CCleaner is a small utility that will take care of a few of the important maintenance tasks that every computer user should carry out as regularly as possible to keep their systems in top shape. Fast, reliable and easy to use - CCleaner it's one of the best cleaning systems out there.

For me, the beauty of CCleaner is the speed at which it carries out the various scans and fixes. Its main purpose is to clean any unnecessary files from your hard-drive and on opening the program you see the various aspects of Windows that you can search through and clear. CCleaner will also detect your installed applications that may hold on to files which are no longer any use, such as Google Earth histories or Flash Player configurations.

The interface in CCleaner is very easy to navigate and before taking any action, you will always be asked to confirm that you are sure about what you want to do. There is a useful registry checker that will quickly check its integrity, and let you fix bad entries after making a backup. CCleaner uninstall and startup tools are handy to have and simply add to the usability of this very rounded little maintenance assistant.

The most recent release of CCleaner now works on Vista with Admin permissions where available and features various bug fixes and improvements to the translated versions.

CCleaner makes keeping your PC clean easy for beginners and experts alike. It's small, fast, comprehensive, and free to download it - get cleaning now!

Download CCleaner 2.12.660 in Softonic

When analyzing a software application one must praise its virtues, but also look for possible flaws that developers can improve in future versions. However, in the case of Glary Utilities it's really difficult to find anything that we don't like.

This excellent toolkit includes a handful of system utilities that enable you to tweak, repair, optimize and improve your system's performance. Tools are conveniently categorized so that you can quickly find what you're looking for: disk cleaner, uninstall manager, memory optimizer, file shredder, duplicates finder, tracks eraser... just about any tool you need. They're all generally very intuitive and in case they make important changes to the system (like the Registry repairing tool) the program creates a backup copy first.

Not all the tools included in Glary Utilities include configuration settings, something we missed in some of them such as the Disk cleaner. Also, we would like to have a Firefox Assistant, the same way the program includes an Internet Explorer Assistant.

Download Glary Utilities 2.6.1 in Softonic

Problems with the Windows registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages.Registry Repair allows you to fix your registry and optimize your PCs performance.With a few easy steps, you are able to find problems caused by invalid entries, references and links in the Windows registry and provides a list of the errors found, you can choose to selectively repair each item or automatically repair them all.

Registry Repair uses a high-performance detection algorithm to quickly identify missing and invalid references in your Windows registry. These problems can occur for many reasons including being left-behind after the un-installation or incorrect removal of software, by missing or corrupt hardware drivers, or orphaned startup programs.

Download Registry Repair 3.0 in Softonic

Registry problems are the common cause of Windows crashes, error messages, and degraded performance. RegDoctor is designed to safely and quickly clean and repair Windows registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks.

The app uses an intelligent, high-performance detection engine to accurately identify missing and invalid references in your Windows registry. Identified registry problems are listed and rated by risk level using an easy to understand color-coded system.

You can choose to have RegDoctor automatically repair all identified problems, or choose which problems to repair immediately. RegDoctor also offers a Restore feature to create registry backup files, giving you the capability to safely undo any registry changes.

The auto-start feature of RegDoctor helps to support its regular use. By using RegDoctor regularly to clean and repair your registry, your system should not only be more stable but it will also help Windows and your software run faster.

Download RegDoctor 2.04 in Softonic

We never get tired of Windows manager tools here in the Softonic offices, and after trying out this latest offering from Yamicsoft, we are still looking for a tool that strikes a good balance between usability and functionality. WinXP Manager may offer a fine range of options and tweaking utilities, but the delivery is haphazard with several sources of concern for the average user.

Let’s start from the beginning. The first time you open the program you are prompted to create a system restore point, just in case something should go horribly wrong. If you have system restore disabled on your computer, WinXP Manager will go ahead and load up anyway. What you are presented with is a detailed overview of your system specs. Through the tabbed navigation, you can switch the view to check out details about your operating system, computer, hardware, and processes. There isn't, however, any central tab that would display all the information in one place so that you could easily print out a complete run down on what you have in your box. Neither, for that matter, is there a print button for quickly converting anything to hard copy.

On further investigation, you find yourself digging through tabs of tabs to find what you need, or alternatively, opening pop-up windows that appear when you click buttons that lie alongside those that don’t produce pop-ups. Supposedly consistency wasn't high on the priority list. WinXP Manager runs inside a fixed width window, something that wouldn't usually merit any criticism but in this case the window is very small relative to the entire screen size and results in some scrolling.

