Tech Spotlight

System Mechanic smooths Windows PC's kinks

Special to the Democrat-Gazette/MELISSA L. JONES
System Mechanic 14 from Iolo Technologies contains several tools to increase a PC's performance, from startup program reviews to processor monitors and speed enhancers.
Special to the Democrat-Gazette/MELISSA L. JONES System Mechanic 14 from Iolo Technologies contains several tools to increase a PC's performance, from startup program reviews to processor monitors and speed enhancers.

Windows users are very familiar with the anti-virus tools needed to keep their computers safe. But what about tools to keep the computer running properly?

PCs can develop issues over time because of fragmented files, unnecessary startup programs and general hard-drive clutter that plague the machine.

where it’s @

System Mechanic 14 requires Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8; 512MB of memory; and 140MB on the hard drive. There is no Mac version available. The program retails for $49.95. More information is available at iolo.com.

Each time a file is deleted or moved, there is a chance fragments will remain. Over time, these fragments can junk up a hard drive, causing programs to skip around the drive to run a program or find things. Eventually, the system becomes "buggy" or frequently crashes.

Several programs are available to alleviate these problems, and one set of such tools recently got an update.

Iolo Technologies recently released a new version of its tools for PCs, System Mechanic 14. System Mechanic started out mainly as a tool to clean up PCs. It still does that but also more.

System Mechanic 14 is a set of several tools designed to perform different maintenance and enhancement tasks with the PC. It works with the latest Windows operating systems, including Windows 8.

The software begins by analyzing a PC. This can take a while if a user has a cluttered or nearly full hard drive. In those cases, I'd suggest starting it up and walking away for a while.

Once finished, the program provides a detailed list of potential issues. I was surprised at the list when it scanned my computer, a fairly new PC. It hit everything from unneeded startup items to the lack of a backup for the system registry (the basic instructions for the operating system). System Mechanic allows users to review each problem and either let it go or allow the software to solve it.

System Mechanic is made up of many tools, and the easiest way to access them is through the Dashboard -- the program's main window. A menu on the left categorizes the tools and provides quick access to each. The Overview window lets users know whether the system is doing well or needs work. It also provides access to the Deep Analysis tool, which will dig deeper and find even the smallest of problems.

One task System Mechanic does well is cleanup work. I was able to use the tools to scan the hard drive and find those fragmented bits of old files. System Mechanic cleaned all of that up as well as space hogs such as the temporary Internet files that pile up with every website visited and the temporary files that Windows will stick on the hard drive here and there.

One feature I like can be found in the automated tasks. System Mechanic will search through all the startup items and create a list, as well as provide an option to turn each program on or off.

Using this allowed me to turn off all those unnecessary update files. You know, the ones that make the icons pop up when you're in the middle of something important and insist on updating a program you barely use.

As for the rest of the startup files, they may not sound as familiar, so deciding whether to leave them running may present a problem. Again, System Mechanic has it covered by describing what each file does and providing a feedback bar on occasion showing what other users have done with the file.

The newest tools in version 14 are made to speed up the computer's processing power as well as preserve its battery power. PowerSense figures out how much power is needed and switches power settings as you go. The idea is to squeeze out as much processing power as possible. The system does the same thing with Endurance Mode, although in that case it preserves the battery power.

System Mechanic also boosts the writing speed of files, how fast programs run and how fast Internet media files download. It constantly monitors performance and tweaks as the computer is used.

I did see a slight increase in my PC's speed after running several tools in System Mechanic. It also showed it had monitored my security, although it doesn't have a true anti-virus program (that's reserved for System Mechanic Pro). That's the one thing really missing here. Instead, it keeps an eye out for malware that gets deposited in places it shouldn't.

It can take a while to run all the tools in System Mechanic, and the program can be a bit technical for novice computer users. However, System Mechanic ran smoothly and seemed to do everything it said, including cleaning up hard drive space. It does try to explain each task with a brief description before users have to decide whether to apply a recommended solution. But what may be best about this program is that it does let users decide, instead of just tearing into the solutions itself.

For those needing a good spring cleaning for fall, this software is a great choice.

Melissa L. Jones can be reached via email at [email protected].

SundayMonday Business on 09/22/2014

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