The lack of memory might make us reconsider whether we really need a larger capacity drive. And in that review, it’s good to know about tools that can help you free up the disk space you already have.
Most PC gamers today have no problem with disk space. Maybe only those who install the current Call of Duty and Warzone of some 200+ gigs. We have terabyte capacities, several types of disks, external storage, cloud options… it is much easier to store data today than it was a quarter of a century ago.
However, the prices of SSDs have increased by 30-50 euros in the last two months and it seems that they will continue to rise for some time. I think that in such a situation it is useful to know how to bring the disk under control and avoid accumulating unnecessary data. And that’s why I want to draw the attention of Windows users (and there are most of them among PC gamers) to two applications that can make life easier.
The fact is that some games may take up disk space even after you uninstall them. For example, I briefly decided to try Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 through Game Pass and quickly removed that game because I don’t play it regularly. It wasn’t until months later that I noticed that there were about 20 gigabytes of data in the residual installation of that game, which unnecessarily occupied my disk space. Now 20 GB is not a huge problem and apparently I didn’t even notice it, but the point is that such things happen if you leave them to chance. And it’s better to use 20 GB of space for the game you’re actually playing than on residual data that serves no purpose.
To put an end to this, you need to know about:
WizTree
WizTree is a disk analysis program that shows you what is taking up how much disk space. It is not the first application of its kind, but it gained its popularity due to its high speed of analysis. Disk scanning takes only two to three seconds, and then you get a visual representation of the largest folders and files on the disk. You also have a list that shows you the percentage of folders and files that are occupied.
The most important thing about this is that WizTree displays everything on the disk. Covered are otherwise hidden folders, such as the AppData folder, where you can usually find a bunch of residual data related to removed games. This folder is hidden by default in Windows, and many games store recorded positions from games, compiled shaders, etc. there. Some of it gets deleted automatically when you run “uninstall” and some of it doesn’t – and that’s why WizTree is so useful. It will save you from manually combing the disk and will give you a quick insight into what exactly is on the disk itself.
WizTree is completely free for personal use, weighs only about 20 megabytes, and works as a portable installation with an even smaller 10 MB. Fantastic program!
However, there is another useful tool that can initially delete files that would otherwise be left behind by classic uninstallation.
REVO Uninstaller
When you install a game on Steam and put some mods on it in the installation folder, the classic uninstall of the game on Steam does not remove those mods or everything you added to that installation afterwards. For a truly clean removal of games, you need a program like REVO Uninstaller. It starts the classic removal of applications, and does it also have additional tools for cleaning leftovers, both in directories and in the registry. And it can save you from disk garbage accumulation.
REVO Unistaller has also often proven to be a savior for applications that Windows does not recognize as installed or for whatever reason does not want to start the uninstallation process. The program is free for private use, at least in the Free version which has everything you actually need. The paid Pro version has some additional features such as multiple uninstallation or extended backup, but the free version is quite sufficient for basic use. The program can also be used in a classic or portable installation.
And the cleaners?
About 20 years ago, various software for cleaning the operating system were popular. The most famous of them, CCleaner (short for Crap Cleaner), unfortunately broke down over the years and was even compromised at one point after it was bought by Avast. Today, CCleaner still exists, and there are numerous alternatives. However, I would say that you don’t need it to “maintain” the drive. Often, such programs end up taking up more resources and have no real benefit.
If you really need that in your life, BleachBit is a decent solution in the open source offer. Believe it or not, it is also useful Microsoft PC Manageronly Microslop for some reason keeps it locked for certain regions, Croatia not being among them. However, Windows 11 has Storage Sense turned on by default, which after some time in the background cleans unnecessary data from the system itself, which, in combination with the above-mentioned programs, is enough to keep your PC from being cluttered with garbage. Unless you have Call of Duty installed, and that’s your own fault.