cleaner

This comprehensive system utility keeps your computer at peak performance by offering tools to manage processes, hard-disk space, and even Registry entries. When put to the test, it gave a solid performance, but we found inconsistencies with its trial period and in the overall design.

Innovative SysPack's main user interface is very easy to navigate. The main window has six prominent buttons for managing different tasks. There is a system optimizer, task manager, disk cleaner, start-up firewall, and tools to manage drives and to uninstall programs. But we found that each feature contained a different user interface. Granted, each … Read more

We're not sure what's so kid-friendly about this utility, which is supposed to remove Internet traces. Regardless of its confusing name, Kids NetLinks Internet Tracks Cleaners failed to clean any of our browsing tracks.

Kids NetLinks Internet Tracks Cleaners offers a basic, but straightforward, user interface. You'll find a list of cleaning options, including browser cache, cookies, history, temporary folders, and Internet files. Next to each option is a Clean button. We went through each cleaning option, one by one, but the program failed to clean any of our browsing traces. A Help link is available, but … Read more

It requires very little skill to use this system cleanup tool, but that's not necessarily a good thing when you're dealing with the Registry. Ashampoo Magical Optimizer is so easy to use because it removes most of the control from the user.

The colorful interface gives you the option of automatic or manual optimization. What you won't find is a way to back up your files beforehand. This safety net is a standard feature for most Registry cleaners, and one we want in place before any files get deleted. You can select the kinds of files you … Read more

This privacy program aims to clear your browsing history and free up space on your computer; however, several error messages prevented us from getting a clear picture of this program's abilities.

During the installation process for ID Privacy Shield, we received an error message. We were able to bypass it and move on to the user interface, which was quite eye-catching. From first glance, it appeared very easy to navigate, with prominent command buttons running down the left side of the window. The program includes a history cleaner, file shredder, and disk cleaner. But more often than not, when … Read more

This handy all-in-one optimizing utility offers more than advertised, and it does it quickly and with little effort.

Comodo Registry Cleaner has a well-designed interface with simple, functional buttons to lead the user in the right direction every time. While it only promises to scan and clean your Registry, there's so much more to this freeware utility. When the program opens, it automatically displays some basic system information about your computer, and it also shows a Tip of the Day without the usual pesky pop-up box. Simply hit the scan button, and wait for the results. More advanced users … Read more

Clean Space launches a clean, user-friendly interface with tabbed navigation that categorizes its scanning areas by Windows, Browsers, Media, Internet files, and Miscellaneous. Users won't be distracted by needless graphics and jarring colors; instead, this tool clearly lists the items it will delete in detailed fashion.

This utility performed very well in our tests. We liked how clearly it presented its info, and how easily we could disable proposed deletions. Whitelisting individual cookies and Registry items was very simple to accomplish. And we very much liked how Clean Space divided file types into categories, such as listing separate entries … Read more

Despite the constant nag screen each time a command is selected, this utility comes packed with options for keeping your system in check. If offers users a file and registry cleaner, along with tools for tweaking your user interface and network.

Users will appreciate WinTools.net Ultimate Edition's easy to navigate interface. With straightforward command buttons running along the left side of the window, you'll be off and running in no time. The Scan Files and Scan Reg buttons quickly pulled up questionable files, and thanks to the full-use trial, we were able to just as quickly remove … Read more

With a great premise and above-average looks, 1 Click Add n Remove falls flat with a sluggish feel and broken functionality. The interface itself goes beyond the norm with an entirely custom look, but the menus are annoyingly slow to deploy, and the window cannot be resized. There's also no way to filter the program list to hide things like Windows updates, and though there is a search option, it doesn't seem to work.

Particularly interesting is an option to hide items within your Start Menu, without deleting them. This function seems to work well, but unfortunately the … Read more

Advanced Vista Optimizer consolidates into one dashboard numerous system-tweaking and configuration tools, from the basic to the advanced. The features cover the bases, including disk and Registry defragging, program prefetching and the proprietary Superfetching, start-up and shutdown tweaks, optimization adjustments for performance, memory, and hardware, an uninstaller, and a file splitter and joiner.

Designed to resemble Vista's Windows Explorer layout, the interface makes clever use of a breadcrumb trail at the top to make it easier to navigate back to any previously-visited level. Below the breadcrumb bar, the main window has been split into two levels. The top pane … Read more