Microsoft PC Manager Beta app now available

Almighty1 said:

Microsoft PC Manager 3.2.1.0 Beta

Similar to CCleaner or Wise Care 365, Microsoft PC Manager can accelerate your PC's performance, declutter disk space, manage startup programs, control running processes, block pop-ups, and much more.

www.neowin.net

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OK, it has been months since the initial release now. The question lies - should I bother installing it?

James said:

OK, it has been months since the initial release now. The question lies - should I bother installing it?

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just gave it a go there and once installed it comes up and just goes white screen on the box lol!
EDIT: Re-installed and works fine, Albeit its just the same stuff thats already in windows made into an easy for everyone to use box if you like, Pretty useless to me, I hate anything that has a "Boost" performance button on it. Albeit it lowered my ram usage by 3%. big whoop. Just some basic windows tools in a easy to go box.

ShamrockRig said:

just gave it a go there and once installed it comes up and just goes white screen on the box lol!
EDIT: Re-installed and works fine, Albeit its just the same stuff thats already in windows made into an easy for everyone to use box if you like, Pretty useless to me, I hate anything that has a "Boost" performance button on it. Albeit it lowered my ram usage by 3%. big whoop. Just some basic windows tools in a easy to go box.

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Go on then, I'll try it

Managed to cleanup 1.6GB on C:\ and reduce ram usage from 38% to 25%. Not bad

James said:

Managed to cleanup 1.6GB on C:\ and reduce ram usage from 38% to 25%. Not bad

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Yeah for someone who isn't the most technical it makes some of those general house keeping things easier, Otherwise, Doesn't add anything that windows tools doesn't already have. You'll always be able to cleanup a gig or two every now and then when you do a clean of that stuff, Its all tiny enough i left it as is, The few % i got back in ram is probably it killing dupe processes or crap ms runs that isn't required.

Why is it that MS PC Manager can find and install Windows Updates in Win 11 WAY faster than Windows Update in Settings?

Call me crazy but I love this thing. I dragged the desktop tool bar all the way to the top of the screen (as center as I can judge it) and I love how it auto hides and appears when I hover over it, I have quick access to shortcuts for common apps and sites.

The other tools are useful. I like the idea of packing the most common things into a small, clean UI. I hope MS can refine the app without bloating it too much.

What I like about it is how fast it finds and installs Windows Updates. Why can't it happen that fast in Windows?

This program has come a long way since its introduction.
Back then, I had reported a problem with the hosts file in %windir%\System32\drivers\etc being wiped clean.
That was a show stopper as no hosts file should ever be modified without the user's consent.
For those who don't know the hosts file can be configured to block certains undesirable sites.
Well, that issue is no more. And some nice touches have been added such as the configurable toolbar.
The program still uses an excessive amount of RAM at idle thru the use of webview2
and they need to add the Dark/light option.
But it's getting there.

No dark mode is almost as bad as The Microsoft Defender app (for folks with family plans of Office). I hate that.

But that is cosmetic. Wiping your Hosts file is absolutely stupid.

And I'm about tired of apps using the heck out of WebView2 (the Microsoft Defender app does too).

Pass.

Yep, I think PowerToys also wiped the Hosts file at one point too. My mistake.. LOL

This utility doesn't clean as well as using the standard Windows tools and Wise Disc Cleaner. I tried it for 10 minutes then removed it.

Microsoft PC Manager v3.4.3.0 Beta released

Download:
Online Installer - https://aka.ms/PCManager10000
Offline Installer - https://aka.ms/PCManagerUpgradeFlight10000

Thanks for the update @Almighty1
Dark mode is here!

Disk4mat said:

Thanks for the update @Almighty1
Dark mode is here!

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You are very welcome. Wonder why it doesn't update to the newest Beta version, it's like we have to manually download and install each new version.

Hi folks

Don't take this the wrong way but I've been using Windows almost as far back as Windows 3.11 for workgroups and have never even remotely needed anything like a "PC Manager".

I wish Ms would concentrate on getting as many defects as possible out of the system than messing around with these things that I'm sure over 90% don't want. Most I.T shops I've seen as well have plenty of tools that capable I.T admins use to handle their networks and in any case with a lot of corporate PC's using things like Azure Cloud Virtual Desktop infrastructure then the need for these type of apps seems even more pointless.

There's nothing much one can really do that gives a worthwhile performance increase to Windows -- doesn't matter how full an SSD or nvme is - has zero impact on performance.

If you have the fastest disk drives with the largest cache possible, enough RAM, decent CPU processor and GPU, and decent NIC's or wifi and don't run too many apps concurrently and don't install cludgy and badly performing / written apps or heavy 3rd party Anti Virus software then that's about the best you're going to get. Anything else will probably make things worse.

As for blocking undesirable sites - plenty of standard ways in windows or even in browsers to do that.

cheers
jimbo

100% disagreed.

If you use a single PC for multiple tasks. there are plenty of things you can do to help optimize those tasks without needing to create a completely separate user profile to isolate those tasks from each other.

For example, with a 'work' profile you want access to, and allow to run in the background, things like Office and services that are made use of by apps that you need (or may occasionally need) when you're working.

However, in the evening (or off-work-hours) time, when you're in the mood for something else, like gaming, all those TSRs and services running and using RAM are not helping you in any way, form, or fashion, and closing them out and free RAM for game use is legitimate way to help bolster your gaming experience.

Mind you, I'm not saying this app actually works - but to say that

jimbo45 said:

There's nothing much one can really do that gives a worthwhile performance increase to Windows -- doesn't matter how full an SSD or nvme is - has zero impact on performance.

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Is pure hogwash.

Microsoft is merely trying to put another Software Co. Out of business.Using a MS product to clean windows is akin to having a Fox guard the Hen House. I wish MS would just stay as an OS company,

Tried the Beta today. Didn't like the lowest-common-denominator feel and the "Just trust me" attitude. Uninstalled. At least it didn't populate the registry with a lot of crap.