Solved System optimization software

Deleted member 952 · Jan 29, 2022

Hi,

What do you guys use to keep your install of Windows 11 running at peek performance?

I need some software that updates my drivers and keeps my system uncluttered. I've had a look at a few products like IOBit Advanced System Care 15 Pro with Driver Booster 9 Pro and Uninstaller 11 Pro.

I've used products like aShampoo which is ok and iolo, but these guys (iolo) seem to try hard selling you more products, which can be annoying.

I already have an antivirus (BullGuard Premium Protection / Sophos Premium Protection) and backup (Macrium Reflect) solution that's why I am looking at the Pro version of IOBit ASC and not the ultimate version.

Thankyou

TairikuOkami · Jan 29, 2022

Since it looks that you do not mind a paid software, check out Driver Easy and Kerish Doctor. Wise Care 365 is worth mentioning.

glasskuter · Jan 31, 2022

The strongest advice I can give you is stay away from driver updaters. Use your manufacturers website and update them yourself or let windows update do it for you. Updaters can cause more trouble than they're worth.

As far as cleaning junk files, you can use the built-in disk cleanup or if you want an app Ccleaner and Glary Utilities are good. I've used them for years. There are many more but those are all I can recommend as I have not used the others.
You have M.2 drives so do not defrag them. The trim function in Windows takes care of that. You can verify that trim is enabled in windows using this article. How to check, disable, enable TRIM support in Windows 10

NavyLCDR · Jan 31, 2022

I don't use any of that snake oil. 3 laptop and 3 desktop computers on my home network have been running for many years with no problems at all.

Periodically, especially after every major Windows upgrade to a new major build number I run:
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase
sfc /scannow
cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535

Ghot · Jan 31, 2022

@kuyenmotdivad

I got good news and bad news for you...

1st the bad news: There really is no one stop system maintenance solution.

The good news: Backup software is your very best friend.
1. Keep the amount of data (GB) on your Windows drive down to a minimum.
2. Make full backups, before you do major changes (this includes Windows Updates).
3. On MY computer, I have 40GB on my Windows partition. It takes me 2:30 (minutes), to make a backup, and 2:00 to restore.
4. If you have a lot of games... install them on a different partition or even better, a different drive.

Windows 11 is relatively new. It shouldn't BE that dirty, so soon.
Use backups, and use them often.

1. Clean install Windows and do the updates, then make a backup.
2. Do all your settings and tweaks, and make another backup.
3. Install a bunch of software, make another backup, etc.

Learn to use backup software like... steeping stones, maybe. Any major changes of any kind... make a backup.
Then, if worse comes to worst... you can always just restore from the most recent backup.

Right now, it seems like you are planning to test out some maintenance software. Make a backup, first.
Then play around with w/e software you like... if it works well and you decide to keep using it... make a new backup.
If it doesn't work well and messes things up... restore from a backup.
When you do make backups, use "descriptive" titles, so later on, you know which backup is which...

I think you should see where I'm going with this, by now...

TheMystic · Jan 31, 2022

kuyenmotdivad said:
I need some software that updates my drivers

BAD IDEA.

You can give Windows Package Manager a try.

How to update all apps using Windows Package Manager in Windows 11:

How to update all apps using Windows Package Manager in Windows 11

Microsoft recently introduced the Windows Package Manager (winget) which is basically a command-line tool. The tool is already available for Windows 11 users

www.mobigyaan.com

kuyenmotdivad said:
What do you guys use to keep your install of Windows 11 running at peek performance?

The lesser apps you have, better would be your performance.

glasskuter said:
The strongest advice I can give you is stay away from driver updaters. Updaters can cause more trouble than they're worth.

Agree.

pparks1 · Jan 31, 2022

I personally use very little. As far as drivers are concerned, if they aren't broken and causing me issues, I tend to not bother with them.

If you plopped down a pile of parts in front of me and said build this computer, this is what I would do.

1). Assemble the parts and get it to power on
2). Update the BIOS to the latest version available from the vendor
3). Install Windows and run Windows update until it's done
4). Go to the motherboard mfg site and find the drivers for my mobo. i will install the chipset drivers
5). Go to the manufacturer of the video card, download and install these drivers.
6). Check device manager and see if anything has an exclamation point. Make educated decisions as to which driver from the motherboard mfg may fix it. Take notes as to which drivers caused exclamation points to go away.
7). Once device manager is clean, I take an image of my clean vanilla machine just as a good starting point if I need to restore back to clean.

At this point, I tend to leave the BIOS alone unless i have a problem that a BIOS update is known to fix.

The only driver that I update with regularity is the video card. Every month or so, I will check the nvidia site to see if there is a new driver for my card.

The-Hive · Jan 31, 2022

I agree with @Ghot (again)
I just use Windows Update and check the net for program updates and get them from a reliable source like the manufacturers site. I never use paid software to do it

CornishRattler · Jan 31, 2022

Ghot said:
@kuyenmotdivad

I got good news and bad news for you...

1st the bad news: There really is no one stop system maintenance solution.

The good news: Backup software is your very best friend.
1. Keep the amount of data (GB) on your Windows drive down to a minimum.
2. Make full backups, before you do major changes (this includes Windows Updates).
3. On MY computer, I have 40GB on my Windows partition. It takes me 2:30 (minutes), to make a backup, and 2:00 to restore.
4. If you have a lot of games... install them on a different partition or even better, a different drive.

Windows 11 is relatively new. It shouldn't BE that dirty, so soon.
Use backups, and use them often.

1. Clean install Windows and do the updates, then make a backup.
2. Do all your settings and tweaks, and make another backup.
3. Install a bunch of software, make another backup, etc.

Learn to use backup software like... steeping stones, maybe. Any major changes of any kind... make a backup.
Then, if worse comes to worst... you can always just restore from the most recent backup.

Right now, it seems like you are planning to test out some maintenance software. Make a backup, first.
Then play around with w/e software you like... if it works well and you decide to keep using it... make a new backup.
If it doesn't work well and messes things up... restore from a backup.
When you do make backups, use "descriptive" titles, so later on, you know which backup is which...

I think you should see where I'm going with this, by now... :)

View attachment 20333

What exactly are you trying to say here :ROFLMAO:

Deleted member 952 · Feb 1, 2022

Cheers, guys will keep my PC clean with your suggestions.

Deleted member 952 · Feb 1, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
I don't use any of that snake oil. 3 laptop and 3 desktop computers on my home network have been running for many years with no problems at all.

Periodically, especially after every major Windows upgrade to a new major build number I run:
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase
sfc /scannow
cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535

Will this work with Windows 11?