[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Cleanup Utilities: Can They Speed Up Your PC? here

[isanio]

Why did you not test TuneUp Utilities?

[MathanGilhs]

Not often we come across this kind of article. A real eyeopener for many of us

[bkj2169f4k]

I use CCleaner not because I think my computer's going to be "faster" but rather to clean up logs and tidy things up a bit.

I'd never pay for software like this however.

[DrejXArmy]

I found the article insightful, but also, not well tested. I run CCLeaner all the time on the PCs at work and see varied improvements, but majority of the time, its HUGE improvements. CCleaner allows you to hit the restore points, uninstall programs, clean out the registry, and do a general overall cleaning which also gets the UPGRADE folders. Windows is bad with not getting rid of the download folders, still filled with the update installers.It will also help wipe free space, which helps to get rid of old files that have already been deleted. It does lack a defrag, but its counterpart, Defraggler, does that job well.
I recommend CCleaner to everyone, cause its FREE, and is regularly updated. There is a enhancement attachement you can add to it, which will cleanup alot of other program "misc." files, like logs. I run a AMD Phenom II 965 3.4 GHz, with 8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1066MHz, 1 TB WD Black HD with 64 MB cache, and ATI Radeon 5770 1GB DDR5 RAM. This PC starts up in 55 secs and never has slowness, due to me doing regular cleanings.

[Amitrgzr]

Nice article...
I just use IOBit Smart Defrag, to keep the files de-fragmented and it significantly boost the performance.
Other thing as the article mentioned is to un-install the programs which you don't use.

[billveik]

Not a comprehensive study at all. First, no one program is going to be a complete catch-all for all issues, its best to have a battery of software, except for firewall or resident antivirus software.

Second, no work I ever perform starts without an analysis of the state of the current machine. I have no idea if cache sizes, etc. are correct.

Third, not all gains in these areas are designed around gaining seconds, it should never be looked at that way; its like standing in front of a microwave and yelling "Hurry!". A maintained CPU runs with less effort, in theory making it last longer.

The routine I follow is comprehensive, all of the software I use is no cost, most of the people who follow it experience few to no problems, it takes a couple of hours per week.

[DavidAngelly87v]

I would have liked to see a speed comparison between: Original State vs remove old apps then run system cleanup then defrag. But speed is not the primary reason I run cleanups, it is system stability.

I would have liked to see a speed comparison between: Original State vs remove old apps then run system cleanup then defrag. But speed is not the primary reason I run cleanups, it is system stability.

[RandallFlaggn34g]

Here's a trick that absolutely, positively works; back up everything important, reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows. It's probably free, takes an hour or two, kills a lot of viruses and malware ...and absolutely, positively works.

If you're not competent to do that, you probably should be paying someone to do your computer chores.

[Muriden]

You said the results are surprising, I thought you would say they worked.

You said the results are surprising, so I expected you to say they worked.

[srobertson398]

I used several well-recommended utilities on my netbook and they advised me of problems that did not exist. When run again, they showed more - not less - problems. They also reduced performance. Save your money.

I used several well-recommended utilities on my netbook and they advised me of problems that did not exist. When run again, they showed more - not less - problems. They also reduced performance. Save your money.

[WallyDuke]

I've had a lot of success with these types of utilities, but I always run them regularly from when the computer is new. My almost two year old laptop IS as fast as new, and I only spend 20-30 minutes a week, tops, on my regular maintenance routine. This is only my non-expert experience.

[Kadidelhopper]

Then why does PC World keep trying to sell these types of products on their site? Keep trying to push all of these things? I think most competent users know that these kind of programs don't do squat. Most of the time hurt. Don't use them is the point here.

[Kadidelhopper]

RandallFlaggn34g, on 22 June 2011 - 07:30 AM, said:

Here's a trick that absolutely, positively works; back up everything important, reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows. It's probably free, takes an hour or two, kills a lot of viruses and malware ...and absolutely, positively works.

If you're not competent to do that, you probably should be paying someone to do your computer chores.

Is that a joke? That is a total last resort to do all of that. Buying a new computer works pretty well too. Not going to do that very often either. You are right though that will work. A little drastic but it will work.

[veeblefetzer]

billveik, on 22 June 2011 - 06:35 AM, said:

Not a comprehensive study at all. First, no one program is going to be a complete catch-all for all issues, its best to have a battery of software, except for firewall or resident antivirus software.

Second, no work I ever perform starts without an analysis of the state of the current machine. I have no idea if cache sizes, etc. are correct.

Third, not all gains in these areas are designed around gaining seconds, it should never be looked at that way; its like standing in front of a microwave and yelling "Hurry!". A maintained CPU runs with less effort, in theory making it last longer.

The routine I follow is comprehensive, all of the software I use is no cost, most of the people who follow it experience few to no problems, it takes a couple of hours per week.

"A maintained CPU runs with less effort, in theory making it last longer"
Huh? Quite a statement - care to supply any evidence of this outlandish assertion?

[mipa]

So just like those in-line gas optimizers which are supposedly to make your car get 20 to 50% better gas mileage the PC cleanup softwares are just as fraudulent.

[deepsand]

While the ineffectiveness of such "cleaners" has long and well been know to most IT professionals, this is a message that bears periodic repeating for the vast majority of personal users.

As for those who here claim these findings to be in error or inconclusive, you are going to need to provide descriptions of rigorous testing methodologies, test data, and results if you hope to rebut the evidence that is extant.

This post has been edited by deepsand: 22 June 2011 - 12:33 PM

[computerbasics]

There is no such thing as a pc "optimizer" or "system booster" software. Never has been, never will be. People who purchase or try useless software such as these and others get exactly what they pay for.

[ronin7752]

Slow performance is caused by one (or more) of three fundamental problems: 1.) The processor is "overloaded". 2.) The processor has insufficient RAM to work with. 3.) Data is not being transferred to/from the hard drive at the speed needed to perform perform the required tasks efficiently.

No software program can figure in all the possible causes for these problems, much less implement effective solutions. That still takes a well-skilled technician.

[deepsand]

computerbasics, on 22 June 2011 - 01:32 PM, said:

There is no such thing as a pc "optimizer" or "system booster" software. Never has been, never will be. People who purchase or try useless software such as these and others get exactly what they pay for.

While that has generally been the case, there have been such products that did in fact actually optimize one particular item, that being the various settings relating to external communications.

However, not only are such usually of minor import, one can find standalone aoos that perform the same.