Putting design and usability aside, there are a lot of positive things to say about WinXP Manager. As we mentioned, it does provide comprehensive information about all aspects of your hardware and software. There is a handy optimization wizard that guides inexperienced users through the process, and for every tick box you see, there is a corresponding detailed tooltip that will give you a clue whether or not you are on the verge of destroying your PC. There are an amazing amount of utilities for tweaking XP to the last, although we are concerned that the registry cleaner may be over aggressive.

Boiling it down, WinXP Manager is a fantastic utility for anyone that has a good general understanding of the many various elements making up their PC. If you have a tweak in mind and don’t want to bury yourself in the actual system files, then this program will serve you well. On the other hand, if you are after a quick all round maintenance fix and you don't quite get the registry or services, then you should look for a less hard-core solution.

Download WinXP Manager 5.2.6 in Softonic

Is your PC slow in boot-up and operation? Magic Speed will make your PC faster and more efficient in five simple steps. The software package includes startup management, fixing registry errors, Disk clean-up, and memory management. It is free of charge and does not require special PC knowledge.

Magic Speed will analyze the applications that are loaded with your PC boot-up. Are you sure that you really need these applications? Being loaded, they occupy PC memory and slow down PC operation. A check-up will also include virus and spyware tests thanks to a new anti-virus engine updated on a daily basis.

Registry errors also negatively affect PC efficiency. By deleting temporary files, you will increase free space on your hard drive and speed up its operation. Make use of the unique Boost Windows option - by adding it to the startup you will experience real improvement of your PC operation.

Download Magic Speed 3.2 in Softonic

Don't be fooled by the name - XP Tools Pro is not just for Windows XP but it's an all round registry tweaker, cleaner and PC optimiser for any system.

Making sure the registry is clean of errors is essential to the smooth running of your machine and XP Tools Pro helps you reach the parts that other optimisers can't. It basically promises to speed up your PC by almost twice as much and while that is a bit far fetched, it does pack a big punch - much more so than the average optimiser. Probably the most powerful component is the "Memory Turbo" element which reuses RAM which isn't being used or is being wasted by Windows. However, although this does make an initial difference, it seems to fight Windows for control of your RAM and you may experience slight freezes or at least a few hang ups from time to time. In addition to optimising and cleaning however, this program also promises to make your machine more secure. Amongst the 20 utilities it offers are options to erase your Internet tracks, hide sensitive files and folders and lock important applications. In this respect, it's actually much more useful as a privacy tool as it covers just about any possible angle where your surfing habits or file usage could be compromised.

Cleaning, privacy and security management, this tool features some highly impressive tools that will be of use to anyone on the move.

Download XP Tools Pro 9.1 in Softonic

One of the biggest problems with Windows, and what has many people jumping ship for Macs, is that it suffers from clogged and infected registries.

Registry Clean Expert scans your Windows registry and uncovers incorrect or obsolete information in the registry which in theory should speed up your machine. However, don't get too excited because whatever is slowing down your PC may not even be related to your registry - it could just be a case of a trojan or malware that's infected your hard drive. Also be careful because any changes you make to the registry, can destabilise your system. However, Registry Clean Expert does give you the option to rollback any changes you've made with the backup/restore function.

The most useful function for me though was that you can also edit an manage BDO items in your startup sequence. BDO items are those items which launch themselves when you turn on your system. They are usually entered in your registry too and if your system is taking increasingly long to start up, then you may well find that it's the BDOs that are causing the problems.

While it may not always fix your registry, the BDO cleaner will certainly speed up your startup's and shutdowns.

Download Registry Clean Expert 4.61 in Softonic

Registry problems are the most common reason for Windows PC to slow down and performance issues.

Reg Repair is a free registry cleaner utility which claims to delve deep into your Windows registry and find and fix potential causes of performance problems. The first problem you may encounter when installing this software however is that your antivirus checker may detect it as spyware. The reason is that it requires access to your registry which all good spyware and anti virus scanners protect. It's also because the program tries to establish a secure (https) connection with Digital Support online service which it needs to perform checkups and be updated with the latest registry threats. You may see "dsweb" displayed at some point in the alert which refers to the utility that checks for updates. The one unusual aspect of this program is that, after the simple scan and presentation of results, you can be linked directly to one of the developers online support technicians to work out what the problem is and whether it is a threat. Of course, you have to pay for this service although you can perform a basic clean for free at your own risk.

A quick and simple registry cleaner that features support from real engineers in case you are unsure or worried about deleting a particular registry entry.

