Recomendations for general utility for defrag, virus scanner, registry fixer

[videobruce]

I have been using System Suite (now from VCom) for the past 5 years, but they have made some changes in V7 I don't like, but still haven't fixed issues from years ago. I'm looking for a replacement for at least these tasks;

1. Defrag program,
2. Virus scanner,
3. Registry repair,
4. Disc repair

Those are my main uses. The Virus definations/updates should be included with free updates (as with System Suite from TrendMicro), not like Norton where you have to pay a yearly sub fee. I have seen/used PC Mechanic (I believe that was the name) and that was really lame. Way too simple and ineffective especially for the defrag program.

Suggestions??

PS; please don't tell me about Norton anything.

 

[mad0maxx]

Look at the stickies at the top of the software forums...

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=2004933&enterthread=y

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=1837696&enterthread=y

 

[mad0maxx]

Also tell us if you do not mind if you wanna pay for your software or not? If you do not mind paying I would recommend this...

1. Defrag program, Perfect Disk 8.0
http://www.raxco.com/products/PerfectDisk2k/

2. Virus scanner, ZoneAlarm Security Suite
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/c...KV9mRMZlZ5X2vEDDMRRHYWYXrNHimDnXRvjMdN!-1281632659!-1062696904!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en

3. Registry repair,
You do not need a registry repair... I've heard these things do more bad then good because they sometimes remove entries that are needed.

4. Disc repair
Check the manufacture of your hard disk drive for this utility which should be free...

I recommended Zone Alarm Security Suite because it is a great firewall product and now coupled with Kaspersky antivirus engine which is one of the top of the line anti virus products to date.

 

[Rottie]

Ok let me see I use
AVS (AOL free AntiVirus)
Diskeeper 2007 Pro Premier (the BEST defrag)
CCleaner (it will clean EVERYTHING even with adware spyware also has built in registry cleaner) it is free

You might want to google search for Hard Drive S.M.A.R.T. program to check for your hard drive's state of health before starting back up your data. That is the reason I rma'ed Seagate 400GB last week when it died after it reported that HD was needed to replace. I know many people don't use SMART on their system for some reasons.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx
Also tell us if you do not mind if you wanna pay for your software or not? If you do not mind paying I would recommend this...

1. Defrag program, Perfect Disk 8.0
http://www.raxco.com/products/PerfectDisk2k/

2. Virus scanner, ZoneAlarm Security Suite
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/c...KV9mRMZlZ5X2vEDDMRRHYWYXrNHimDnXRvjMdN!-1281632659!-1062696904!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en

3. Registry repair,
You do not need a registry repair... I've heard these things do more bad then good because they sometimes remove entries that are needed.

4. Disc repair
Check the manufacture of your hard disk drive for this utility which should be free...

I recommended Zone Alarm Security Suite because it is a great firewall product and now coupled with Kaspersky antivirus engine which is one of the top of the line anti virus products to date.

Agreed on All but 3. They CAN do more harm then good, but if they do no harm they do a lot of good. Also, most scanners will have a feature to back up the registry or undo changes, so just make a backup before deleting anything and you should be fine.

Also, to gain a larger performance increase, you need a registry defragmenter to be used after cleaning.

For free, I recommend Abexo Free registry cleaner. And REGDEFRAG.NET for the defragmenter.

http://www.filedudes.com/RegCompact_NET-download-14566.html
http://www.abexo.com/free-registry-cleaner.htm

for $$ I'd reccoment Registry mechanic:
http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/download/

 

[videobruce]

I'm trying these programs; O&O, AVG Antivirus & Kaspersky. My questions are;

O&O; There is a process that runs all the time. I tried stoipping it, but the program needs it running to work. I have no problem with it running when the program is running, but when I'm not using the program (99% of the time) why is it there? I e-mailed them, but no response yet. I tried to sert it to manual under 'services' , but the program doesn't call on that service when you open the program. Input here?

Kaspersky; This is the most invasive program I have tried to use since I stopped using Norton. It seems to take over your system. With any action, you have to wait untill it disects the action before you can see the results of your last 'click'. Wether it's opening a program or just opening up a folder. Example; Opera, it wouldn't let me load that program. I have to uncheck "Application Activity Analyzer" under 'Proactive Defense' for Opera to load.

 

[mad0maxx]

Originally posted by: videobruce
I'm trying these programs; O&O, AVG Antivirus & Kaspersky. My questions are;

O&O; There is a process that runs all the time. I tried stoipping it, but the program needs it running to work. I have no problem with it running when the program is running, but when I'm not using the program (99% of the time) why is it there? I e-mailed them, but no response yet. I tried to sert it to manual under 'services' , but the program doesn't call on that service when you open the program. Input here?

Kaspersky; This is the most invasive program I have tried to use since I stopped using Norton. It seems to take over your system. With any action, you have to wait untill it disects the action before you can see the results of your last 'click'. Wether it's opening a program or just opening up a folder. Example; Opera, it wouldn't let me load that program. I have to uncheck "Application Activity Analyzer" under 'Proactive Defense' for Opera to load.

Try running in safe mode then troubleshoot from there?

 

[videobruce]

I can use the computer, it just appears to scan any and all files that is connected to any action you try to do.