Advanced SystemCare
Description
IObit released the first version of Advanced SystemCare in 2006 as Advanced WindowsCare, which was based on the observation that Windows installations deteriorated in performance over time due to a combination of junk file buildup, registry bloat, excessive startup programs and privacy traces. Advanced SystemCare combined the tools that deal with each of these problems into one interface with a one-click scanning and repair method. The product became one of IObit’s flagship applications and grew into a suite that adds real-time performance optimization, a homepage protection system, and optional security features in addition to the cleaning foundation.
IObit has released the updated Advanced SystemCare every year with new version numbers, adding new feature coverage to the suite while retaining the easy to use one-click design that made the original product accessible to users who didn’t want to deal with individual optimization utilities separately.
One-Click Care
The main interface features a scan button that checks the system in all the maintenance categories configured: junk files, registry problems, traces of privacy, start programs, browser settings, shortcut errors and disk fragmentation. The scan is performed in one pass and provides a summary of problems detected with numbers of problems in each category and an overall health score. A single repair action covers all the items detected, or the user expands each category to check and selectively address specific items.
Junk File Cleaner
The cleaner clears temporary files from the Windows system folders, application caches, browser cache and history, Windows Update cleanup files, log files, and thumbnail databases. Each category lists with the detected file size before the removal. Browser cleaning is available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers, with independent choice of data type to remove per browser.
Registry Fix
The registry scanner identifies orphaned registry entries left behind by uninstalled software: invalid file paths, broken COM registrations, empty registry keys, and application references to removed programs. Detected entries list with their registry paths and issues types. A registry backup makes a backup before any removal, and the backed up file restores the affected keys in case an application breaks after the clean.
Performance Monitor
The Performance Monitor is a program that runs in the system tray and displays the CPU usage, RAM usage, and network activity in real time as a persistent overlay or popup. The monitor shows the current resource consumption of running processes and alerts when CPU or memory consumption spikes above set thresholds. A quick access menu from the tray icon opens the main application or initiates a RAM clean up which reclaims memory allocated but not actively used by applications.
Startup Optimization
The startup optimizer lists programs, services and scheduled tasks that are loaded at Windows startup with an impact rating for each. Items are categorized as essential system components, items that should start on boot, and optional items that the user might want to delay or disable. The optimizer delays non-essential startup items instead of disabling them so that they can load once the desktop is ready instead of competing with system initialization during the boot — shorting the time to an interactive desktop without disabling the programs.
Real-Time Optimization
Active boost, part of the Pro version, dynamically adjusts process priorities according to which application the user is currently using, increasing CPU resources allocated to the foreground application, and reducing allocation to background processes. The automatic RAM cleaning feature frees up memory that applications have reserved but aren’t actively using, to make it available for applications that need it.
Homepage and Browser Protection
The browser protection component monitors the default search engine, homepage and new tab settings for installed browsers. Some software changes these settings silently at the time of installation. Advanced SystemCare scans and resets unauthorized changes, and warns when a newly installed application is trying to change browser settings.
Privacy Sweeper
The privacy sweeper erases activity traces in Windows such as the recent documents list, run history, clipboard contents, Windows search history, and thumbnail cache. Scheduled privacy sweeps are automatic and occur at set intervals.
