System error memory dump files are created automatically by Microsoft Windows OS in case of a serious error, such as a system crash or a blue screen of death (BSOD).
These files snapshot the current state of the system’s memory during the crash, including running processes, kernel-level information, system services, etc. You might think these files are useless. Hold on for a second; they and the information within them are helpful for IT professionals and developers during the debugging process. They help them diagnose and identify the root causes of system failures and troubleshoot various solutions.
Each time your system crashes or encounters an error, a new dump file or .dmp file is created. Eventually, as you encounter more errors and system crashes, more memory dump files accumulate on your internal hard drive.
Over time, these accumulated files can be seriously problematic, especially on older systems and systems with limited storage capacity. Apart from consuming storage space, they can also hamper your system’s performance and slow down, triggering additional issues like “dump file creation failed” and error messages related to insufficient memory.
Do note: These Windows dump memory files themselves are not troublesome. It’s their accumulation that triggers several issues.
You might be wondering how to deal with the .dmp files. The simplest way is to remove or permanently delete them. Can I delete memory.dmp? This question might have popped up in your mind. The answer is yes. You can and you need to delete the memory.dmp file.
The next section talks about all the possible ways to delete memory dmp files on any version of Windows operating system.
How To Delete System Error Memory Dump Files?
You can try solutions like manually deleting the Windows dmp files by navigating to their default location. The next option is to use tools like Disk Cleanup or other third-party like CCleaner. Other inbuilt options like Command Prompt and PowerShell can also be extremely helpful.
Let’s jump into it and explore each of these solutions in-depth.
Method 1: Delete Windows Dump Files Manually
Starting the list with the easiest solution.
1: Locate the Dump Files.
Since the dump files are your system files, their default location is in the C Drive.
Depending on the type of memory dumps or types of dump files that were created by your system, you can find them in the following location:
- Small Memory Dump Files (Minidump File Location): C: WindowsMinidump
- Kernel, Complete, and Automatic Memory Dump: C: WindowsMemory.DMP
2: Navigate to the above-mentioned location and find the files you want to delete.
3: Select the dump memory files you need to delete. Right-click on them, and click on the Delete button or use the Shift + Delete option to delete them permanently.
Please note: If you delete them, they will be removed from their original location but will end up in your system’s Recycle Bin folder. In that case, you must permanently delete the Bin folder files by emptying the Bin.
I am sure this solution has helped you remove the .dmp files from your internal hard drive. If manual deletion didn’t help you. You can try more specialized tools like Disk Cleanup.
Method 2: Disk Cleanup To Clean Crash Dump Files
Disk Cleanup is a built-in option in the Windows system designed to free up disk space on your internal hard drive. The tool searches for unnecessary files that accumulate over time, including cache files, temporary or temp files, old Windows updates, and system error memory dump files that are saved in your system and other storage devices.
After running Disk Cleanup, you can restore your system’s performance and recover valuable disk space.
Steps to Run Disk Cleanup
1: Type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar of your system.
2: In the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection window. You need to select the drive that you want to clean. As mentioned earlier, the C Drive. Select the C Drive and click on the OK button.
3: A list of Files that you can delete will appear on your screen. You can select any of them. I suggest you click on the “Clean up System files” and select the C Drive again.
4: A new one gets displayed on your screen. Check the “System error memory dump files” and “System error minidump files” boxes.
5: Click on the OK button and then click on the “Delete Files” option to confirm and start the process.
Method 3: Delete Memory DMP Files Using Command Prompt
Command Prompt is a command-line interface application available in Windows systems. It lets Windows users execute various tasks, including troubleshooting issues with their systems, running advanced administrative operations, and quickly deleting system dump files.
1: Search for Command Prompt in the Search Bar and select the Run as Administrator option.
2: Once the command prompt window appears on your screen, type the following command and hit Enter to start the file deletion process.
If you want to delete Small Memory Dumps files – “del /f /s /q %systemroot%\Minidump\*.dmp.”
And, If you want to delete Kernel and Complete Memory Dump files – “del /f /q %systemroot%\MEMORY.dmp.”
Where;
- del – Deletes one or more files.
- /f – Force delete read-only files.
- /s – Deletes specified files from subdirectories.
- /q – Runs the command without asking for additional permissions.
- Systemroot – The folder from where you want to delete the files.
- Minidump – Minidump directory.
- .dmp – The files that you want to delete.
3: Once the dump file deletion process is complete. I suggest you verify the deletion process.
4: Navigate to the location “C:\Windows” and “C:\Windows\Minidump in the File Explorer.
5: Type “.dmp” to find the files. Confirm the files are no longer present in the location.
Method 4: Delete System Memory Dump Files Using CCleaner
CCleaner is an application that helps Windows and Mac users remove unwanted files and invalid or incorrect registry entries, remove temporary files, clear cookies and cache, and remove other unimportant data to optimize their system’s performance and increase their device’s storage space.
Steps to Use CCleaner to Remove Windows Dump Files
If you don’t use CCleaner. I suggest you first need to download and install on your system.
1: Run the CCleaner application on your Windows system.
2: Click on the “Custom Clean” option, which is located on the left side of your screen.
3: The Custom Clean window will appear on your screen. Click on the Windows tab and expand the System category.
4: Verify if the boxes next to the Memory Dumps box and the Windows Log Files are checked. If they are, you need to check them.
5: Click on the Analyze button to start the scan process. This option will let you review the files that are about to be deleted.
6: Click the “Run Cleaner” button to start the file deletion process. If prompted, confirm.
CCleaner will now permanently delete the memory.dump file or crash files and other selected items and files.
The next option is a great way to remove unimportant files and erase them permanently.
Method 5: Deleted Windows Memory Dump Files Using Remo File Eraser
Remo File Eraser is a specialized tool meticulously designed to delete files, folders, and even entire drives securely. It is built with powerful data-shredding algorithms to ensure that the files are completely removed from your drive or system.
Steps To Delete Windows memory.dmp Files Using Remo
1: Download and install the tool on your Windows system.
2: Launch the Remo File Eraser application. Choose the Erase Files/Folder option from the main screen.
3: You must now add the files and folders you want to erase from your internal hard drive permanently. Browse to the default location of the dump files and click on the Erase button.
4: The tool lets you choose your preferred file eraser method. Select any one of the techniques and start the process.
If you accidentally delete or lose the wrong files after trying the above-mentioned solutions, you can always rely on backups. But if you don’t have any backups, try specialized data recovery tools like Remo Recover.
Conclusion:
This brings us to the end of our discussion. Where, we have explored in-depth about the dump files in Windows. Starting from what is memory.dmp files. Later on we have moved on to understanding their role, their creation, accumulation. We have also discussed how they become problematic and what issues do they cause. Additionally, I have explained five tried and proven solutions to help you permanently deleted the memory.dmp files using solutions like delete option, Disk Cleanup, Command Prompt, CCleaner, and specialized tool like Remo File Eraser.
