PC cleanup

Robm1955

I noticed I'm loosing space on my pc, from programs, documents etc., so I thought I would have a cleanout. Going through installed programs, I've discovered, using DoYourData Uninstaller, I have a number of versions of Microsoft Visual C++ installed. The dates range from 2008, to 2017. Without sounding stupid, is it safe to delete all but the latest one? Just noticed, some say x86 Redistributable, some x64 Redistributable, and others just Redistributable.

Robm1955

Post edited.

dipsomaniac

If using windows it has its own cleanup app. I wouldn't use a third party app or uninstall any of the programs Microsoft has installed

Carrot007

Robm1955 wrote: »

I have a number of versions of Microsoft Visual C++ installed. The dates range from 2008, to 2017. Without sounding stupid, is it safe to delete all but the latest one? Just noticed, some say x86 Redistributable, some x64 Redistributable, and others just Redistributable.

Each program you install can and will depend on a specific version.


So no.


It's not going to ammount to anything anyway.


Get windirstat and find out where the issues is.

Neil_Jones

As a general rule the C++ runtimes are all the same but functionality may have been replaced, depreciated or not work at all across the different years, so some software will have installed what they were designed around.

That being said if you remove one and a program doesn't work you'd have to reload it to replace that runtime, so its far easier just to leave them alone. They just sit there and don't do anything unless a program needs them.

Robm1955

dipsomaniac wrote: »

If using windows it has its own cleanup app. I wouldn't use a third party app or uninstall any of the programs Microsoft has installed

Thanks for your replies. Please don't take this the wrong way dipsomaniac, but if Windows own uninstall/cleanup is best, why do so may uninstallers claim to remove bits of programs, that Windows leaves behind, which to be honest, is right. I've uninstalled programs in Windows, only to find in the Programs folder, leftover bits, like logs, help files etc. I'm not being sarchastic. I would just like to know why you wouldn't use a third party app.

EveryWhere

Robm1955 wrote: »

I noticed I'm loosing space on my pc, from programs, documents etc., so I thought I would have a cleanout. Going through installed programs, I've discovered, using DoYourData Uninstaller, I have a number of versions of Microsoft Visual C++ installed. The dates range from 2008, to 2017. Without sounding stupid, is it safe to delete all but the latest one? Just noticed, some say x86 Redistributable, some x64 Redistributable, and others just Redistributable.

Sounds like you are overdue for an upgrade.
Time to fit an SSD?

Neil_Jones

Robm1955 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Please don't take this the wrong way dipsomaniac, but if Windows own uninstall/cleanup is best, why do so may uninstallers claim to remove bits of programs, that Windows leaves behind, which to be honest, is right. I've uninstalled programs in Windows, only to find in the Programs folder, leftover bits, like logs, help files etc. I'm not being sarchastic. I would just like to know why you wouldn't use a third party app.

That's not an issue with the uninstallers, the log files and whatever else are generated by the program itself. The installer didn't create them so it won't remove them.

Third party installers just do a fuzzy search for whatever you're uninstalling and remove things based on "logic" - which may or may not be right.

dipsomaniac

Robm1955 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Please don't take this the wrong way dipsomaniac, but if Windows own uninstall/cleanup is best, why do so may uninstallers claim to remove bits of programs, that Windows leaves behind, which to be honest, is right. I've uninstalled programs in Windows, only to find in the Programs folder, leftover bits, like logs, help files etc. I'm not being sarchastic. I would just like to know why you wouldn't use a third party app.

Disk clean up apps used to include all sorts of nasties in order to make money. I just don't see the point in installing 3rd party apps when windows has a perfectly good utility for cleaning up its own system.

As stated above a new SSD might be a good idea for a fresh install of os and your existing drive could be used for all other files and media

Robisere

dipsomaniac wrote: »

Disk clean up apps used to include all sorts of nasties in order to make money. I just don't see the point in installing 3rd party apps when windows has a perfectly good utility for cleaning up its own system.

As stated above a new SSD might be a good idea for a fresh install of os and your existing drive could be used for all other files and media

This ^^^^^ is exactly what I did. You can find Disk Cleanup on your Windows Start Menu. I use it regularly to get rid of clutter. I will not download any of these third party apps when Windows does it for free.

onomatopoeia99

EveryWhere wrote: »

Sounds like you are overdue for an upgrade.
Time to fit an SSD?

Multiple versions of the MSVC runtime redistributable bring present do not mean an upgrade is required. Software can be linked against a specific version and require that version to be present to work. So if you have a lot of different software install you can end up with versions of the MSVC redistributable from many different years.