Windows Utility for Beginners - Keep Your Machine Running Spiffy. ~ Ask The Admin

Monday, October 22, 2007

Windows Utility for Beginners - Keep Your Machine Running Spiffy.

Before I was into heavy registry editing the only way I knew how to Mod a computers look and feel was something called TuneUp Utilities. That is what I used back in day and never really thought about it since. Here we are in 2007 and I'm using Norton's Tune Up program. Lets just say it leaves something to be desired and I have started looking around for something that did the job better. We needed a registry cleaner, a disk cleaner/utility and something to quickly check the machine for errors. Oh and it needed to be ULTRA simple to use and IDIOT-PROOF. I don't want anyone SCREWING up their machines because they wanted to do a little house keeping.

My parents are just starting to get into the whole "Internet" thing and I wanted something I could set on a schedule to clean up their slow P4 machine. It would be great if the whole thing ran behind the scenes with no user interaction. And on top of it - if they do use it, I need to be able to un-do their changes dumb quick.

I tried Windows Mechanics and WinASO but I still have not found my perfect "Tune Up" program yet. After installing the free trial of TuneUp Utilities 2007 I noticed that it was so much more than just a registry cleaner. Aside from the shredder, any adjustment TuneUp Utilities makes can be reversed by using TuneUp Utilities RescueCenter, so there is no risk of messing up. I promise, you will be addicted with keeping your computer finely tuned when you realize how easy TuneUp Utilities is to use. TuneUp Utilities 2007 is also compatible for Windows Vista users. Check out what this bad boy does...


Clean up & Repair

  • TuneUp DiskCleaner: This helps you remove junk data from your hard disks and recovers disk space.
  • TuneUp Disk Doctor: A tool that examines your hard drive for errors or problem spots. If any are found, the Disk Doctor makes note of it and monitors that no data is saved there in the future.
  • TuneUp Disk Space Explorer: This basically allows you to see the data of what is being stored, how many there are, and how much space does it take up.
  • TuneUp RegistryCleaner: Perhaps the best tool I have ever used that removes invalid entries and references from your system. Keeping your registry optimized is important for PC-health.
  • 1 Click Maintenance: You can create an icon on your desktop to add convenience to tuning up your computer. The 1 Click does a quick scan and repair of your system.




Customize & Analyze

  • TuneUp SystemControl: This powerful tool lets you control the look and feel of the Windows interface. You can adjust it for visual preference or to make your computer run faster.
  • TuneUp StartUp Manager: This tool allows you to controls which programs are executed at Windows startup. If you notice that your computer takes forever to turn on, perhaps disabling a few unneeded programs from loading at the startup will make restarting your computer less of a hassel.
  • TuneUp System Information: This tool provides you with comprehensive information about your computer, down to the minute detail.
  • TuneUp Styler 2: This feature is my personal favourite because it allows you to taylor your computer to look the way you want it too. From changing the icons by downloading icons packages, changing the Windows boot screen, to changing the Windows Logon Screen. It also can perform checks on your icons for irregularities.


Optimize & Improve

  • TuneUp MemOptimizer: This tool, when used will monitor and optimize free memory in the background. You can also use it to free up memory when you need the speed for another application.
  • TuneUp RegistryDefrag: Unlike Norton or Windows defrag tools, TuneUp will shut down windows before it does the scan so that nothing is missed. It is also incredibly fast. Keeping your registry defragmented is also important for PC-health.
  • TuneUp System Optimizer: This tool is the speed tool. It will do everything it can to make sure you computer is running as fast as it possibly can. It will even offer suggestions on what you should do to maximize your CPU speed.



Administer & Control

  • TuneUp Process Manager: Allows you to manage currently running programs by limiting their processor usage.
  • TuneUp Registry Editor: This tool helps you edit and search the registry (experts only).
    TuneUp Uninstal Manager: Unlike your Windows Uninstall manager, TuneUp allows you to uninstall and make adjustments to its properties.

File recovery & Destruction

  • TuneUp Shredder: This is an easy to use and safe tool that gives you the option of shredding files securely, ensuring that they cannot be recovered later. Emptying the recycling bin doesn't mean your files are gone in fact they can still be recovered. Instead of just emptying the recycling bin shred them.
  • TuneUp Undelete: This tool helps you search the recycling bin for files you want undeleted. It cannot, however, undelete files that have been shredded.

To just hit up a single pc for a little cleaning action feel free to use the trial version like we did. But for a everyday tool make sure you buy it before that 30 day trial ends! What do you guys use for this kind of OS Tool? Any free suggestions?

_TheHouseKeepingAdmiN_