Here's an interesting article about 'free scan' tune-up suites

Series: Test-driving ‘free scan’ tune-up suites « Windows Secrets (http://windowssecrets.com/newsletter/test-driving-free-scan-tune-up-suites/?u=h2odk7289141&r=47819-28014)

Some interesting Stories on that site.

More generally: A lot of the registry clean out S/W has a reputation for not doing very much. i once paid £10.00 for an application that claimed to be able to actively search out the most recent drivers for my system - I suppose we all get taken in once?

CAT III

Unfortunately we do CATIII-NDB, we just have to put it down to experience.

"A lot of the registry clean out S/W has a reputation for not doing very much."

Most of those come close to being scamware. The only one I'll use is CCleaner - which is a freebie anyway. The others have too much ability to do damage - and to be truthful, simply don't work. Besides which, on a modern machine, knocking a few lines out of the registry achieves very little in speed gains

"an application that claimed to be able to actively search out the most recent drivers for my system"
But why bother? If a computer system is working, leave well alone. Only update drivers to solve a problem - unless you're a kiddy playing high-end games who needs to screw every last quantum of performance out of the machine
Otherwise, if the machine is working and stable, leave the drivers alone

Avoid like the plague in general. They are carriers of viruses, spyware and all sorts of bad stuff. If your machine is running ok, it doesn't need it either. If it isn't, pay for an hours worth of a good support tech More than worth it..

The rule is not to download or install anything that isn't from a mainstream software vendor. Anything else is like playing russian roulette...

Regards,

Chris

The only driver software I use is free Slimdrivers, and then only when I'm stuck on a reinstall of OS. I too use CCleaner, but no other registry tool.

CNET is a reputable website where you can get free trial downloads and product reviews.

I think it lost its "reputable" status when it started re-wrapping sofware in its own installer which includes such delights as the Babylon toolbar, sets Babyon as the default search engine, and the default start page in your browser.

I think it lost its "reputable" status when it started re-wrapping sofware in its own installer which includes such delights as the Babylon toolbar, sets Babyon as the default search engine, and the default start page in your browser.
...without telling you what it is doing - or indeed (unless the print was even smaller than usual) giving you a check box to refuse this 'gift'! Gave me quite a few minutes of 'what the hell's it doing now?' before I realised. Never even heard of Babylon up to that point.

Actually there is a check box to decline using the Babylon toolbar on CNET.

Hmm; thanks; I must have missed it.

I've tinkered with a few of these over the years. Most of them want to remove "stuff" that I use all the time, so they get heaved out PDQ. The first time I used one, it zapped some number of files, then asked for money to complete the job.

I don't bother any more. From my experience, dross in the registry doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference to the speed of the machine.

What is useful is Regedit, for removing nasties or stuff that won't remove in a more civilised way. Great caution is required (and a backup before you start, so you can "undo" if it all goes pear shaped).

Is a good one that I use. Good cross OS compatibility.

IObit??!!!


Seriously, that will cripple your computer. Get rid

of using it along with Malware Bytes and no problems. I use a Toshiba laptop with Windows 7 and my performance and deletion of unwanted cookies and quick uninstalling/performance boosting has been great. I have also worked with on Windows XP and Vista with no issues.

then you've been lucky
Its another of these programs that install tool bars, broser redirects and other junk.
Its also very poor at what it does to the registry - its far too aggressive and often kills the .NET software

I received the reviews on IObit from several reputable sources and have used it on many different computers. I must respectfully disagree with being lucky. I have never experienced anything negative with IObit at all ever. Neither have most IObit users who rate it online and in PC Mag, and in fact it was the PC magazines that offered the reviews and free downloads via discs.

I am not sure what others do here, but I teach programming and get to speak with experts on security software in my work, and they have said great things about IObit and MalwareBytes and Cookie cleaner which I use and found for free downloads on both CNET and discs from computer magazines.

I never have seen a browser bar installed if I did not want it.

Well, I fix them for a living - and I can assure you that you don't want any of that IOBit software anywhere near your machine, unless you like paying people like me to clean it off when the machine crashes on you.

