Filesystem/registry junk in Windows 10/11

[birdie]

It goes without saying that %TEMP% and C:\Windows\Temp should be regularly cleaned up if you care about your disk space but over the last couple of years I've discovered a lot more locations where Windows 10 (and probably 11, don't have, don't want it yet) store junk which is not worth keeping and should be purged with prejudice.

Filesystem/registry junk in Windows 10/11.

Extra locations are welcome. I've not included e.g. Windows Explorer's thumbnails database because it gets recreated anyways [ %AppData%/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Explorer ].

The fact that Windows have numerous absolutely random locations on the disk to store temporary files is quite upsetting but it's what it is.

 

[Mussels]

Create your own CCleaner alternative, wipe anything older than 7 days from those locations and bam, happy times

 

[Mussels]

I've been thinking of writing a batch file (cmd) but I'm too lazy ;-) Will do later.

then just do the magic thing people do to make a GUI with a [Delete my stuff] button!

 

[Bill_Bright]

I find just as annoying, if not more so is 3rd party software failing to clean up after itself when you uninstall it, or even when the developers release upgrades.

Is it Windows fault if a 3rd party app dumps files, not to mention folders filled with files, wherever it wants?

Surely, if Microsoft restricted 3rd party developers to specific locations, there was be a HUGE uproar with people complaining and bashing Microsoft.

Heck, even I would be bashing Microsoft for I ALWAYS choose the "custom install" option and regularly avoid installing programs under c:\Program Files (x86) or c:\Program Files. Yet it is common for those 3rd party apps to leave orphaned files, folders and Registry entries behind.

 

[chrcoluk]

The biggest culprit for me is NCH, videopad was recommended to me and I have no issue with videopad itself, but its took over many file associations nothing to do with the app and also right click menus, all to promote other NCH products.