Reduce disc space / mysql query

[oldlock]

The amount of disc space being used is way above that actually used by the sites on my VPS. This is, I am fairly sure in part due to some past efforts to get a modification working on one of the sites that required ffmpeg and lots of other packages installed. (never did work though and now not required). Is there an easy way to remove all such packages ? If not is it necessary to follow an de-install process (if there is one) or can the folders simply be deleted with ConfigServer Explorer or the like ?

Second question, all the sites on the VPS are mysql based, sometimes it seems that not enough resources are being given to the mysql as it's not unknown for sql queries (if long / complex) to fail, can anyone suggest a method for directing more server resources to the mysql. The CPU's never seem to work that hard with load averages rarely exceeding 0.60.

Thanks for any advice.

[oldlock]

bump - anyone ??