It is safe to delete old documents, such as text files, spreadsheets, photos, video and music if you no longer need or want them. If you may want them later, try compression instead. However, deleting system or application files is not recommended, as it can lead to system instability or even failure. Files under "My Documents" (Windows) or "Documents" (Mac) are safe to delete without endangering your operating system software or applications.

On the Other: Backup Everything

With the cost of hard drives and other storage falling every year, you can play it safe by making a copy of any files on an external device or even with a remote backup service before deleting them. This way, if you do end up needing or wanting a file later, you will still have a copy, while being able to free up more space on your system in order to create new documents or install applications.

Bottom Line

Before deleting and compressing a large number of files, make a trip to your local computer retailer or visit a store online to find an inexpensive external hard drive so that you can make a backup copy before cleaning up your system. And be prepared to re-install your system software just in case you accidentally delete a critical part of your operating system.

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