Their "Advanced Systemcare with Antivirus" has the unique ability in that it can't even detect viruses, and the "Systemcare" bit does nothing useful at all.
Of course the magazine reviews will hype it up - they have to, otherwise the companies stop advertising


Malwarebytes is a different animal
Comes from a different company, and it works. But its a malware scanner, not an optimisation program and so not comparable.

As for "cookie cleaner" - do you mean CCleaner? The C in that stands for CrapCleaner, not cookie....and yes its a good program in the correct hands. Nothing to do with IObit though - it comes from Piriform

I have many years experience fixing computers, programming them and experimenting with optimization suites and anti virus software. I also work with digital kiosks, point of sale systems/self checkout scanners, and object oriented programming.

I can tell you that IObit works great and will not damage most computers based upon the 7 brand names I tested. In fact I have never seen IObit damage a single computer.

Their "Advanced Systemcare with Antivirus" has the unique ability in that it can't even detect viruses, and the "Systemcare" bit does nothing useful at all.
Of course the magazine reviews will hype it up - they have to, otherwise the companies stop advertising

My Avanced Systemcare with Antivirus detects viruses that my old Trend Micro and Norton missed.

What advertising do you refer and in what magazines? The magazines I use do not even advertise these software.

alwarebytes is a different animal
Comes from a different company, and it works. But its a malware scanner, not an optimisation program and so not comparable.

I never stated that MalwareBytes was not a scanner or that it was the same thing as IObit optimization program, but rather that it works great with IObit and in addition, I downloaded it from CNET.

As for "cookie cleaner" - do you mean CCleaner? The C in that stands for CrapCleaner, not cookie....and yes its a good program in the correct hands. Nothing to do with IObit though - it comes from Piriform

Very minor semantic issue. It does clean up crap, but I often generically refer to it as cookie cleaner, but in the future I will just state CCleaner.

Yes CCleaner comes from piniform, but I am unsure of your point--I use MalwareBytes, IObit and CCleaner together and have done so on many different computers for over a year with great success.

I'd rather hoped that with the mods sanitising this thread and deleting your earlier posts that you'd taken the hint and gone away. However as you've come back for a second spit I'll riposte in kind. Just once. I won't reply to you on this thread again - I've better things to do
But in the meantime, to take your points.....

"I can tell you that IObit works great and will not damage most computers based upon the 7 brand names I tested. In fact I have never seen IObit damage a single computer"
Of the many thousands I've been involved in fixing, either directly or through supervision, I can assure you that the products are crapware that reduce performance, damage registries and can stop machines booting. Thats not found from a sample of seven machines, its based on many thousands of machines actually failing while in use in the real world

"detects viruses that my old Trend Micro and Norton missed."
If you use Norton and Trend Micro as any kind of yardstick for viral detection performance then you lose any kind of credibility you ever had. Both are close to useless in real world environments. Not hard to make ANYTHING look better than those.

Regarding Malwarebytes, you were the one who initially mentioned it in the same breath as the IObit software, naturally leading to the conclusion that you were comparing the products. As to "finding it on CNET" - I would suggest you would do better to obtain it directly from their website. There are too many issues with downloads from CNET, with some versions of the site redirecting you to assisted downloads. The same comment applies to Piriform's CCleaner as well
As to the correct name origin for CCleaner, its not a semantic point, its a point of accuracy as there are numerous examples of crapware which can be found by a Google search for cookie cleaner

Finally your comment "I use MalwareBytes, IObit and CCleaner together and have done so on many different computers for over a year with great success. "
Whoopie doopie dooo! A whole year and you're an expert! I've been fixing these things full time since the late 1990's and I still regard myself as a beginner. Remember - you may be an expert programmer but that means zilch when you're faced with fixing a machine that doesn't work. I've lost count of the numbers of MCSEs or similar I've sacked for being useless at practical stuff

I'd rather hoped that with the mods sanitising this thread and deleting your earlier posts that you'd taken the hint and gone away. However as you've come back for a second spit I'll riposte in kind. Just once. I won't reply to you on this thread again - I've better things to do
But in the meantime, to take your points.....


