CleanDisk

Erasing temporary data and other files which are not vital to the operating system is one of the many ways to keep your computer in good working conditions. Finding a cleanup utility for your hard drive is not challenging, but finding one that is more flexible and efficient is a different matter. If these are your search criteria, you should try CleanDisk. It is a simple application, which lets you define your own file types, target and erase them. Instead of numerous functions, spread out across multiple sections of an interface, you will find a few options on a small, wizard-style interface.

CleanDisk is shareware and you can use it, free of charge, for 30 days. It works on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. The setup package is about half a Mb large, which makes it possible to download and install the application in a few moments.

CleanDisk brings a different approach to how you target junk files. Instead of navigating through multiple sections of an interface, you just need to move a series of items from one list to another, by using Add and Remove buttons. These items represent different scan types and each of them will look for a specific type of data. Most cleanup utilities will remove certain types of temporary files, but CleanDisk lets you define your own type of files. This is done on a separate window, where you can either type one or more file patterns or specify a folder which should be cleaned.

You can find a large number of predefined scan types and use them to remove cookies, cache or history files, created by various browsers. Other scan types are set to look for zero sized files, Visual C++ temporary files, empty directories, broken shell links and more. You may select one or more partitions, as well as removable drives, on the top portion of the interface. It is possible to create new paths, like particular folders on the hard drive and select them the same way.

The software is designed like a two-step wizard. When your selection is complete, you may proceed to the next step to start scanning immediately. After a thorough process, you will be able to select the results and move them to a folder on the hard drive, recycle or delete them. It is also possible to view or explore the results and empty the recycle bin. All these options are located on the same page, beneath the results list.