My PC's hard drive is a graveyard of old legacy files of things that don't exist anymore, going back several generations

[NBachers]

Every time I've had a new PC built, they just emptied the entire old hard drive into the new one. I'm getting ready to get a new PC.

There are multiple generations of files for old programs, old hardware, old phones; whatever a hard drive acquires and stores in its life.

I'd like to get the graveyard of old files & references out of my hard drive before it gets loaded into my new PC so I can start more fresh. I've spoken with someone who says he can help with this.

Can someone give me tips and pointers on how this can be accomplished?

[ret5hd]

1. Pictures. Documents. that's all i save tru a migration.

fresh install of programs (word processor, spreadsheets, etc)

(on edit: i use “the cloud” for nothing. i want MY stuff on MY computer…with a backup)

[NBachers]

3. Thanks, that makes sense

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. From the top down.

Start at C:/ Check the directory files.....delete as wanted. Then the next level and do the same time.

Caution, this could take a boatload of your time to get from top to bottom.

[LuvLoogie]

4. I would just start with a new operating system

On a new hard drive in my new pc. Do fresh installations of updated software. Run your old computer on your home network along with your new computer and enable file sharing. You'll be able to see your old hard drive from your new computer and you could just drag over what you want. You can even, from your new computer, launch files that are on your old computer and have them load in RAM on your new computer.

When you see your old computer on the network and try to navigate to its hard drive, you'll be prompted for login credentials for your old pc.

[NBachers]

5. Thanks- the computer shop suggested this, too.

[LuvLoogie]

6. You're welcome.

You might want to consider getting a NAS (network attached storage) and move your accumulated data to it for back up. Then you can strip down that old PC into a souped up dedicated tool running legacy programs for special occasions.

[AZJonnie]

7. I would have the PC built with a new hard drive, preferably an M.2 SSD, with a fresh copy of Windows

And then also put the old drive in the new computer, assign it as D:/ (or whatever letter is free). Then you have still have all your files right there and you can clean up the crud on D:/ at your leisure. This avoids the complexity of setting up a network server, which isn't that hard but just putting the drive in the new PC as a 2nd drive is very easy. If you've never had your system on an SSD, you'd be in for a treat. Nothing makes a bigger difference in day-to-day performance than having an SSD vs. a spinning drive.

[NBachers]

9. Yes, not too long ago. I put a Samsung 1 Tb SSD in my system. I will transfer that over and use it as my D. Thank you.

[usonian]

8. Since I have so many old computers, I try to keep ALL my goodies on external disks.

Now and then, I'll move my picture, document and download directories (which many programs use as defaults) from the internal disk over to an external drive.

The external drive(s) can be sneakernetted to another computer, or just shared via the network, and an old computer can serve them up just fine, especially for old files and directories you don't use that often.

I count three drives on the newest computer, including one terabyte of a 4 TB drive designated for incremental backups of the internal drive.

I got a new system, plugged in a couple of drives with the goodies, and was in business immediately, and the internal drive is pretty clean.

HTH

[NBachers]

10. This sounds like a good way to go. I'll still visit the guy who can help clean up the mess; then I'll incorporate the

existing 1 Tb SSD into my new system. I really appreciate your help.