14 DAY TRIAL // Advanced SystemCare is IObit’s all-in-one package for boosting the performance of your system and keeping it running at optimum parameters.
Version 7 of the product has been released recently and integrates full support for Windows 8 and 8.1, as well as improvements and new utilities. This edition promises faster and more thorough scanning and makes available new components.
Among them are Homepage Protection, ManageMyMobile, Uninstaller and Program Deactivator, Start Menu 8, and Driver Booster. Their names are self-explanatory and some of them are available as standalone applications from the developer, free of charge.
The price for the entire suite is quite appealing, at $19.99 / €14.80 (VAT not included). During the installation, you should pay attention to all the screens unless you want a toolbar to find its way in IE or Firefox.
A short tutorial is launched at the end of the process, showcasing some of the new components and their purpose, and, at the same time, highlighting the advanced functionality of the suite.
In the first section, there is the possibility to check the system for various issues, from malware and activity history traces or the presence of unnecessary data, to detecting overall performance bottlenecks.
Most of the tools in this section can be configured by pressing the gear icon that appears when you hover the mouse over them, or you can do it from the general configuration panel of the application.
The scanning process is generally fast, but its completion depends entirely on the amount of data the engine needs to go through.
Results are displayed clearly and include the number of issues detected, as well as a rating that details the extent to which the system performance, stability, and security are affected.
The busiest section of the application is “Toolbox.” It makes available a huge number of utilities that can influence for the better the performance of the computer. There are six separate sections sheltering a total of 32 utilities.
However, not all of them are readily available. In some cases, they are downloaded and installed in the background as soon as they are accessed (e.g.: Disk Doctor, IObit Unlocker, Process Manager, etc.). The occasional shortcuts placed on the desktop and the new entries in the Programs and Features applet are the clear signs of the surreptitious activity.
The large number of entries is due to constantly adding new utilities to serve users’ needs, without getting rid of old ones. Depending on the operating system Advanced SystemCare is running on, some of the tools are downright obsolete because their functionality has been taken over by the OS itself.
Advanced SystemCare 7 Pro includes anti-malware protection through the company’s free version of Malware Fighter application. It scans for malicious code and provides partial real-time protection, because not all shields are up and running like in the paid edition.
It is odd to see it pinned in the section with the cleaning tools, along with the uninstaller, registry and disk cleaners, and the file shredder. A more suitable position would have been under “Security.”
The same goes for ManageMyMobile, a tool that can handle the information on an Android phone. However, during our tests, the application failed to connect to a Nexus 4, although the device had been detected accurately. This happened probably because the component is still under development.
ManageMyMobile is not the only one in beta stage. So is Program Deactivator, an instrument designed to help disable background services, startup items, and scheduled tasks of applications, in order to reduce the load on the system and thus increase performance.
Additionally, it provides the means to enhance the boot speed and to check if any unnecessary processes are running. The startup and process managers can accomplish these tasks with certain limitations that are not encountered in some third-party, standalone tools.
The bundle also offers the possibility to learn about the hardware capabilities of the system through the System Information tool; during our tests, it managed to accurately detect the main hardware components on the test machine.
Another utility present on the list is Start Menu 8, which adds a new start button under Windows 8 and 8.1 and restores the usability once available in all Microsoft OSes up to (and including) Windows 7.
Just like in other cases, Start Menu 8 is installed in the background and, at one point, the button will find its way in the lower left corner of the desktop, allowing easy access to important areas of the system.
Under “Action Center,” the fourth part of the bundle, we found exclusive purchase offers for IObit programs.
Advanced SystemCare 7 is an exhaustive collection of utilities that can improve the way your computer is running, as the developer pinned everything that is necessary to detect and manage the factors that are preventing the computer from running at its best.
The Good
The suite includes all the utilities required for improving performance, from defragmentation to de-cluttering, as well as extra tools for managing the computer into a better state.
The Bad
Also, not all the components are readily available in the package; most of them are downloaded and installed upon access.
The bundle includes tools that no longer have an effect with current hardware and operating systems.
The Truth
The campaign ends on Friday, November 15. Winners will be notified by the end of the next week; needless to say that we need valid email addresses in order to contact you.
UPDATE: Giveaway over.
