Back Up Utilities and Registry Cleaners
Acronis True Image 2009
Acronis True Image 2009
Backup software is just about the most dull software on the planet, but with the increasing amount of digital data we possess these days, it’s also quite vital. Acronis’ True Image 2009 offers the ability to back up your entire PC – or just selected folders.
Pros: New improvements include a very Vista-looking interface and a slick text search ability. One new feature I liked was that after the initial installation, Acronis sets up a simple one-click backup of your existing system, with all the necessary files pre-selected for you.
Cons: As with a lot of backup utilities, initial backup can be rather slow
Rating: 4/5 - A solid backup utility
Avanquest Fix it Utilities 8
Avanquest Fix-it Utilities 8
Avanquest Fix it Utilities 8
Fix-it Utilities doesn’t shirk when it comes to offering features – it’s a registry cleaner, Windows system tweaker, anti-virus/spyware package, startup manager and file recovery tool – or rather, a suite of tools.
Pros: The default install offers a three-user license, so it’s easy to keep an entire houseful of PCs covered. The range of utilities offered is impressive, but not overwhelming, as it’s easy to do a one-click security or system stability check and update.
Cons: With that much to do, it’s perhaps not surprising that Fix-it Utilities can be slow to run through its tasks. If you’re already using an anti-virus package, you’ll have to remember not to install that component, but if you do, you’ll need to keep it updated for it to have any relevance.
Rating: 4/5 – A good overall package, if no the fastest available.
Iolo System Mechanic Professional
Iolo System Mechanic Professional
Iolo System Mechanic Professional
Like Fix-it Utilities 8, System Mechanic promises to make your PC run a lot more smoothly, although in System Mechanic’s case, it’s through a number of rather more in-depth utilities, including anti-virus, firewall, file recovery and drive deleting utilities.
Pros: It’s comprehensive, and covers some factors other utilities leave out, including in-depth hard drive deletion utilities.
Cons: The firewall is very chatty, as is the anti-virus package. You can opt not to install them, but then you may find yourself better served by the standard utility, which is $69.95. Some of the vendor claims, such as the ability to “Accelerate download and Web surfing speeds up to 300%” are pure snake oil.
Rating: 3/5 – A decent suite of utilities, but a little overhyped.
