My Windows installation is ten years old and a few maintenance habits mean it still works like new

I’ve been running Windows 11 on this same machine for the past 10 years and haven’t had to wipe and reformat once. I didn’t feel the need to reformat because I use it mainly for writing. I keep the system light and my regular maintenance keeps it running like new. Some added Microsoft features have helped, but my regular system management routine keeps it running smoothly.

If I’m careful with my file organization, avoid installing too many apps, and clean up after heavy work, my systems last a while without reinstalling Windows. I do the tasks myself or use free, lightweight utilities to keep my computer running smoothly.

Undo the entire local drive

I treat the system drive as a workspace, not a junkyard

I think of the local system drive as a place to do work, not a place where applications and files are scattered. I try to keep the drive as clean and lean as possible. I keep things light and use the computer for writing, screenshotting and some browsing. Besides Windows, I run Office, a browser, and a few light open source utilities. I use other machines for more complex tasks like photo and image editing, OBS, media management and gaming.

My spare drives are another story. I have an external drive and I’d be embarrassed if it was my house and my relatives came over. I use it as a dumping ground for browser history and cache, downloads, old files, and other items that I move off the system drive to keep it clean. If possible, I run multiple portable applications from an additional internal drive so they don’t clog up my C:\ space.

Free up storage space

I check every week for everything that can be removed

It’s not enough to just rely on Storage Sense to keep your drive clean. I free up storage on my local drive every week to make sure there’s no junk around. I can’t always remember to manually delete items I no longer need, so I use WinDirStat to graphically show which files are taking up space. When I’m trying to stay clutter-free, it’s easy to forget about old installers, temporary files, and leftovers from completed projects. Disk Cleanup improves system performance so Windows and other applications can manage data efficiently. So I move unnecessary files and app installs to other drives that I use as a dumping ground.

This is a useful utility that allows you to select a file and specify its path. I can delete it directly from the app, or if I want to explore further, which is usually the case, I go to a location in File Explorer. In other cases, if Windows search is too slow in File Explorer, I use VoidTools’ Find All utility to quickly get to the path. It’s also great for searching attached drives for data I might need. WinDirStat is a great tool for identifying large files that should be deleted to free up space on your local drive. Then I use other tools for general cleaning like Microsoft computer manager. This makes it easy to clean up temporary files and shows which apps are taking up space so I can remove the ones I no longer use.

Updates are important

I keep Windows, hardware and applications up to date

An important part of keeping a well-maintained computer is keeping everything up-to-date. Windows will notify you when an update is ready, but my computer didn’t restart automatically. There is a case where you can pause Windows Updates, but I usually hold them off for a while and keep an eye on the news about the big crashes they cause. If all goes well, I install the updates and then there’s usually a fix to use if something goes wrong.

Apps usually update in the background, but it never hurts to check if they’re not working properly. I check GPU drivers and other hardware every week. If an app includes a built-in option to check for updates, like my favorite screenshot app, I use it. I also mark my calendar to check for BIOS/UEFI updates every four months. Like other updates, I’ll investigate them before applying an update in case it breaks something. I can’t pull the trigger as quickly on new BIOS/UEFI updates as I do on software unless my PC is in serious trouble.

Practice good Windows maintenance habits

Most Windows users are familiar with the maintenance tasks they should perform; it’s just a matter of doing them. I’ve found the easiest way is to start with a clean system drive and keep it empty. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention managing your startup apps.

If you do the tasks once in a while, they will take longer and your computer will get to the point where formatting and reinstalling is the only option. But performing regular maintenance tasks will keep it running for years to come.