Advanced WindowsCare Review
Sometimes, a piece of software comes along which impresses. This article is a review of Advanced WindowsCare, a useful utility which we've extensively tested here at Notso Software. Advanced WindowsCare copes with security threats (will remove spyware as well as defend against infection); can fix registry errors; manages startup programs; repairs incorrect Windows settings; will clean internet files; and last (but not least) clears out junk files.
The 'personal' version is free, and we're reviewing it here because it more than adequately addresses some of the security issues we've identified in our historical articles. At this point it may be worth mentioning that, as with all our and articles, this is a completely independent and unpaid review.
Starting at the beginning with the interface. In many regards using AWC is simplicity itself, but sometimes that very simplicity obfuscates its functionality. For example, when scanning to protect against security threats, it'll offer to inoculate your PC but doesn't perform all the inoculations at the same time. Miss the control in the top left that allows you to select spyware then adware then tracking cookies in three steps, and you'll be left wondering why thousands of inoculations haven't been done. It's a minor point but given the developer's attempts to make things as simple as possible, this is one (of a few) pieces of awkwardness.
Remove Spyware and Adware
The spyware inoculations are comprehensive enough for most (30,000+), though not as extensive as a dedicated tool such as 'Spybot' with it's ability to protect against over 60,000 threats. Spybot has built its library over years and covers every threat going, even the very obscure and ancient. We've been through the library in AWC and are happy that virtually every current threat is catered for. So go with Spybot if you're paranoid and go for AWC if you're looking for a tool that caters for the current state of realistic threats perfectly adequately.
Fix Registry Errors
As far as fixing system registry errors is concerned, it is cautious compared to other utilities and seems to identify fewer inconsistencies than some other dedicated tools. However, caution isn't a bad thing here. We've trialled some brutal software in the past that rips out registry entries when inappropriate, necessitating registry restoration. We tested on 6 machines and found plenty of registry errors on each. Repair was a simple one-touch process with AWC and the software didn't let us down or cause any problems with either system or applications. There isn't any capability to compress the registry by recreating the hives, but with both Vista and XP (appropriately service packed), this isn't such an issue as it is with older operating systems.
System optimization – Windows Settings
The system optimization feature was a dream. Many applications will make merry with system settings, tweaking them for their own benefit - and then leaving them 'tweaked' if you subsequently un-install. Installing and then removing applications can leave basic settings far from optimised, AWC certainly addresses this issue and impresses in this regard.
Start-up Programs
The start-up manager is, in our opinion, faultless and is a beautifully efficient piece of work. If you're unsure what a particular application is or does on start-up there's a look-up facility to help. And, if you're concerned to optimize performance without giving over unnecessary resources to system-tray hogs, then AWC is as good as anything out there.
Privacy Sweeping – Clean Internet Files
Privacy sweeping is a bit of a misnomer. This part of the utility will admittedly clean internet files but deleting files isn't quite the same as erasing them. They're still present for all but the most casual snooper to find because they're not securely deleted by wiping. PixFix for example can recover photos after 'cleaning' in a trice!
Junk Files
The 'junk files' cleaner is basic. From our tests, it appears to simply delete those files in the Windows temp directory that are no longer needed but which have been left by carelessly programmed application installations and Windows detritus. There are tools which will hunt out .bak and .log files, broken links, not to mention thumbs.db files for example, but this isn't one of them. It rather depend on your definition of 'junk' and unfortunately, AWC's definition is the one you're stuck with. Still, it might be basic but it's adequate for most and will often reclaim a decent amount of drive space being unnecessarily occupied by files that truly are junk.
Round-up
We might have a few negatives, but frankly for a simple easy-to-use all round decent quality utility that will genuinely find things on almost everyone's system to improve, this product gets a thumbs up 4 out of 5. The fact that it's free is a bonus because, quite honestly, the registry error fixer alone is something worth paying good money for. There's plenty to like about Advanced WindowsCare and a copy will be staying on my personal computer.
We hope this Advanced WindowsCare review has been helpful. The software can be obtained through Download.com.