optimize

This suite of system maintenance tools had some notable features, but occasional glitches outweighed the pluses.

MZ Vista Force launches colorful interfaces for each of its several tools, each of which is designed for performing system maintenance and enhancement. Despite the candy-bright colors, each interface is a bit busy and cluttered. The provided tools include the usual suspects for this type of performance toolbox: Disk cleaner, memory optimizer, RAM booster, registry backup, and others.

We liked that each tool's options provided the user some control over the processes, unlike some one-click toolboxes designed for ease of use; the latter … Read more

It's easy to understand how to use this system optimizer and maintenance tool, but it's not so clear how it goes about getting the job done.

WinMultiFix launches a tabbed interface that isn't particularly well designed, but its plain appearance mirrors its all-business functionality. Despite its no-frills look, the program could use a decent Help file to inform users about its processes and how it works.

For instance, one tab offers a Temp File Cleaner. Operation is simple--enter the drive to clean and press a button. A progress bar provided the only clue that the application was … Read more

For Vista users not happy with Vista's built-in tools, this suite of optimizing and maintenance tools offers an easy-to-use alternative. The tools don't necessarily work better than their Vista counterparts, but they come in one easy-to-understand package.

Infibia Easy Tools for Vista launches a colorful, nicely designed palette of icons, each of which represents a tool for performing system maintenance and enhancement. The provided tools include the usual suspects for this type of performance toolbox, including a disk cleaner, memory optimizer, defrag utility, and a registry fixer.

The utility performed well in our tests. Some of the tools, … Read more

This easy-to-use and informative application cleans, configures, and optimizes your PC. Advanced WindowsCare Professional's interface dispenses with the bells and whistles to display commands and data without embellishment.

The install Wizard zips through the set up, querying the user on the PC's primary use and Internet connection type. Answer those two simple questions, choose from a short list of options, and you're ready to virus check and scan for spyware, registry errors, and start-up problems, or clean your PC of history and surfing traces. The app's strength is the detailed information the scan provides, which lists … Read more

This utility offers a one-stop-shop for cleaning and maintaining your computer for better overall system performance. The interface is very simple, featuring only a few buttons, which makes it easy to get down to cleaning immediately (in fact, it automatically runs on start-up) and doesn't confuse you with multiple steps.

The Maintain Windows section focuses on four areas of maintenance: spyware removal, Registry cleaning, a privacy sweep, and deletion of junk files. The Diagnose System button provides system optimization tools, detects spyware, defragments your disk, and scans for hijacked Windows settings. In our tests the scan and clean for … Read more

Since its early days, WinOptimizer has folded a ton of PC-optimizing tools into an attractive, compact, and easily navigable interface. WinOptimizer 6, released on Wednesday exclusively on CNET Download.com, adds some new tweaks to keep things interesting and efficient. We've got the summary and pros and cons below.

What's new AntiSpy module: This tool claims to "deactivate potential spy functions." Upon closer inspection, the module really goes after apps and services that send data back to Microsoft. That's ideal for privacy nuts, but sensationalistic if that kind of app behavior doesn't bother you. … Read more

Keeping your PC running like a champ requires a bit of maintenance now and again. For your money, you could do much worse than Ashampoo WinOptimizer, a clean, fast, and professional-looking application with a robust tool set.

The fastest route to optimization is from the One-Click Optimization feature, accessible from your desktop or from a tab on the program interface. The second fastest lets you run a quick or a full scan from the Overview tab. Either option starts diagnosing your system using common, customizable settings. For spot-checking or to oversee your own changes, you can click the Modules tab … Read more

TweakVista takes an unnecessarily complicated interface provided by Microsoft and simplifies it by organizing the myriad of system options into one clean design.

The app starts with a list of 10 options on the left nav, ranging from Start Up and Resources, down through Security and Power, and ending with Miscellaneous Tweaks. Each tab opens a new panel of topic-specific options, most with tabs of their own delineating between basic and advanced functions. For example, the Services tab controls access to many of the background processes. There are preconfigured Profiles for gamers, for saving memory, and so on. The Features … Read more

To call TuneUp Utilities 2009 useful would drastically understate the situation. The app provides users with a powerful, well-designed utility that accesses the entire Windows maintenance tool set and more in a fast, organized, and easy-to-use series of connected modules.

Temp file management, registry cleaners and start-up program controls are the bread-and-butter of these utilities, and these basics work in TuneUp more quickly and easily than most. However, the app also sports great add-on tools you don't usually see in a utility program. It offers a variety of Internet and program-acceleration tweaks as well as Windows performance enhancers. The … Read more