Can windows download file be safely deleted

To answer this question, it is necessary to figure out what is Windows. It contains all previous Windows installation files and data. However, lots of users find the old Windows files eat up your hard disk space after upgrading to Windows The answer depends on whether you still want to roll back to Windows 10 within 30 days.

This is because Windows will delete the Windows. Of course, you still can manually delete the Windows 10 files if you need more space. How to delete Windows 10 files after upgrading to Windows 11? Your downloads folder isn't always the most organized place on your computer and deleting files you don't need will make it easier to locate the one you do need next time you search for it.

The main danger of deleting a file you downloaded to your computer is that you won't be able to use the file again. If you downloaded a contract to review, made changes and then delete the file without saving it with a different name or in a new folder, you'll lose your changes. If the file is necessary to a program you have installed on your computer, removing the downloaded file may cause the program to experience errors or work incorrectly.

If you notice your computer running more slowly than usual, it may be due to hard disk fragmentation. As you download, use, change, save and delete files, the information is stored at different places on the hard drive. While this might be obvious to you, we're including it in case some aren't aware. It's easy to forget that gigabytes of old data can sit in your Recycle Bin. You can access the Recycle Bin through the shortcut on your desktop. Once here, you'll see everything you've deleted recently.

Right-click on individual items and choose Delete to permanently erase them, or choose Restore to send the file back to its original location. To tweak the way the Recycle Bin works, click Recycle Bin properties here. On this menu, you can change the maximum size of the bin, or even choose Don't move files to the Recycle Bin. With this option, Windows skips the bin and permanently removes items when you delete them.

We don't recommend this, because the Recycle Bin gives you a second chance in case of an accidental deletion. Similarly, Display delete confirmation dialog will require an extra step whenever you erase a file.

Whenever you upgrade your version of Windows, the system keeps a copy of your prior files called Windows. This folder essentially holds everything that made up your old installation, in case something didn't transfer correctly. If necessary, you can use this folder to roll back to a previous version of Windows. It's also possible to open the folder and grab a few stray files if you need. Windows automatically removes this folder a short time after upgrading, but you can remove it yourself if you're crunched for space.

It won't delete if you try to go through the File Explorer, so type Disk Cleanup into the Start Menu and launch the tool as described earlier.

Click Clean up system files at the bottom of the window and let the utility do another scan. Documents, media files, and the like can be used regardless of where you put them. The only thing to be aware of regarding moving or copying them is re-accessing a file from the history e. If you open a file with your software while it is still in the Downloads directory and later move it somewhere else, the Recent Documents will still point to the old location and won't find it there.

Directly executable programs don't get installed, you just run them. You can do that in the download directory or move them somewhere else. To run them, you either go to the directory where they are, issue a command that includes the path to where they are, or create a shortcut of some kind that knows where the executable is located.

If you move or copy an executable to somewhere else, any shortcut will need to be updated to point to where it is. Software installation packages typically unpack the actual software files or download the ones you need, and store those elsewhere, creating system links to the working files.

The installation package is then unnecessary. You can delete it, or save it in case you want to reinstall it without having to download it again. You can move or copy it; it won't make any difference where you run it from; it will always install its files where they are supposed to go. Note, though, that a few packages will set up the working files wherever the installation package sits, especially if the instructions say to move the installation package to a destination directory before running it, or you are inattentive and miss a prompt asking where to install it.

Download right-click, Save-As Duration: — 8. It might be different yet again by the time you read this. I have some OLD downloads that are 10 to 15 years old, some of those are bough softwares, from now out of business vendors, that I still use regularly. Doing it twice, or more, a year is only for peoples that are doing researches, testing and other things that may corrupt the OS or worst or that demand a clean slate state.

He just said that he, given his very special use of his computer, regularly did clean reinstalls. Not twice a year, no, but periodically is indeed a good idea. You have great articles, and I read them often.

Could you please make them less wordy. I have to read and read to get the answer. Could you just say mostly yes or no and then briefly delineate. Unfortunately answers are rarely just yes or no, and require explanation so that individuals can take the actions most appropriate to their situation.

I get that some one may like a short and sweet answer; but the reality is, I am sure there are many of us who appreciate the explanations. It helps fill in the blanks for what is or may be happening. Now, What about windows set up files. Are there parts of windows that can be archived the same way?

Are there other setup files on a machine that might be archived as well. Keeping a machine organized seems really overwhelming sometimes. I remember my first computer loading dos up and then loading the program you would use, one at a time… No windows to switch programs with, at least not until Atari came out with a better unit and hard drives….

I guess what the original poster is asking for is a tl;tr geek speak for Too Long To Read — a short summary. Leo, Thanks for answering this question, particularly because I was who asked it. In fact, Leo, on the fifth birthday of my workhorse Studio, I owe you the biggest thanks of all that my favorite electronic child is still thriving. I am a walking, talking recent example of why those install files are so precious.