I admit my last post was too aggressive--in too many places, and I have taken the hint from the moderators. Reply if you wish or do not, as this is your choice.

"I can tell you that IObit works great and will not damage most computers based upon the 7 brand names I tested. In fact I have never seen IObit damage a single computer"
Of the many thousands I've been involved in fixing, either directly or through supervision, I can assure you that the products are crapware that reduce performance, damage registries and can stop machines booting. Thats not found from a sample of seven machines, its based on many thousands of machines actually failing while in use in the real world

You misunderstand me. I am referring to 7 brand names and not just 7 different machines--I too tested thousands of machines in total. In addition, I have read dozens of professional reviews and did not take advertisements or over-hyped review seriously. With many friends with computers, and clients, who trust my judgment, it has been successful.


"detects viruses that my old Trend Micro and Norton missed."
If you use Norton and Trend Micro as any kind of yardstick for viral detection performance then you lose any kind of credibility you ever had. Both are close to useless in real world environments. Not hard to make ANYTHING look better than those.

Actually Norton has been excellent for the last 2 years or so and Trend Micro was better about 5 years ago, but it is still decent enough for basic protection. What anti virus software do you suggest and what metrics are you using?

Regarding Malwarebytes, you were the one who initially mentioned it in the same breath as the IObit software, naturally leading to the conclusion that you were comparing the products. As to "finding it on CNET" - I would suggest you would do better to obtain it directly from their website. There are too many issues with downloads from CNET, with some versions of the site redirecting you to assisted downloads. The same comment applies to Piriform's CCleaner as well
As to the correct name origin for CCleaner, its not a semantic point, its a point of accuracy as there are numerous examples of crapware which can be found by a Google search for cookie cleaner

Regarding Malwarebytes I merely mentioned it as it is compatible with IObit without slowing the machine down. What you inferred is a different matter.

CNET has changed its policies to make it easier to decline additional and potentially unwanted downloads. I like CNET as it is a one stop resource but that is an individual choice, now is it not?

Regarding CCleaner that was my one and only error. Here I misspoke, but it is a very minor point. Accuracy is important, but anyone can see I made a minor mistake by saying cookie instead of crap... I did know what it stood for, but I just mistyped--all people mistype or have typos at times, even you. I should have been more conscious of remembering what the C stands for. Not a big deal though.

Finally your comment "I use MalwareBytes, IObit and CCleaner together and have done so on many different computers for over a year with great success. "
Whoopie doopie dooo! A whole year and you're an expert! I've been fixing these things full time since the late 1990's and I still regard myself as a beginner. Remember - you may be an expert programmer but that means zilch when you're faced with fixing a machine that doesn't work. I've lost count of the numbers of MCSEs or similar I've sacked for being useless at practical stuff

No, this is not what I was saying. I have been fixing computers for over 20 years, first as an amateur and then for hire Independently and then on a professional basis. I have fixed digital kiosks/recycle machines based upon computers inside, laptops, desktops, stereos, speakers, and debugged programs, among other things. I can only speak for IObit for the past year plus, and that is why I mentioned it.

I learned programming after learning to fix computers. I tend to discuss programming more because I prefer it in certain ways to computer technician work, even when part of the tech work involves programming.

I cannot tell you how many times a digital kiosk job would seem difficult and was done right in 20 minutes and conversely, how a seemingly easy repair job took a month. You never know until you show up to a job. I had this recycling digital kiosk that had a touch screen that would not respond anymore, so prior to replacing it, I looked in the logs, updated the firmware, tested the connection of the router, reprogrammed the DNS (that was an additional part of the work order) called in the numbers, checked the connection and then replaced the screen. The screen did not work still, even though it was properly mounted and evidenced by sending in pictures and observing the other working kiosk near by. Then the chute sensors just stopped working, so I had to replace those, then the hard drive inside fried, so I replaced that, then the printer which was already on its way out had to be repaired so I did that, and then it turned out the company sent me the wrong screen, that was similar, so they sent me a new one--it worked, but then the router connectors would not stay in because the former tech tried gluing them in...

I am sure you have a lot of experience, all I really mean is my samples gave me different results.