From time to time, your computer may be experiencing difficulties in rising up to the performance it was designed for. We have all been there. Usually, the safest way is to reinstall Windows or to apply the backup image you created with a backup software. The first option is tedious, tiresome and time consuming. The second method on the other hand is the generally accepted one and habitually, it takes about ten minutes to complete. The only trouble is that in order to have the latest image, you will have to update it regularly.

And that is how the thought of getting an application to clean your system of clog files and free up your RAM came to mind. In a few words, what you are looking for is a computer optimization software. There are hundreds of these on the Internet, and some of them with more limited features are even free.

SpeedUpMyPC is a nifty looking utility from Uniblue that can be achieved for no less than $29.95, and that is with a cut off of 10 bucks. Usually, a 15 day trial period is more than enough to properly test an application, but in this case, other limitations hinder the user to try the software and see how exactly it behaves on their computer environment.

The looks are not much: simple but very nice and not at all hindering the access to the different options available. Every function is in plain view and even the uninitiated user would be able to handle it with no problems. The three menus located in the top right hand corner of the main window announce the user of the possibilities of SpeedUpMyPC: optimization and cleanup of the computer.

Overview and Settings menus are not actually performing any activity in the sense that the first one will purely inform you on the state of your machine while the second will let you configure SpeedUpMyPC to your needs.

As mentioned before, Overview menu's function is strictly informative. There will be no cleaning done from here and the most you can do is start a scan and view the dates for the last Internet, memory and CPU optimization, the last privacy file and junk file cleanup.

Optimization section is the core of the SpeedUpMyPC as this is where the entire performance boost actually takes place. The modules incorporated in Optimization comprise freeing up the memory, boost certain applications (increase CPU allocation), check the disk load and monitor its I/O efficiency, optimize the bandwidth usage (adjusts your browser and particular connection settings for faster upload/download) and manage the startup items.

For Memory, CPU, Disk and Internet, the program provides two types of graphs for a better illustration of the functioning of these items: you have a one minute graph and a one hour graph. This way, you will be able to see their past performance (before optimization) as well as the current behavior. RAM optimization window displays the amount of free memory, used memory and the total memory available on the computer. The two options at the bottom of the screen are locked in the trial version so buying the software is the only way of finding out how good it performs.

The same goes for CPU and Internet optimization. The only feature that has an option activated is the startup manager. Adding and editing the startup items is locked, but at least you can remove any of them that you wish.

The next tab available in the menu is Clean Up. As the name suggests, the "cleaning lady" has arrived to put some order into your "drawers". The unwanted file types that reside on your computer having absolutely no use are temporary files, junk files, backup files, dump files and lost clusters. These are the items that clog your computer and bring their share into hindering your machine from working properly.

Clean Up menu sports different options that enable the user to protect his/her privacy by eliminating all the traces due to web browsing (Internet History, cookies, URL history, auto complete data list, temporaries, downloaded program files, Firefox history or Windows recent file list). For securely deleting your data, a file shredder is at your disposal, ready to eliminate all the files beyond recovery. Unlike the file cleaning, shredding your files works in the trial version as long as you do not reach the 5 files limit imposed by the developer.

Uninstalling the programs on your computer often results in traces being left either in Program Files or somewhere in the registry. SpeedUpMyPC ensures that you do this nice and clean, without leaving behind items that will clutter your system. A clean uninstall prevents system problems and computer slowdowns. I think this is the only feature that is not touched by the restriction spree of the developer. I guess they spared this one and let it function at full capacity for the duration of the trial period.

Setting up SpeedMyPC is a walk in the park because this section of the program is by far the less abundant in options and it will take under a minute to make all the possible configurations for the software to run according to your wish. Clean Up general settings allow the user to send the deleted files to Recycle Bin or secure delete them (I cannot give any details as there is no secure delete method available anywhere in the software) and choose the drives that should be included in the cleaning process.

The Good

The interface is ergonomic and all the options are in plain view. The scanning time of the application is quite minimal and the results can be viewed in detail.

The Bad

I wish the software gave the user a chance to a manual cleaning of the computer by opening the location of the detected files.

Also, the developer left no room for properly testing the application. One cannot decide to spend almost 30 bucks on promises and bragging. There are too many limitations and this comes as a heavy drawback for the software.

The Truth

If the software is as good as it looks, then the current $29.95 price is quite good. However, adding some features like secure deletion methods in the file shredder would bring value.


Here are some snapshots of the application in action: