Review of System Mechanic 9

We have been hearing a lot of good things about the new System Mechanic 9 Professional so we thought we would take it for a test drive.  iolo technologies offer two versions of System mechanic 9.  The standard version will fix and speed up your computer by optimizing it for peak performance, repairing problems and errors, cleaning up the system clutter and fixing security vulnerabilities. The Professional version does all of that plus includes some extra goodies.  The System Mechanic Professional includes a top rated Antivirus program, the iolo Personal Firewall, Search and Recover to rescue deleted files and DriverScrubber to secure and erase data from a used hard drive.

This review of System Mechanic 9 will consist of mostly just the computer optimization aspect of the program.  The installation of System Mechanic Professional is pretty straightforward.  There were a few things to note.  This screenshot shows the choices of programs that come with the professional version.  Search and Recover 5, Drive Scrubber 3, iolo Antivirus and the iolo Personal Firewall are all optional components.

This next screen gives you the option to install a gadget that will show real-time system health status.  I chose to install the gadget because, quite simply, I like gadgets.

The ActiveCare Reports screen wanted my email address so it could send me reports to see what kind of optimizations and repairs were done on the computer over a specific time period.  This is totally optional but I wanted to see the reports so I entered my email.

Other than that the install was uneventful.  It did need a reboot and at system startup there were a few pop ups recommending a virus scan and a screen telling me that the iolo Tune-up definitions were being updated.  Tune-up definitions are based on research from iolo labs and from the knowledgebase of data that System Mechanic 9 uses to detect and resolve new threats to your PC’s performance. 

When System mechanic was started, you are presented with this neat little dashboard overview telling me that system analysis is required.  Naturally, I smacked the Analyze Now button.

System Mechanic 9 did a very quick scan and said my system was in fair shape.

I viewed the problems before I hit the Repair all button and this is what the optimization Detected:

• The following issues are reducing your PC's performance, security, or stability:
  
• Your computer has 182.64 MB of system clutter
  
• Your computer has 27 registry problems
  
• Your computer has 14 repairable security vulnerabilities
  
• Your Internet configuration is not optimized for maximum speed
  
• Your memory level is low (30% available)
  
• The registry has never been backed up
  
• iolo AntiVirus full system scan has never been performed

Here are the recommended solutions That System Mechanic recommended:

• Clean out system clutter
  With regular usage, temporary files and other unneeded debris accumulate. It is recommended that excessive amounts of system clutter be deleted to reclaim disk space and speed overall processing.
  
• Repair registry errors
  Over time, the Windows registry can become corrupt, leading to degraded performance and system crashes. Removing obsolete and invalid entries improves overall PC efficiency and stability.
  
• Repair security flaws
  Malicious programs exploit known security flaws in operating systems and Web browsers. Repairing security flaws protects your PC and your data.
  
• Optimize Internet configuration
  Net Booster optimizes various settings to suit your type of Internet connection. Adapting these settings boosts Web download rates and improves overall Internet speed and stability.
  
• Defragment memory
  When available memory is too low, overall PC performance declines. Defragmenting reclaims valuable memory and improves PC efficiency, stability, and speed.
  
• Back up the registry
  The Windows registry is vital to your computer's ability to run correctly. Backups allow you to restore the registry if it ever becomes damaged. It is recommended that you back up the registry every 14 days.
  
• Run a full system scan in iolo AntiVirus
  Regular full system scans are critical to ensuring permanent protection from viruses and malware.

Then I told it to repair all of the problems.  When it was done it said that there were no problems to report and that no action is required.

According to System Mechanic Professional, my system status is now good.

System Mechanic Professional 9 also gives you all kinds of all in one power tools to play with.  The PC TotalCare solution combines all diagnostic, repair, cleanup and security tools into a one-click wizard.  The computer optimization program also has a PC Accelerator to supercharge Windows, PC Repair to fix computer errors, PC Cleanup sweeps away clutter and frees up drive space, PC Security to repair dangerous security flaws and a Total Registry Revitalizer to keep the registry clean, organized and error free.

If you would rather optimize and enhance individual computer performance settings, System Mechanic gives you that option.

The System Mechanic computer optimization utility looks like a solid program to keep you computer running at its peak performance.  It is an easy to use program made for the novice computer user with some great power tools to satisfy the geek in all of us.   This is a recommended computer optimization utility to have in your toolbox.

Iolo Technologies offers three versions of the computer optimization utility; System Mechanic 9, System Mechanic 9 Professional and a business edition to keep all of the computers in your office running at their best with very little work on your part.  

See the Video Review of System Mechanic 9