I am new to video editing and was trying to keep my files to a minimum.

Sure, nothing like cleaning out what you don't need. That's commendable.

Which files can I delete from the system (Vegas Platinum 9 and/or Sony Video Capture so that I don't have loads of files on my computer that I don't need?

Here, are you speaking of the actual program (you used the word "system"?) files you are "considering" to delete? I wouldn't touch any of them.

But then you add the "rider" of "Or can I save some of the clips that I downloaded and delete others?" - You see these aren't related. This is a non sequitur set of statements. It is not a case of either/or, it is a case of DON'T delete program files!

Files that you need for making the programs work should be left alone - PERIOD!

Files, and here read media, can of course be deleted once you are happy with your editing. I'd add a proviso here, and that make sure you have at least the original backup captured tape - this at a very minimum!

In any event, if you are strapped for digital space ( sounds like it to me?) you should really consider having more than one disc. I have 5 (?) internals and an array of external firewire drives. Of course and understand, you are just starting, so you will grow into your space requirements - I did.

So to recap:

1] IMO, do NOT delete any ANY program files. If you are considering/needing to save space you are already at a limit that you require another solution.

2] Manage what Media Files you really need to keep, while also keeping an eye on your actual backup of media!

3] Consider future expansion of your storage and archiving and management of your captured assets.

Lastly, it is NOT a good idea to edit on your system drive. At least have a separate drive that hold your media. Vegas is very CPU demanding - allowing Windows to access and Vegas to work over 2 drives does give Vegas a chance to play nicely. But yes, I have edited on a single HD laptop, and yes it is comfortable. I'm just concerned that at some time in the near future you will come up against a CPU "wall" where another, non-system disc could make all the difference.

Hope this helps?

Grazie

If you need to delete something to free some space go for the folders Prerenders and Rendered Media.
You can delete the folders including their content - you only have the folders, however, if you have prerendered etc. in your project.

Look for the folders in your project folder.

Perhaps this is relevant; perhaps not. I read the question and related it to my experience with Avid Liquid wherein there were oddly named and numbered files and folders being created all over the place, some of them in remote places that I had never learned to look at for any purpose. There were things called "auxillary files" and "temp files" and "render files" that I learned in time that I could delete at some point along the way without losing anything I didn't want to lose. Usually, the space reclaimed was slight, but the satisfaction of "keeping a neat and tidy" environment was nice. I'm also new to Vegas Pro and I could use some guidance in this same issue. The one thing I've observed is that-- I think it's when I start a new project -- I see where the folder has been created for temporary files. I think it's in that hidden away realm of Users>my name>Application Data> Local > Sony> Vegas Pro > 8.0 > and there you see some temp files as well as others that I'm not yet familiar at all with. What I'm wondering also, does Vegas automatically delete temp files and such when we delete a Project that we're through with? Avid Liquid did not do that so I would find these useless folders and files here and there months after I'd dumped the projects they went with. Does any of this aid the discussion?

Terry