Friday, July 4, 2008

Five Best Windows Maintenance Tools

Five Best Windows Maintenance Tools





You download, create, delete, and move around countless files and
endless piles of data on your PC every day. While your PC would ideally
handle all of this data for you, it doesn't take long before you end up
with a disorganized, cluttered computer. On Tuesday we asked you to share your favorite Windows maintenance tools,
and today we're back with the five most popular answers. Hit the jump
for an overview of the five best Windows maintenance tools, then cast
your vote for the best of the bunch.

CCleaner




Any application called CCleaner
where the first 'C' stands for Crap has to be good, right? Okay, maybe
not, but this one is, thoroughly cleaning out your web browser, Recycle
Bin and temporary files, registry, unnecessary third-party application
trash, and oh so much more. Running CCleaner on your system promises to
free up space, keep your computer running smoothly, and protect your
privacy. It's also very fast and very easy to use. (Read more)


Revo Uninstaller





Revo Uninstaller is a
feature-rich replacement for the Windows default Add or Remove Programs
feature (or Uninstall Programs in Vista). Why use Revo Uninstaller
instead? Because not only does it just uninstall a program—it also
removes all traces of the program from your system where the basic
uninstaller may not. Revo also boasts a Hunter Mode for uninstalling
apps by dragging a cross-hair onto the app you want to uninstall,
whether it's the app's system tray icon or just a shortcut. It even helps manage your startup applications. (Read more)


Auslogics Disk Defrag




Auslogics Disk Defrag
is a fast and effective disk defragmenter intended to replace the
Windows default. It's quick and easy to use, and Auslogics DD provides
a nicely formatted report of the latest defrag, including a motivating
"Defragmentation has increased this computer performance by X%" message.


JkDefrag




JkDefrag is an
open-source disk defragmenting tool. Unlike Auslogics DD, JkDefrag
boasts command line support to allow you to set up your disk defrags on
a schedule. Perhaps even better, JkDefrag has an installable
screensaver that will automatically start defragging your hard drive
whenever the screensaver is launched—it even displays the defrag
process. Out of the box JkDefrag isn't the most attractive application
you'll ever use, but when teamed with the previously mentioned JkDefrag GUI, it's just as attractive and easy to use as any defragger you'll find.


Spybot - Search & Destroy




Even if you're using one of the best antivirus applications available, you may still end up with some form of malware on your computer. Spybot-S&D
will ensure that it isn't there for long. Apart from removing spyware,
adware, dialers, keyloggers, and trojans, Spyware-S&D can also
cover your usage tracks—like browsing or file history—to give you
enhanced privacy on your computer.
Now that you've seen the most popular five Windows maintenance
tools as chosen by your fellow readers, it's time to vote for the best.

Source: http://lifehacker.com/397792/five-best-windows-maintenance-tools