Tips for Taking Care of Your Files

Keep your files in check, and your PC will thank you

The files within your PC are a lot like the appliances in your house: the more you use them, the more they need attention–-such as cleaning, wiping, and organizing. Luckily, System Mechanic does the work for your files so your PC stays clean and fast. Whether you’re organizing your files, clearing away clutter, or permanently wiping out unwanted files, System Mechanic has the tool for it.

  1. Take Out the Trash: Eliminate “junk” files that can burden your system.
  2. Guard the Goods: Wipe away confidential data and protect your privacy.
  3. Reconnect with Old Files: Fix broken shortcuts that can lead to annoying errors.
  4. Don’t Be Redundant: Free up valuable space by organizing duplicate files.
  5. Leave No Trace: Securely and safely delete private files forever.
  6. Keep it Sparkling: Keep your PC free of clutter that can bog it down.

Tip 1

Take Out the Trash: Without regular cleaning, your PC accumulates unneeded “junk” files that can become a burden on your system. Locate and eliminate these obsolete files with System Mechanic’s Junk File Finder and help keep your PC clean and fast.

Here’s how:

  1. Start System Mechanic and click Toolbox >>Individual Tools >>Clean Up System Clutter
  2. Go to Junk File Finder and click Start
  3. Select a Cleanup Mode and click Next
  4. Junk File Finder will find and remove your junk files

Bonus Tip: For additional control, the Custom Cleanup mode allows you to set exclusions and view junk files before deleting them.

Note: Junk File Finder cleans out obsolete and unneeded files based on the criteria you choose, while PC Cleanup (another clutter removal tool in System Mechanic) automatically detects and cleans out temporary files and other well-known useless data accumulations. Together, these tools give you maximum file clutter removal.

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Tip 2

Guard the Goods: Files that have been opened, programs used, passwords entered, and even websites visited—virtually everything you do on your PC is recorded. System Mechanic’s Privacy Cleaner quickly and securely wipes away traces of activity and private data so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Here’s how:

  1. Start System Mechanic and click Toolbox » Individual Tools » Ensure Personal Privacy
  2. Go to Privacy Cleaner and click Start
  3. In the Select Data to Erase tab, choose the types of information you want to erase, then click Next
  4. In the Select Options tab, choose the secure removal you’d like to use, then click Next
  5. Privacy Cleaner will promptly and securely wipe the selected data and provide a summary of the results (You may need to restart your PC for some of the actions to take effect)
  6. Your PC is now secure from prying eyes

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Tip 3

Reconnect with Old Files: When files and programs are deleted, or moved on your system, shortcuts can become broken and cause annoying errors to pop up. Fix broken shortcuts and remove obsolete ones quickly and easily using System Mechanic’s Shortcut Repair tool.

Here’s how:

  1. Start System Mechanic and click Toolbox » Individual Tools » Repair Problems
  2. Go to Shortcut Repair and click the Start
  3. Select an Operation Mode and click Next
  4. Shortcut Repair with now fix your broken shortcuts and remove obsolete ones

     

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Tip 4

Don’t Be Redundant: You might be surprised to find out how many duplicate files you have on your computer as a result of multiple downloads or just redundant copies in various locations. These files are likely taking up valuable space (sometimes gigabytes) on your system. System Mechanic’s Duplicate File Inspector gives you the knowledge and control to decide which files to remove or keep and free up precious space.

Here’s how:

  1. Start System Mechanic and click Toolbox » Individual Tools » Manage System Configuration
  2. Find Duplicate File Inspector and click Start
  3. Select a Search Mode (if you wish to see how much space is being taken up by duplicate files, click the Analyze link next to the type of search you’d like to perform), then click Next (the file inspection may take a few minutes)
  4. From the Inspection tab, click on a duplicate file to get more details and to determine if it can be removed safely
  5. When you’re sure a file is safe to remove, click on the file to select it, then click Tools from the tab area, then from the dropdown menu, click Remove » Selected file to delete it

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Tip 5

Leave No Trace: Financial data, private records, business details…beware. A file deleted through Windows is rarely completely wiped out—even seemingly erased files can be accessible with the right tools. Prevent this by permanently erasing confidential files with System Mechanic’s Incinerator.

Here’s how:

  1. Start System Mechanic and click Toolbox » Individual Tools » Ensure Personal Privacy
  2. Find Incinerator and go to Securely Delete Files, then click Start
  3. In the Select Files and Folders tab, add the files or folders you would like to securely erase and click Next
  4. In the Options tab, select the level of overwrites by adjusting the slider in the bar and click Next
  5. Under the Incinerate tab, the files you selected will be displayed–click Incinerate Now, then click Yes to confirm
  6. Your unwanted files and private data are now permanently gone

Bonus Tip: To add Incinerator technology to your desktop, go to step 2 above and instead click Start within the Configure Desktop File Incinerator section