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14 Dec 2011
Keep your PC in top condition using this superb system maintenance and optimisation tool
Review Rating:
Type: Time limited demo
Platform: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 7, Windows Vista 64-bit
Manufacturer: Iolo
Size: 416KB
Number of Downloads: 13383
Price: £24.95
Forget about purchasing a new PC, re-install Windows and you’ll find everything runs way more smoothly. You system boots swiftly, applications launch immediately and your system just seems to work more efficiently. The problem is, like anyone, you want to get new software on to your computer, so you’ll spend time downloading, installing and removing applications, until you get your computer setup as required.
You might as well not have bothered. Unless you have major problem with your system, we do not advise you re-install Windows. By the time you’ve re-installed all your favourite apps and configured your PC, it will quickly degenerate and slow, due to an expanded Registry and fragmented hard drive.
A more obvious solution would be to install a system optimisation and maintenance tool and there are few better than System Mechanic. This application is feature-packed and designed to get the most from your PC, including defragmenting your hard drive, optimising your Registry, removing temporary files, sorting out unnecessary start-up applications and more.
This new version of System Mechanic is designed to operate in the background, if required. The new ActiveCare feature will keep your system in top condition, without affecting your work. It will automatically detect CPU usage and work when you are away from your machine. The new DriveSense module will keep an eye on your drives and will warn you if there are any potential problems, enabling you to purchase a new drive and copy across your data, to prevent against drive failure.
There are a number of additional features in System Mechanic. However, we also must add that this version is extremely stable and credit must go to Iolo for working hard to improve stability on both Windows 7 and Vista. Iolo received some bad press for the previous revision – primarily as it was difficult to produce a system optimisation tool for Vista – but this version work as specified and is recommended.
This is the latest and brand new System Mechanic 10 which ships with much improved disk defrag module and much more.
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Why all the negative?
I've had system mecahanic installed since Version 6 and have never had a single problem.It's way way better than Tuneup Utilities and the rest of them put together.
Posted by: DaveB 07 Dec 2010
lie
it's not true!!!
Posted by: abcd 06 Dec 2010
Worse ever
don't install it EVER
Posted by: Duncan 29 Nov 2009
OK by me!
I can't understand all the negative comments above about system mechanic? I downloaded a months trial version which expired, I then saw the 6 month version on here and installed it, and can honestly say it is one of the few peices of software in this catergory that I would consider paying for. It has so many test and tune up's it's well worth buying. I did have the problem where it would do the checks on every boot up, but it was just a click I had done, and promptly un-clicked that box. Mine only has 1 month left and I will be looking for any more offers on this, and may pay for it if not.
Posted by: Tony Clarke 19 Apr 2009
Why? oh! Why, oh! Why?
After reading what a total "Dogs breakfast" LoLo System Mechanic is WHY? is computer active still promoting this product on this website. I can see it would be worse than having been electicuted with a cow prod. I don't think this should continue to be promoted on this website, it should clearly be withdrawn until the product works correctly.
Posted by: Ivan Ratoyevsky 11 Mar 2009
Serious problems, I wish I never installed it
I installed System Mechanic 8.5 on My Windows XP Home Edition system because I was dissatisfied with "slow" boot up times. This utility made no difference in boot up time. It did however set a switch to make the computer endlessly repeat Windows file system consistency checking on startup, which kept bombing at the 2% mark of the "free space check" then rebooting again. The only way to get the system to actually boot into Windows, was to be there and cancel the file system consistency check before it began. I sent an e-mail to Iolo tech support, which provided an irrelevant response. Iolo has not responded since then (even when I suggested I would go public with this incident, which apparently is OK by Iolo). To see if it was a virus, I updated my Norton security definitions and ran a full system scan, no problems. To see if it was a RAM problem, I ran motherboard testing software a full night, found there was no problem with the computer's memory. System Mechanic's on disk-checking software showed no problem with the hard drive, but on next restart, I was back having to watch the boot-up to try and cancel the file system consistency checking before it started. When I tried to do a system restore to a date before I installed System Mechanic, I found that NONE of the restore points worked (I tried five different restore points). So what now, system restore points are system clutter, removed by System Mechanic to free up space? I was left with no choice but to back up all of my data, reformat the hard drive, and reinstall the operating system. I spent about two days to get my computer back to where it was before. However at this point my computer boots up cleanly, no problem, so I clearly never had a hardware problem, only software problems created by System Mechanic 8.5.
