14 DAY TRIAL // The main steps to follow in order to keep your system up and running at its best require cleaning out the junk data, organizing it so that it is contiguous on the disk(s) and tweaking various settings to fit your needs. Advanced SystemCare from IObit includes all of this, and more.
The bundle is available for $19.95 and the latest edition brings in a new, easier-to-use layout, as well as a set of more than 20 tools to assist you in getting the system into better shape.
Installation is not too difficult a procedure, but watch out for the screen with the IObit toolbar on your way through.
This edition of Advanced SystemCare comes with a redesigned interface that allows easy handling of the suite. You can run simple optimization tasks (Quick Care) or more thorough ones (Deep Care) straight from the main application window.
Unlike other optimization packages on the market, this one features anti-malware capabilities. The option is nothing elaborate; its efficiency is as good as the definitions and there are no additional layers of protection, but it may uncover some threats nesting on your system.
Quick Care mode deals with the basic aspects for maintaining the system in shipshape. It runs a quick malware scan, checks the registry for invalid entries, reveals broken shortcuts, erases your activity history and web surfing traces as well as disk clutter. Almost all of these options can be configured to meet your needs.
The registry cleaner has a particular handy section that shows the risk level of every detected entry. You have the possibility to choose the areas you want to be scanned as well as select the entries you want to be avoided at further checks.
Privacy Sweep takes care of tracks recorded by the operating system and installed web browsers. It’ll clean up some history data in Windows and the cookies, cache files, history, typed URLs registered by browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera).
Our tests showed that the bundle is not 100% successful when eliminating browsing traces. With Chrome, it left behind history data, while in Internet Explorer, it successfully deleted cookies, but temporary Internet files were still present, because these are labeled as junk files and a different tool deals with them. As for Firefox and Opera, cache, history and cookies were all deleted.
If you want a more thorough system scrub Deep Care mode will add system optimization options, scanning for disk errors, vulnerabilities (Windows updates, hot-patches) and drive defragmentation.
Optimization choices cover both overall performance of the system and some network tweaking, as well. Advanced SystemCare provides a set of profiles that fit five configuration types: basic, daily use, top performance – suitable for home users, office work and server, both matching the needs of business users.
For network optimization the presets refer to DSL, LAN, dial-up, FIOS and wireless configurations. All you have to do is pick the one becoming your machine and the application will make the necessary settings automatically.
The trouble is that we scanned for problems using all the profiles and the application always reported that there were no problems with the current configuration.
Turbo Boost module guides you through a configuration wizard and allows you to tweak system services, background applications and Windows theme so that the machine runs at best speeds. This means giving up application compatibility cache, printer/tablet/scanner/DC support, sharing media to other devices and automatic proxy detection. Not all of them are essential to the average home user, but take into consideration the peripherals you use on a daily basis so their functionality is not affected by these settings.
Advanced SystemCare’s Toolbox module is the richest part of the bundle. More than 22 individual applications are housed inside, to restore some broken functions in the operating system, clean it of useless data and ready it for peak performance.
Three of the tools listed in this module need to be downloaded, namely IObit Malware Fighter under Security menu, Smart Defrag and Game Booster, both found under Optimize menu.
Besides the aforementioned utilities in Quick and Deep Care modules, you’ll find an uninstaller, file shredder, RAM optimizer which comes in handy mostly on XP operating systems, an Internet booster (tweaks IE, Chrome and Firefox in order to make the most of your bandwidth) or a startup manager.
Repair menu brings in a file recovery tool, IE add-on manager and a tool that fixes basic OS problems (Win Fix). The latter is fit to mend basic issues, such as restoring system icons (My Computer, Network, Recycle Bin, etc.) or shortcut arrows, as well as slightly more complicated issues, like resetting folder view settings to default, reinstating thumbnails in Windows Explorer or restoring the functionality of “Fonts” folder.
The process manager under Security menu is no complicated thing and replicates the functions of the native Task Manager by and large. You have a list of all the running processes, their current RAM and CPU usage as well as the priority they’re running with.
A look at the details can reveal both general information about them and bits for more advanced users. These include memory counters and modules loaded. Real-time performance is also included, and you’ll be able to see graphic representation for overall CPU and RAM history.
As for the options available, there aren’t too many. The app lets you launch a new process, terminate those already listed or change their priority.
The driver manager makes available the possibility to automatically search for newer drivers for hardware components, back them up and restore them at a later time.
Additional tools can be found under Control menu. Cloned Files Scanner should get rid of duplicate items, but our tests showed that it does not run a bit-by-bit comparison of the elements, making it slightly less accurate and reliable.
Disk Explorer is designed to give you an overview of the heaviest files and folders on your hard disk. The analysis does not take too long to complete, and although all the details are provided, it would be nice to have a visual representation of how the files are distributed on the disk.
System Control application is among the most important ones in the suite because it allows you to customize your copy of Windows. All regular tweaks are available in this screen, from the way the shortcuts are displayed on the desktop, system security settings and context menu options all through memory usage, animation and effects, the way the system starts and user logon options.
All the modules and menus are well organized and more complicated options are accompanied by descriptions and brief tips. The suite incorporates all the tools a user might need in order to configure and optimize the system; and although some of them need to be downloaded individually, only one of them is a paid product (IObit Malware Fighter). The only drawback may be the large number of tools bundled in, which could be a bit daunting even for the average user, but considering the way they’ve been organized in the interface, this should not make for a major problem.
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