Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to PC System Utilities Software.

Ratings

Ease of Use

PC system utilities modify your operating system in order to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. PC system utilities software should be easy to navigate and should include icons, brief feature descriptions and intuitive organization. PC system utilities software shouldn't be too technical and should be easy for system utilities novices to understand.

Ease of Setup

We look for PC utilities software that is simple to install, set up, and does not require additional downloads or multiple restarts to work. If the PC system utilities software isn't easy to set up, you won't use it.

Maintenance/Diagnostics

PC system utilities software should allow for easy program and process maintenance and should provide detailed diagnostic information about all facets of your operating system.

Repair/Recovery

The repair and recovery section of PC system utilities software should be customizable and should offer a wide variety of tools, including: spyware detection, backup options and rollback capabilities.

Optimization

Optimizing streamlines your operating system, allowing it to run more efficiently. PC system utilities software should offer helpful optimization advice and provide optimization in multiple areas, including memory and Internet connections.

Feature Set

PC system utilities software should offer a feature set that accommodates multiple skill levels and a variety of needs. Many software programs offer additional features beyond basic PC system utilities-consider these features when choosing your utilities software.

Help/Support

You'll want PC system utilities software that comes with both a built-in help system and good online support, including: FAQs, email support and updates.

Maintenance / Diagnostics

Manage Startup Programs

Allows for easy management of programs that start automatically on boot-up. When Windows is launched, several unnecessary programs load also, slowing your computer.

Manage Running Processes

Provides detailed information about your computer and lets you end any process currently running on it.

Uninstaller

Completely removes all parts of applications that have been deleted (no matter where they are stored).

Cleans Hard Drive

Clears out your computer's temporary folders and obsolete files stored on your hard drive.

Registry Cleaner

Eliminates future headaches by removing all leftover traces of spyware and scans your registry for other possible problems.

Duplicate Files

Deletes duplicate files (files with the same name, size and contents).

Cleans Internet Activity

Securely deletes or masks all Internet browsing activities, including history, URLs visited, cookies and Internet cache.

CPU & Memory Graphs

Provides PC memory and CPU (central processing unit) information in graphic form.

System Information

Provides expanded, easy-to-read information about your entire computer system.

Hardware Diagnostics

Runs a complete evaluation of your computer disks to see if they're running at peak speeds.

Disk Diagnostics

Runs a complete evaluation of your computer disks to see if they're running at peak speeds.

Driver Statistics

Drivers are what communicate between a piece of hardware and your operating system. This feature receives detailed information on your PC driver performance, allowing you to better maintain your software drivers and better avoid the possibility of software or hardware failure.

Files & Folder Settings

Get detailed file and folder information with this feature, such as: the total number of folders and files, their sizes, creation dates, modification and access dates. It will also tell you the usage percentage of any folder, how much of the total memory a folder is using and the files and the extensions of the files each folder contains.

Automatic Updates

Automatically searches for and downloads the latest program tweaks and spyware definition updates.

Encrypt / Decrypt Files

Converts your files into a secret code so that they appear unintelligible to outsiders; you can encrypt a single file or many. Later, you can remove the code (through decryption) to view the file again.

Quick Status

Gives you an instant view of the status of critical functions and operations.

One-Click System

Cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer with a single button-click.

Repair / Recovery

Hard Drive Repair

Repairs your hard drive and recovers lost data, files and tools.

Registry Repair

Fixes common registry errors.

System Backup & Restore

Creates an entire backup of your computer system so you can recover data in the event of a system crash.

Undo Delete

Restores files that have been deleted accidentally.

Shortcut Repair

Scans for and deletes invalid shortcuts within your operating system. When an invalid shortcut is found, the registry repair utility searches for the original object or icon and attempts to restore it properly.

Hard Drive Failure Detection

Protects and saves the data stored on your hard drive by predicting and preventing hard drive failure.

Erase Partitions

Deletes specific sections of storage space on a hard disk.

Secure Deletion

Completely removes a file or application from your hard drive, making it nearly impossible to restore.

Optimization

System Analyzer and Advisor

Acts as your own PC technical advisor to analyze and optimize your system performance by collecting and analyzing system settings then suggesting methods to tweak and enhance system performance.

Defrag Hard Drive

When you modify files by copying, deleting, modifying and resaving data, you fragment your hard drive. A single file can end up dispersed throughout several areas of the hard drive. Your operating system works harder and runs slower on a fragmented hard drive, since it must reassemble all of the parts back together again-like putting together a giant, electronic jigsaw puzzle. But most importantly, fragmented disks are prone to failure.

This feature collects all those scattered parts into one continuous stream of data again, defragging your hard drive and speeding up your system. Compression, which is the same amount of data stored in a smaller area, is a natural result of defragging your hard drive.

Defrag Registry

When you add, delete or modify entries, your registry (the operating system's settings database) is used repeatedly and becomes fragmented-bits and pieces of one file stored in several locations. Fragmentation makes your operating system work harder and run slower, as it must reassemble all of the pieces back together again. But most importantly, fragmented disks are prone to failure.

A registry defragmenter collects those scattered parts into one continuous stream of data again, defragging your registry and speeding up your system. After defragging your registry, the same amount of data-now reorganized-will fit in a smaller area.

Memory Optimizer

Quickens the pace of your computer by maximizing computer memory.

Windows Optimizer

Customizes Windows settings and tweaks Windows programs to boost your PC's performance.

Registry Optimizer

Optimizes your registry with registry cleaners, repairs and defrags.

Internet Optimizer

Gives your Internet speed a boost by tweaking specific settings and deleting unused programs.

System Personalization

Personalizes general features in your computer system by editing your control panel, start menu, tweaking your cursor's blink rate and more.

Logon Settings

Fine-tunes your Windows logon: performs automatic logons, sends special messages during startup and tweaks your startup security settings.

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