Download Reg Repair 1.3 in Softonic

Repair and cure your Windows with 1 click using WindowsCare. Unlike other utilities, Advanced WindowsCare does not do simple registry cleaning. It thoroughly examines Windows system, accurately detects the bottleneck for slowing down and crashing, and fixes them. With the novel system technology, Advanced WindowsCare empowers you to run your computer faster, more stably and more efficiently than with many other system tweaking utilities.

Download Advanced WindowsCare 3 2.01 in Softonic

Tackling Spyware is an ongoing task that sometimes seems to neverend. Firefox and IE have improved vastly in dealing with them but a lot still gets through.

SuperAntiSpyware is a surprisingly powerful Spyware detector and scanner that ensures that anything that you've downloaded is clear of any nasty software or spyware that might slow down or harm your system. The program can detect and remove spyware, trojans, dialers, worms, hijackers and rootkits. At the same time, it's very light on your CPU and won't slow it down while scanning so you can work comfortably at the same time. In addition, it has a special repair utility that tries to fix broken internet connections that have been damaged due to spyware or malware. It's not just a scanner though - it also protects in realtime to ensure that you are constantly protected before malware gets a chance to root itself onto your hard drive.
It also carried out a "pre-emptive" scan which scans 50 critical points of your system during system start-up and shutdown.

A powerful Spyware detector and scanner that will ensure that if anything has rooted itself onto your hard drive, you have a good chance of finding it.

Download SuperAntiSpyware 4.1.1046 in Softonic

Inno Setup is a free, feature-packed installation builder. The application's features include a Windows 2000-style wizard interface; the ability to create a single EXE for easy, online distribution; support for disk spanning; and full uninstall capabilities. The program also includes customizable setup types, integrated file compression, support for installing shared files and OCXs, and the creation of Start menu icons, INI entries, and registry entries. Full Delphi source code is available on the author's Web site.Version 5.0.7 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Download Inno Setup 5.2.3 in Softonic

The Windows Registry is a crucial part of your PC's operation system. Regular use of computer causes the registry to become fragmented and cluttered with obsolete and invalid data. Fix My Registry software keeps this critical part of your PC in perfect condition. Just fix registry in a blink of an eye for free.

Download Fix My Registry 2.5 in Softonic

If you feel your computer needs a good cleaning and some fixing, you could find PC Checkup interesting. It's very easy to run and most of its functions are also free to use. Start by pressing the Clean & Secure button which deletes unused registry keys and values entries. It also cleans up items in the network cache and in the temp folder.

The Analyze and Fix tool works partially and will fix just half of the entries unless you register and pay the subscription fee. The Speed & Defrag function though fully works and it is useful to improve the general speed of a PC. Bear in mind that this is something you can also do efficiently from the properties menu of your hard drive.

PC Checkup probably doesn't offer much innovation in the cleaning and fixing list of available programs. It is surely an extra option to check the status of your PC and operate some function to restore it to optimum health. Consider though that what the program does automatically, you could do manually with the embedded functions of your Operating System.

Are you about to have your PC Spring cleaning done? Try this easy to use application which will clean unused files, fix registry errors and defrag your PC's hard drive.

Download PC Checkup 3.25 in Softonic

The Windows registry is probably one of the most delicate areas of your system, which means you need to take care of it properly and keep it as clean and organized as possible.

RegScrubVistaXP helps you in this task, providing you with a comprehensive tool to analyze, repair, search and browse Windows registry, all from one single interface. The program is fairly easy to use and also quite rapid: as an example, it took about 50 seconds to scan more than 300,000 entries in my Windows registry.

While scanning, the program displays a list with all found errors such as wrong keys, invalid entries and other breadcrumbs left by improperly uninstalled applications. I was unsure whether I could simply erase those entries forever, but I did it anyway and everything went fine. Also, bear in mind that if you encounter any problems, you can always restore your registry with the backup copy that RegScrubVistaXP creates automatically before deleting anything.

The only thing I missed was the possibility of having a report containing all the actions taken by me or by the program. RegScrubVistaXP does have a report tool but it just generates a plain TXT file with fairly basic data.

RegScrubVistaXP is an easy-to-use maintenance tool that keeps your registry in pefect shape with no hassle, and always creating a backup copy just in case.

Download RegScrubVistaXP 1.1 in Softonic

AIM Fix was created to remove all known AIM viruses in one consolidated removal tool. It is designed to end the virus processes, delete the files, and remove registry keys created by the virus.

