IOLO System Mechanic

[Myrm]

Hi

Do any of you here use Iolo System Mechanic to keep your PC/labtop running well?

If you use it/have used it I would be interested in hearing your views.

I am wondering whether to get Norton Utilities 16 or System Mechanic 11 to keep my system running smoothly.

Thank you.

 

[steaky360]

I don't use anything but common sense to make sure my system is running smoothly, I don't think you really need anything else... Not had experience with either of those programs however so they might be good (but also might not...).

 

[Everon]

I have used System Mechanic for around 5 years and have never had a problem. Its good for doing all those clean up tasks faster if you cant be bothered trawling through your drive for "trash"

The only thing you do need to be careful of is the Registry Cleaner component, but that's the same for CC cleaner or any of these types of utilities.

Jay.

 

[ubuysa]

I would advise you to be cautious when using any clean-up type tool. The only such tool I use is Ccleaner and even then I only use it for removing temp files and similar garbage.

The best way to deal with unwanted programs and shortcuts is to uninstall programs you no longer need. It can also help to use an intelligent uninstaller, I use the IOBit Uninstaller (I used to use the Revo Uninstaller but the free version of that only supports 32-bit operating systems). What these programs do is run the program's built-in uninstaller and then they scan your hard disk and registry looking for items related to this program that have been left over after the uninstall and allow you to delete them. You need to be careful with what you delete of course, I always check carefully that the files and registry entries to be deleted really are for the program I've just uninstalled.

My advice to you is also never to use any registry cleaners, they are generally more trouble than they are worth and whilst it's true that Windows always references the registry it's actually kept in RAM (it's read at boot from several files, called Hives, on the disk) so fast access to it is not an issue. Left over entries do not generally cause any problems at all, Windows simply ignores them. The only time left-over registry entries become a problem is when a program has not uninstalled properly or completely and most registry cleaners cannot help with those entries in any case. It is not unusual however, for registry cleaners to remove what appear to be orphan entries when in fact they are being used by Windows. I have seen PCs and laptops rendered useless by allowing registry cleaners to remove stuff they shouldn't. I never run them.

I agree completely with steaky360, common sense and a disciplined approach to the way you manage your system is all you really need.