a message verifying if you want to delete the files. Select Delete Files or OK to remove the files and clean the drive.[1]
    • If your computer is in need of a severe cleaning, this process might take up to 10 minutes or longer.
  5. Delete excess iTunes backups on your computer. Open iTunes on your computer. In the top menu bar, click "Edit" and select "Preferences" from the drop-down menu. Click the "Devices" tab in the resulting menu. This tab will display backups. Highlight all backups but the most recent and click Delete Backup.
    • In some versions of iTunes, you may need to hold Alt to bring up the top menu bar to access the "Edit" drop-down menu.
    • Music libraries are usually quite large. Every unnecessary backup will decrease the memory available on your computer, slowing it down.[4]

Freeing up Startup Disk Space (Mac)

  1. Remove unnecessary cached files. Access the Finder feature on the Dock of your desktop screen. In the Finder menu, click on the option labeled “Go to folder…” In the new dialogue box, enter “~/Library/Caches” and press enter. Delete large files or folders in the resulting cache folder.[5]
    • Further clean your startup disk by similarly clearing out your general cache. Access the general cache by searching Finder for the same library but without the tilde ( ~ ), as in “/Library/Caches”.
    • The Finder feature is represented on Mac products by a face with one half colored dark blue and the other half light blue.[6]
    • Generally, cached files are safe to remove from your Mac. Not all files have to be removed. The largest files will have the biggest impact on the performance of your computer.
  2. Dispose of unneeded localization files. Localization files support the use of languages other than the default for your computer. Open Finder on your computer and type “Applications” into the search box. Hold Ctrl and click one of the options in this folder. From the pop-up menu, select “Show Package Contents.” Delete any languages you don’t use.[5]
    • Removable language files are usually followed by the file extension “.lproj”. For example, Spanish would be expressed as “es.lproj”.[7]
  3. Clear out mail downloads. Open a Finder window. From its menu options, choose “Go” and then “Go to folder…” In the resulting window, type in “~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads” to access email downloads saved to your computer. Delete all unnecessary files in this folder.
    • Find email downloads more quickly by holding the ⌘ Command key and pressing space. Enter “Mail Downloads” in the resulting dialogue box. Select the “Mail Downloads” folder and delete files as per usual.[8]
  4. Get rid of multiple iTunes backup libraries. Especially if your iTunes library is large, extra backups can take up a lot of space on your computer. Open Finder on your computer and click “Go” in its menu options. Select “Go to Folder...” and then enter “~/Music/iTunes/Previous iTunes Libraries”. Delete all backups except the most recent.
    • Each of the backup libraries in the previous library folder will include a date for each backup entry.[5]
  5. Delete unimportant iOS backups. Whole system backups take up a considerable amount of space. Open Finder and access the “Go to Folder...” option by clicking “Go” in its menu options. Enter “~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/” in the dialog box to display a complete list of backups. Keep your most recent backup, but remove the rest.
    • Much like archived iTunes backup libraries, the date the iOS backups were created should also be clearly indicated along with the backup information.[5]

Optimizing Startup

  1. Upgrade to a solid-state drive (SSD). If your computer doesn’t already have one, a SSD can greatly increase its speed. Inexpensive models for both PC and Mac computers can be found on websites like Newegg.com or Amazon. In some cases, replacing the hard drive of your computer may void its warranty.[9]
    • You may be able to preserve the warranty of your computer by having a certified technician for your computer install the new part.[10]
  2. Increase the memory of your computer. Generally, the more memory (RAM) your computer has, the better it will run. Be careful when choosing ram for your computer; different models will have different RAM requirements.[9]
    • Depending on the manufacturer of your computer and its warranty policy, upgrading the RAM may void its warranty. [10]
    • To check the RAM requirements of your computer, look up the support or component information for it. RAM specifications should be clearly listed along with this information.
    • Some companies, like Apple, provide handy instructions and component guides for users who are interested in upgrading. Use these kinds of services to ensure you purchase the correct RAM and install it properly.[11]
  3. Reduce your startup applications. Startup applications can overwhelm your computer when you turn it on. This can bog it down and slow your startup times. Open “System Preferences” by selecting it from the list of options on your desktop Dock. In the following menu, choose “Users & Groups”. On the “Login Items” tab, you’ll find a list of startup apps. Remove all unnecessary programs from the list.
    • When you highlight an entry in the list of startup apps, a minus sign ( – ) should appear. Select this to stop apps from starting when you boot up your computer.[9]

Tips

  • Other symptoms of an overfull startup disk include slower computer operation, inability to save new content, poor app performance, and more.

Warnings

  • Deleting important software or upgrading hardware, if improperly done, could worsen the performance of your computer or void its warranty.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17421/windows-free-up-drive-space
  2. ↑ https://www.techopedia.com/definition/6304/c-drive-c
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-clean-up-system-files-with-the-windows-10-disk-cleanup-tool/
  4. ↑ https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-free-up-space-by-removing-itunes-backup-manually/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 https://macpaw.com/how-to/startup-disk-full-on-mac-os-x#part-1
  6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201732
  7. ↑ https://fileinfo.com/extension/lproj
  8. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2030221/macs/our-favorite-mac-cleanup-tips.html
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 https://www.cnet.com/how-to/five-tips-to-speed-up-your-mac/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/warranty-guide
  11. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201165

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