Recommended utility to fix and speed up Windows

[rowanbradley]

Hi,

Can you recommend a utility for dealing with all the errors and junk that build up in Windows over time, using up memory, disk space and slowing everything down?

Most of all I want something trustworthy. The last thing I want is for a clean-up utility to break something, or to delete something that I need. I guess it therefore needs to have an undo capability. I would like to clean up my registry, my disk, remove the remnants of programs that I have uninstalled, defrag the registry and my hard drive if necessary (or at least tell me that this needs doing).

I have some utilities that have installed themselves on my PC, which tell me that there are thousands of registry and other errors on my computer, but I have not so far let them make any corrections because I don't trust them (i.e. I suspect that they will either install some malware, or will delete or break something that I need).

Thanks - Rowan

 

[HAVOC]

I would ask here first for help to a specific problem rather than installing a "utility" to fix it, which in fact can break something else. Most fixes can be done within Windows itself with some guidance from users on this forum.

 

[rowanbradley]

Thanks for your reply.

My problem in general is that after I buy a new laptop, Windows gets slower and slower over the following months and years until the computer is more or less unusable. Normally my solution to this is to buy a new laptop (or persuade my employer to do so). I install and uninstall a lot of software in my work. I assume (pure guesswork) that some of these applications leave junk lying around, startup programs running, files on the disk etc.

Are you saying that when some of the utilities that I have acquired on my computer (usually by applications that I install bringing with them various other garbage) say the there are 1500 errors on my computer that need to be fixed, that this is rubbish, and "fixing" these "errors" will do no good? And more generally that registry clean-up and other similar programs do no good?

Thanks - Rowan

 

[pebbly]

Hi Rowan , Over a period of time windows fills up the HDD with old left over remnants of programs etc , Regular defragmentation of the hard drive help to keep things running smoothly, Have a look at this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html see if this will help clear out some unwanted stuff

 

[rowanbradley]

Thanks for your reply, pebbly, but I know enough to know that that is not what defragging the disk does. Removing files which are no longer needed because the application that used them has been uninstalled requires a different type of utility.

Thanks - Rowan

 

[whs]

The best is to reinstall with a clean copy. Just make sure you save your data.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Else you will spend weeks to fix it and it will still not be fixed.

 

[Layback Bear]

Their is no one program cleanup fixit everything.
Whs suggestion in Post #6 is as close as you get to a one shot fixit.

 

[Slartybart]

Piriform makes some very good utilities. CCleaner will remove the "crap" from your machine and it also has a registry cleaner. It is well regarded.

The regirstry cleaner will back up what it about to clean, so if there is an issue you can retore the entries. I've used it for many years and never had to use the backup file, but every machine is different.

You might want to selectively clean the refistry by sorting the output by data (might be directory or application) - look at what wil be cleaned and mark ONLY those that you are certain. This approach takes longer, but builds confidence.

Download from Piriform: CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

Bill

 

[rowanbradley]

The best is to reinstall with a clean copy. Just make sure you save your data.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Else you will spend weeks to fix it and it will still not be fixed.

Surely any decent operating system ought to protect the user from this sort of slow and irreversible deterioration? I cannot believe that it is really necessary to reinstall the OS and all the applications every couple of years to achieve decent performance. If it is, then this ought to be the most popular research topic in all the computer science departments in all the top unis of the world. It is extremely difficult for me to reinstall everything, As I explained, I install a large number of applications in the course of my work, and having to reinstall them all is an extremely daunting task.

Rowan

 

[Layback Bear]

Recommended utility to fix and speed up Windows

You thread title makes me think you were looking for something to fix everything. (One stop shopping) Doing a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 is as close to (One stop shopping) I know of.

If that is not what you are looking for this might help.
This tutorial will give many suggestion on clean up methods and also way to speed up your system. Their are 30 plus section to the tutorial. Some you may want to use and some you may not want to use.
**Beware of programs that advertise they fix everything with on click. You will get deep in do do very quick.

Tutorial by Brink?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

 

[whs]

The best is to reinstall with a clean copy. Just make sure you save your data.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Else you will spend weeks to fix it and it will still not be fixed.

Surely any decent operating system ought to protect the user from this sort of slow and irreversible deterioration? I cannot believe that it is really necessary to reinstall the OS and all the applications every couple of years to achieve decent performance. If it is, then this ought to be the most popular research topic in all the computer science departments in all the top unis of the world. It is extremely difficult for me to reinstall everything, As I explained, I install a large number of applications in the course of my work, and having to reinstall them all is an extremely daunting task.

Rowan

Of course it depends on personal preferences and circumstances. But many geeks reinstall their system maybe once per year. In a corporate environment that may not be practical, but I know of cases where this is done too.

In any case, it is up to you what you do and hopefully you will not brick your system in the process. Then we'll have a loyal new customer.

 

[ShamrockRig]

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.