AIM Fix was created to remove all known AIM viruses in one consolidated removal tool. It is designed to end the virus processes, delete the files, and remove registry keys created by the virus. The tool is updated very frequently, in an attempt to make sure it removes all AIM viruses. As long as the developers become aware of the virus, it is removed by AIM Fix.

Download AIM Fix 1.6.28.1459 in Softonic

If your computer starts to run at a slower pace than it used to, it may be due to many reasons. The most common one though is having a fragmented disk.

You can easily solve this situation with a disk defragmentation tool like JetDrive. This application analyzes and defragments your hard drive, organizing information in such a way that it's much easier and faster for the computer to access it – and thus optimizing the overall system performance in a quite noticeable way.

In addition to a general defrag tool, JetDrive features a precise defrag utility that enables you to work with specific files, and also a cleaning tool with which you can erase temporary files and recover disk space. Also, after the defrag is finished, the program creates a complete report about it.

On the downside, I missed having the possibility to schedule defragmentation and being able to switch off the computer after finishing the job. Also, I found the interface to be resource-consuming and even a bit naïve: I don't need to have an animated puppy on screen while defragmenting; it reminded me too much of that awful Microsoft dog that appears in the Windows embedded search tool.

JetDrive is a standard defragmentation tool that doesn't really offer any extra features. In all, it's another choice you have when looking for a defragmenting tool.

Download JetDrive 2008 in Softonic

Windows Vista may have fixed many things lacking in XP but one thing it never really addressed was the boot logo.

With Vista Boot Logo Generator you can create and improve the resolution of the Windows Vista logo in a few simple clicks. Once you’ve selected the two images you want to use, you select "File -> “Save Boot Screen File As…” and it will generate the logo file. To ensure that the logo appears during the boot process, you have to copy it the System 32 folder "%windir%\System32\en-US". The developer also warns that if you want this change to work, you need to make sure that the "/NOGUIBOOT" option is enabled in the MSCONFIG tool otherwise you will end up with the old 16 colour boot screen. It's also important that you use a pair of 24-bit images, a resolution of 800x600 in one and 1024x768 in the other and both should be in bitmap format. This program addresses a serious failing in Vista but what makes me uncomfortable is that it inevitable involves meddling with Windows Vista's registry and if it doesn't work properly, you run this risk of not being able to boot your system. Probably the worst that will happen though is that your logo either does not appear or appears in a lower resolution

This program fills a much needed gap but you may have to experiment a while to get it going and be warned that you use it at your own risk

Download Vista Boot Logo Generator 1.2 Beta in Softonic

A computer is very much like a car in the respect that it's all clean and speedy when you first get it but after a short while it starts to slow down. And just as your auto needs a tune-up every once in a while, so to your PC can be given the once over to speed it up. Registry Mechanic is one of a number of registry cleaners on the market, and it also proves to be one of the best.

Trawling through your registry for problems can be a tricky and even dangerous task, but this program makes it really simple to cut the crap that you don't need through its idiot-proof navigation. The app splits registry errors into categories, prioritising their importance and offering you a simple-to-understand description of what the problem is. Although the interface is great for novices, there are plenty of customisation options to keep dab-hands happy too.

Scanning in Registry Mechanic is pretty quick and seems to be very thorough (it picked up over 200 errors!) There are several scanning options, such as the ability to scan automatically or to select certain directories to examine. Solving problems is easy for beginners because the program takes you to the path of the error, allowing you to delete it manually, making it safer, to boot. Unfortunately there's no undo tool in the program so you'll need to revert registry entries yourself if you delete one in error. On the whole, Registry Mechanic provides a fast, easy solution for fixing registry problems and speeding up your machine.

Download Registry Mechanic 6.0 in Softonic

If you've been hit by a serious virus, you might be experiencing various problems with your hard drive even after the virus has been disinfected. Disk Heal recovers hard disk archives that have been infected by a virus or damaged in some way. It can also recover the functionality of programs that are no longer executable, access to corrupted registries and the launching of the Task Administrator.

However, because Disk Heal requires access to all of these areas which are usually restricted, it can seriously conflict with your antivirus software. It's therefore very important that you either disable any anti virus software you are running or, grant permissions to disk heal to allow it full access to your system.

You should also be very careful when allowing Disk Heal to make changes to the registry. Many security programs flag Disk Heal as a potential threat because it can make fundamental changes to your registry which can render your system useless. It's therefore essential that you make a backup of your registry before using Disk Heal.

If you have been affected by a virus and suffered hard drive damage as a result, Disk Heal may well help you, but be sure to back up your system before using it.

Download Disk Heal 1.41 in Softonic