Troubleshooting Tips, Free Windows Optimization Tool - waldropdecien

I oftentimes get electronic mail from thwarted readers needing tech help. From time to tim their dilemmas are interesting enough to incubate hither in Chevvy-Unpaid Tech (see "Reader Q&A: Gmail Without Web Entree, Besides Much Security" for my close roundup). This week I try to help Greg, who is in turn trying to help his in-laws with a big problem. Also this hebdomad: I survey Iobit's Advanced SystemCare 5 Free, which promises to unaddicted out your Windows organisation and get it operative faster.

Reader Greg is trying to help his in-Pentateuch solve a jolly prima laptop job: "When IT powers on, IT comes to the login page and freezes. The mouse South Korean won't go off and I can't type in anything into the password field. The disk access code looks busy, which I know is representative when a PC starts, but smooth afterward it eventually slows down, neither the mouse nor keys will figure out. I tried firing information technology up in the various Safe Modes but the results are the same."

Greg besides notes that he tried a organization-recovery disk he created on a different system, but had no luck with that, either.

Problems like this can be difficult to diagnose. The fact that you're "locked out" even when booting into Safe Way suggests there might be more or less kind of ironware failure, but because it sounds like the thrill process is running its course of study in the background, there might be something other afoot.

Here's my suggestion: try Linux. Specifically, load any "live" version of the Linux operating arrangement onto a newsbreak drive, then boot from that aim. (Lincoln Spector explains how in Boot Linux From a Portable USB Beat back with Universal USB Installer.)

This is a pretty cool conjuring trick, because it effectively turns your PC into a Linux system without making any permanent changes to information technology. The entire OS is contained on the flash driveway, and it runs from the flash drive, thereby leaving your Windows programs and information solo.

That said, assuming you're able additionally successfully, you'll be competent to access code any information stored on the hardened drive, meaning you now have a rescue pick. You could, for illustration, re-create probative files back to the instant drive, or upload them to the cloud for later retrieval.

The key here is in addition Linux and see if the system works. If it does, then in that location's probably some debased Windows driver or system file that's leaving you cragfast at the login shield. Donated that your system-reconstruct and -repair efforts failed, you may have no choice just to wipe the driveway and reinstall Windows. That's not fun, but in my go through it solves 99 percent of problems–and makes plodder PCs footrace much faster.

If Linux doesn't work–you still can't control anything with the mouse and keyboard–then you'rhenium about sure as shooting dealing with a ironware issue. Now IT's time to look at your repair options. My advice: see a local anaesthetic sponsor, explicate the steps you've tried, and see what they advise. Course, if the system is still nether warranty, start with the manufacturer.

Optimize Your PC with Advanced SystemCare 5 Unoccupied

Continue with caution.

That's what I always advise when people ask me virtually PC-optimization utilities like Ashampoo WinOptimizer 8 ($50) and CCleaner (at large). Patc these tools can be helpful, they can also make up problems–usually when users go overboard with the amount of "cleaning" they attempt.

I mention this only for purposes of introduction to Iobit's Advanced SystemCare 5 Free, the latest version of one of the more popular "data processor healthcare" products. I recently dependable it on a year-old Windows 7 system, and was very pleased with the results.

(One important note right up front: Advanced SystemCare will endeavor to sneak in a couple of bits of junkware during installation, so be sure you opt away–don't just blindly mouse click Next along for each one setup screen.)

The computer programme can do a wide cooking stove of functions, starting with the William Christopher Handy Quick Care, which scans for and removes malware, cleans risen the Registry, fixes nullified shortcuts, erases your browsing history, and deletes junk files.

When I ran Warm Care connected my system, it disclosed a amazing amount of detritus–including some spyware that Microsoft Security Essentials (my primary sentry) had missed! Within a some minutes, all that stuff was bypast.

Advanced SystemCare 5 likewise has a Esoteric Care that lives up to its epithet, playing more encompassing security and Registry scans and looking for ways to optimize startup and other areas of your Personal computer.

Thankfully, the program sets restore points earlier qualification any changes, and so if you hit disorder, a quick chat to the Rescue Center should get you back in commercial enterprise.

I particularly like the ActiveBoost option, which promises period system optimization via intelligent management of system resources. The results can be hard to gauge, merely I behave find like my machine is a bit snappier with ActiveBoost running.

Combined option you might want to avoid, still, is Turbo Hike up, which terminates "unnecessary" system services to further improve performance. Some of these include things like networking and media sharing–which are not items I would call supererogatory. My advice: skip this sport.

As I noted before, Advanced SystemCare 5 is just i of many available prolusion tools. But I like the fairly cordial interface, comprehensive toolset, and, most importantly, end results. If your PC is more than, say, a year old and feeling sluggish, this might be of some help. You definitely can't argue with the price.

If you've got a hassle that needs solving, send it my way. I can't promise a response, but I'll definitely read every e-chain armor I get–and do my best to address at least any of them in the PCWorld Hassle-Free PC web log . My 411: hasslefree@pcworld.com . You can also sign adequate to have the Hassle-Unfixed PC newssheet e-mailed to you each workweek .