Posted by: J.R. Arkema 26 Feb 2009
DOES NOT WORK w/VISTA 64 w SP1
Dispite the misinformation about compatiablity with vista x64, I can assure you that the CD Version and latest download (1/24/09) do not work with VISTA x64 /SP1. I downloaded it after the FAQ says it will work, when I try to install it is says (NOT COMPATIABLE W/ VISTA64! I would like a credit to my subcription until the problem is fixed !!!! YIKES
Posted by: Jason McAllister 25 Jan 2009
tech support fast
I am in usa and it is easy to call toll free to reach. not long of a wait. check the time zone in and call. the active care is great. the defrager found more files than others and was quick. no problems with this version. not sure if firewall works on pro or how good av is in pro only.
Posted by: greg b 28 Dec 2008
Worst Software EVER!
I installed this so-called "System Mechanic" and instead of fine tuning my PC it thew in a spanner to clog up all processes. After installing the latest version. not only did it slow the PC totally down, it takes 5 minutes to just open up IE or Firefox. When trying to fix errors it has detected it freezes up and prompts you to Force End the program. Uninstalling!!! that's the worst of it all. After uninstalling SM 8.5 wireless connectivity suffers. It won't give you a connection unless you reinstall the darn software and live with its ridiculous loading times.
Posted by: Robert Atengco 28 Dec 2008
Iolo System Mechanic
I purchased System Mechanic 7 some months ago. I have had nothing but trouble ever since. Installation can take 6 hours, most spent on "checking for updates". As soon as System Mechanic is installed, it prompts you to download "important updates". When you try, the Update Manager locks you out of using your computer for 8-20 hours; usually it reaches 40% of the update in 8 hours, and in 10 additional hours is still at 40% (fast computer, fast DSL). Stop the process, start it again, hoping that the update will resume where it left of -- surprise: back to 0%. What is more, the Update Manager often disconnects your internet connection until you restart your computer. One one computer, after endless tries, I got up to vers. 8.1, On another I can't get beyond 7.5. Of course, as soon as the update downloads, you are prompted to download another important update. System Mechanic (Pro) is defective in manifold ways, and is worse than installing a virus on your computer. Iolo's technical support (no WATS number; you pay) takes 1/2 hour waiting for a tech to come on, he only refers you to their on-line documents, which do not help at all. Email Iolo; if you get any answer, it's a week later. I have reasons to doubt that the product performs as promised, particularly on keeping the Windows registry in order. I do not trust System Mechanic, particularly as its own Update Manager is so flaky. Really crazy: in the middle of automatically updating its virus definitions, System Mechanic prompts you to restart your computer. I can only warn you against purchasing and installing Iolo System Mechanic on your computer. I will never purchase another Iolo product.
Posted by: Harley Flanders 20 Dec 2008
Trial or Full free version
Hi.. I grabbed this a few months ago.. And it was only a 6 month trial.. I see you updated this.. Is it still a trial or a 1 year version? vnunet.com reply: We had a special six month version of System Mechanic 8.0 online. This promotion has now ended and has been replaced by the System Mechanic 8.5 trial. We?ll have other Iolo special promotions through 2009.
Posted by: Gary 10 Dec 2008
system mechanic
why is it not made clear it is no good for vista 64 bit before it is downloaded???????
Posted by: w murray 12 Sep 2008
Don't buy this
After buying this program I found out that it left ports open to attacks, did not get rid of spyware, and I had no idea if it was catching all the bad stuff of not. There is absolutely no help from their technical people as there is no way to contact them. vnunet.com comment: System Mechanic 8 doesn't catch or detect spyware. It's a system maintenance toolkit. You can contact the tech team via the iolo.com website.
Posted by: Sparkie 28 Aug 2008