Deleting Hidden Files

[bobchiba]

HI.... Im a pretty experienced XP user and recenlty I've realised that hidden files have been taking up a huge amount of my disk space. Im not quite sure why, but I changed settings to have hidden files viewable for an unrelated reason and suddenly my desktop was filled with hidden files that I presumed had all long been deleted dating back quite a long time. Im also finding other folders here and there with old files I believed to be long gone, and there all using disk space.

 

Im not quite sure why this is happening?? Im quite strict with deleting anything I don't need and I regularly use Ccleaner in conjunction with the recycle bin.

 

Why are these old, deleted files still there but hidden?? Any advice much appreciated.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Run ATF Cleaner:

Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.

You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com

When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.

For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox

NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored

Then click on "Empty Selected".

http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner01.gif

.

http://kixhelp.com/wr/images-freepchelp/atf-cleaner02.gif

 

You can inlcude Recycle Bin if you want it to remove the files there too.

[RandyL]

Hi bob;

Ccleaner and ATF Cleaner which maynard linked you to are both good for removing temp files, history, cookies and more. I commend you for your diligence.

 

If "hidden" files are taking up a huge amount of space that's a different issue. Are you sure they are taking up a lot of space? Or do you just see a lot of them? The "unrelated" reason you chose to view them might matter too.

 

Hidden files have a variety of purposes. Many are system files and folders that are hidden to protect the Operating System and programs from the user. You would not want to delete these and render your system inoperable. They are needed, thus hidden to protect the user.

 

Many other hidden files such as you may see in your documents or on your desktop can be related to different things depending on what the file and extension is. Can you give us an example or two? Often times these are just leftover remnants that can be deleted but extreme caution is needed to ensure you are not deleting something you need. That may or may not be why they are hidden. It could be as simple as a supporting file for another program file. Such as a pic file related to a pic program.

 

It's hard to say without knowing the name of the folders or the file names and extensions. They could actually be very small in size but large in numbers. If they are small in size it's best to be safe and leave them if you don't know what they are.

 

OK back to your post. For some reason you think there are hidden files taking up a lot of your hard drive space. This is possible but not common. There are documented cases of certain programs doing this on rare occasions. PhotoShop and Norton come to mind but there are others.

 

It would tell us a lot if you give us an idea of what you think is taking up space and how much space. Folder names and file names with the extension would help. As an example right click one of these files and choose properties. That might display more info.

 

What is your hard drive size and how much is free might help us too.

 

You might not have a problem at all. Hidden files are usually hidden for a reason. Redundant ones are of no concern and usually small. Others are needed.

 

If you are indeed experiencing a cascading loss of hard drive space that's another matter entirely.

 

Let us know please. I understand your concern.

[bobchiba]

Hi again, thanks for all the help thus far...

 

To give idea of the files etc, they are mostly avi files, i.e, movies ive downloaded which obviously take up a significant chunk of space. I noticed the problem on my desktop. I use a download manager to save everything onto my desktop and usually delete them from the desktop once I've watched them. When I changed hidden files to be viewable, my desktop was filled with loads of videos I have deleted from the past.

 

In fact, as I've just finished writing this I've realised it might be the download manager. I use 'Free Download Manager'.....could this be an issue??

 

I've now deleted all these hidden files ive found and seem to have got rid of them all, but I'd like to find out what caused this if possible to prevent it from happening again. (I am aware of the concept of hidden files, and I am only refereing to files I have acquired, not any system/docu files)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

If they were all on the desktop then all you may have done is delete the shortcut and the original file is still where it was placed.