14 DAY TRIAL // Cleaning utilities in Wopti cover everything you need for maintaining a squeaky computer with as little as no junk files to mess up its performance. The module is composed of registry cleaning solutions, disk cleaning utility, ActiveX remover, software uninstaller, trace cleaner and install patch cleaner. Using them is no tough job as they can be handled by any type of user with no problems.
The registry cleaner's purpose is to remove all superfluous data in the different [hives of Windows registry. It works by detecting redundant entries and eliminating them, the result consisting in a more stable and faster system. The utility scans HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_USERS, and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for redundant information and also searches for invalid software information, errors or history records of users' operations.
The accuracy of the detection engine is not at all questionable and, during our testing, Wopti's registry cleaning utility rooted out veritable junk files from the registry of the test systems. And should something take a wrong turn after eliminating the invalid data, there is always the Restore function which re-establishes the registry's previous files. Registry backups are created automatically the moment you try to flush all registry junk, or you can manually create one, so there is little room for getting your computer spiked by some error caused by the deletion of some false-positive. Oddly enough, backup options are accessed through the Restore button in the interface and allow you to define compression level and the save location.
The utility included in Wopti suite comes with its own set of options, which include scanning of temporary files, invalid shortcuts, checking of hidden files, scanning for empty folders or detecting zero byte files. Deleting the files, just like invalid registry items, can be done with the safety net on, for ulterior recovery in case something that should not have been deleted is eliminated. Deletion Types tab provides a series of methods for getting rid of the junk, among which there is the possibility of sending them to a backup folder of your choice.
The user can enable the types of junk files available in the application, but the downside is that you cannot add new files and what is already available will have to make do. Testing the utility brought forward some mishaps, regarding the detection of duplicate files as the app could not pass our tests. Other than this, Wopti's disk cleaner did a good job in detecting junk files on our test computers.
Also, in our case, it detected all the DLLs from a backup folder of the system's drivers. So, I recommend you take a look at what it detects or configure backup options (look under "Restore" once more), in order to be able to perform a restoration at a later time.
ActiveX components left behind by incomplete software uninstalls are taken care of by Wopti through its ActiveX Cleaner. The application will analyze all components on the system and find out which of them are valid and which are not. In this case, whenever you see red it means that specific ActiveX component is normal and needs no repair. In turn, a blue icon should tell you that Wopti cannot establish the validity of the component.
An uninstaller would feel quite at home under Wopti and the suite includes one, providing access to its functions from two different areas: both from under System Information module, from Software Information, as well as from System Cleaning module. But there are some dissimilarities, though. Working with the one under the first module of the suite is quite simple and all you have to do is select the application and press the "Uninstall" button.
With the uninstaller in System Cleaning module, you will first have to perform an analysis in order to permit the software to scan for its uninstaller. And only this way you can proceed to removing that application from your system. But in the end, the operation is completed in absolutely the same manner as the correspondent in Windows.
Trace Cleaner comes to the rescue helping in eliminating the clues left behind when using the computer. The instrument requires no effort from the user other than checking the areas that need to be purged of "incriminating" data and and deleting them. Wopti's trace cleaning utility takes care of sections like network history (only IE is supported), Windows traces (Run dialog, history of recently run programs, history of opened files, search history, Windows Event log), as well as history of files used in certain applications.
Unfortunately, there is no possibility of adding custom locations to be cleaned of data and what you see is what you get. Also, the list of supported applications is quite skimpy (only 13 programs are available) and few of them are to be used on a daily basis. On the bright side, the app does its job and cleans selected locations fast and accurately. If you are undecided about deleting an item, you can expand it in the list and access additional information (in some cases there is a recommendation).
Patch Cleaner is a very useful tool, especially if you generally install a myriad of software on your system and, in some cases, just at the beginning of the installation you have a change of heart and decide to abort the operation. How many times have you seen a rollback in such cases? Wopti's Patch Cleaner's purpose is exactly to delete remnant files released at the beginning of the install process.
Unfortunately, during our testing on both Vista and XP, the utility failed to show its talents and kept displaying a blank screen despite all our efforts. We semi-installed a bunch of apps in order to see Patch Cleaner's detection engine abilities, but at each analysis no redundant files were found.
