Other downloaded files
While we're on the subject, there are other files from the Internet that you could get rid of -- all those sound, video, graphics and other files that were downloaded because you just had to have them.

Months have passed, and the sound file of Cartman saying 'Sweet' isn't as funny as it once was, so you might as well get rid of it and free up some more space. Hopefully, you're in the habit of storing the files you download in the same directory, which will make it easier to find and delete them.

(Actually, you should probably download the files to a Zip disk or other large-capacity drive if you have one and then check the files with a virus detection program before you use them.)

Old .BAK files
When you install some programs, they'll make a copy of your computer's configuration files as a precaution. Once the program is installed and everything's still running properly, you can safely remove these backup files, which usually end in the file extensions .BAK, .OLD, .001, .002 and so on. Since these backup files may be anywhere, use Explorer to search the hard disk for them and delete the ones you find.

Automatic backup files
If you use Microsoft Office, you may have a lot of unneeded automatic backup files on your hard disk. You see, while you're busy creating a monolithic masterpiece, Office is busy protecting you from losing it. Every 10 minutes or so, Office will create a backup file of your document, so that the most you can lose at any given time is 10 minutes or so of work. It’s a nice idea, but Office does not delete these files, so when you've finished a document and closed your program, you can safely get rid of them. The files end in .WBK, and you'll find them in the same directory as the original file.