Computers need to be maintained from time to time to ensure you are getting the best performance from them. This section explains some of the quick and easy steps you can take to help keep your computer working smoothly, including deleting temporary internet files and emptying the recycle bin. There’s also some advice for more advanced users.
Delete temporary internet files (the “cache”)
The cache is an area that keeps a record of all the web pages that you visit, and stores them on your computer for future use. The benefit of this is that pages you regularly visit take less time to display because your computer only needs to download new content. The downside is that the cache can start to clutter up your hard disk after a time, and may significantly slow your broadband connection. So it’s a good idea to clear your cache from time to time.
However, we need to let you know that if you clear your cache, you will lose some information. For example, email logins and passwords are wiped, and so is the history of web pages you’ve visited, and the history of search terms you’ve entered into your search engine. So make sure you’ve taken a note of any information you need before you clear the cache.
How you clear the cache depends on what computer you've got and what software you use.
Use Internet Explorer on Windows Vista? Click here and follow the steps.
Use Safari on a Mac? Click here and follow the steps.
To clear your browser cache in Internet Explorer on Windows XP:
- Open the browser, and click on Tools in the menu bar, then select Delete Browsing History...
The Delete Browsing History window opens, shown below:
- Click on the Delete Files... button in the Temporary Internet Files section. The Delete Files dialog box displays:
- Click on Yes to confirm you want to delete the files.
If you want to delete any of the other types of information listed in the Delete Browsing History window, repeat steps 2 and 3 and click on the relevant button. Or you can click on Delete all... to delete all types of information.
Netscape Navigator users, click here to carry out this check.
Emptying the recycle bin/trash
All the files that you delete from your computer are normally stored in the recycle bin (PC) or trash (Mac) so that you can retrieve them at a later date – just in case you’ve deleted something accidentally.
From time to time you need to empty your recycle bin or trash, as this can take up a sizeable amount of space on your computer and slow you down.
How you empty your recycle bin or trash depends on what computer you’ve got and which software you use.
Got a Mac? click here and follow the steps.
Use Windows 2000 or Windows 98? click here and follow the steps.
Got a Windows XP, Vista or ME computer? Follow the steps below. (Just to let you know, we no longer support Windows ME or Windows 98. To check which systems we do support, click here)
- Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.
A window opens displaying the contents of your recycle bin.
By the way, the screens shown are Windows XP screens. If you have another version of Windows, the steps described in this section are the same, although the screens will look a bit different.
- Check that there is nothing in the bin that you want to keep. (If there is, you can drag and drop the file from the recycle bin onto your computer).
- To empty the Recycle Bin, simply click on Empty the Recycle Bin.
Your computer asks if you’re sure you want to delete all the files in the Recycle Bin.
- Click on Yes to permanently delete them.
