Have 10 Minutes? Uninstall Junk From Your PC

This post is for PC users. (Sorry Apple lovers.) I am addicted to technology - more specifically, PCs. I'm not an Apple fan at all - not even for an iPod. I own a PC, a Microsoft Zune (MP3 player), a Motorola Droid Razr, a Kindle, and a Kindle Fire. No Apples allowed in this house (so glad my husband agrees). But this post is not to talk about my dislike for Apple. This post is for a quick 10 minute cleaning of your PC if you have one.

I bought my HP Pavilion dm4 laptop in October 2010. I absolutely love it. I was a Dell girl for a really long time - until the last one I had. Then I bought my HP printer, loved it, and decided to go for an HP laptop. I bought it at Staples on an awesome sale. No regrets.

One thing that is totally lame about getting a new computer is all of the extra junk they preinstall for you. Yeah, thanks for the 30-day free trial of AOL and other crap I don't need or want. If it were up to me, I'd get a new computer naked...nothing on it except the basics for the hardware drivers that I need (for sound, wireless, etc.).

Now since my computer is about 1.5 years old, most of my preinstalled crap is gone. But I'm secretly a software/lame game junkie. I like to try out all sorts of software, even though I rarely keep/use it. And I play some of the lamest games for adults to play (according to my husband, who is really one to talk...playing Batman now I as I type...haha). Anyways... Luckily, my computer is still running like a dream, but I know it's time to just take a sweep through (like I did under my bathroom sink the other day) and start uninstalling.

Start >> Control Panel >> Programs >> Uninstall -- I have 129 programs installed. Funny since I only use about 4 of them.

Now, if you're looking at your list of installed programs and you're completely clueless as to what something is, don't just uninstall it. It could be something important. Google the software name to see what it is. Chances are, if it has your computer brand (such as HP) in the name, it could be something important - but most of the time even that stuff is junk. Anything with Intel in the name is important, so don't uninstall it. Java is needed for the internet. Microsoft and/or Windows could be important - unless it's a free trial that you're not going to use or that is expired. (When your computer runs Windows Updates, most of what it installs is made by Microsoft and/or Windows.) When in doubt, leave it alone.

While some of my software is uninstalling, I'm running Disk Cleanup. This comes on PCs and safely cleans up junk. (Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> System Tools) I can free 120 MB by running this. If you've never run this program before, or it's been awhile, you'll free a lot more space! I run this a few times a month, so that's why my number is relatively low. If you're unsure about getting rid of any of these things, simply uncheck the box. )I always check all of the boxes.) If you click on each file name, you'll get a description below that tells you what the file includes.

When completed, check to see if your computer has any Windows Updates. (Start >> Programs >> Windows Update) I have one important update and one optional update. The optional update is for my laptop's touchpad software. Of course I'll update that as well.

Overall it took me 10 minutes to uninstall, use the Disk Cleaner, and run Windows Update. I uninstalled 5 programs, which were actually pretty hefty in size.

If you take the time to quickly do these things today - and then once a month - your computer will run a lot smoother. Good luck! =]