Hi,

Has anyone had any experience with System Mechanic from iolo technologies?

Looks like a good program for cleaning up registries and such and they have a free version.

Thanks!

I checked it out a long time ago. I think it was on version 3 at the time.

My thoughts.

I don't like it.

Reasons.

1) I'm not going to pay for a program where I can get free programs that do the same thing.

2) It has a program that runs in the background that is suppose to keep your system clean. I don't like this either. You keep your system clean to keep your system running faster. If you have programs running in the background then that slows down your computer. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a computer cleaning program IMO.

I will say this. If I remember right, they do have some other cool features, but it has nothing that you can't get for free. Compare the features to what I have listed here. Adams A Plus List of Downloads

Hi AdamsAplus,

I did download a free version. Thank you for the information!

Had been using Eusing Free Registry.

Maybe should go back to that, thanks again for your input and the free downloads.

I have tried several system utilities over the years and I always end up back with Advanced System Care. They have a free and paid version, and I have to admit there really isn't much difference between the two.

Thanks, Hank!

On 19th Dec 2011 I ran System Mechanic Professional, which I have used for many years for virus protection and to tune-up Windows XP Service Pack 3.

System Mechanic went to it's website to load updates and installed them. I gather it was an update to Version 10.7.6.

After running the suggested fixes which required a reboot Windows XP could not get past the screen that appears before User is selected.

After many tries to fix the problem including chkdsk and a repair of XP, I had to revert to my most recent backup, which happened to be a disk clone.

The same thing happened TWO more times when I ran System Mechanic after reverting to my backup installation.

Because the problem was obviously related to System Mechanic I sent an URGENT request for help to Iolo on 19 December clearly stating that XP would not start. Today, 28 December, 9 days later, I get an inane support response suggesting I run 'Safety Net' that is an option on the System Mechanic start-up screen. The fact that I could not even run Windows XP seemed to have been ignored by their incompetent support technician called Mark S.

So in summary - dodgy software and updates - abysmal response time - totally incompetent support staff.

Hammerfist: From all these readings, I can safely surmise that this might not be a good program.

Hi Rob,

Thanks for information, I have removed it from my system as I did not feel comfortable with it, Happy I did.

Thank you all for your input.

Not to be confused with Registry Mechanic. Both have free downloads on Cnet.

Think best bet with these types of applications is to make sure you have important stuff backed up (preferably on another drive or online), these programs have access to the registry which means if anything goes wrong you can wave goodbye to your operating system, customer support sounds abysmal and offering a refund to someone who needs to buy restore discs or install disc because your program screwed up isn't good enough (its bad enough when microsoft do it).

this is just an opinion and i'm sure there are plenty who might disagree but here goes, if you want to speed up your computer leave your registry alone, if you want to f**k up your computer on the other hand the registry is an ideal place to start, here are the golden rules, 1 - avoid downloading any programs with registry in the title, 2 - take your time when installing programs don't just keep hitting the next button (this is advice i never adhere to so you know it makes sense), the whole point of these registry programs is to remove the changes you have made, take your time when installing programs and it will minimize the need for registry programs in the first place 3 - go through your start up programs and find out what they are and disable them if they dont need to be running all the time, 4 - rather than spending your money buying software to tune up your computer, save your money and invest in an install disc (or acquire one by less than honest means), fact is your computer is probably running slow because of something you have installed adding yet more crap isn't likely to help.