| Version | 5.15 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | GOG Software |
| Release date | Nov 7, 2008 |
| Date added | Dec 13, 2007 |
| Os requirements | Windows 95, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows, Windows XP, Windows NT |
| Requirements | Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server |
| Total downloads | 51,324 |
| Downloads per week | 4 |
| Price | Free to try |
Description
Advanced Windows Optimizer (AWO) is a collection of tools to optimize and speedup your system performance. It contains utilities to clean Registry, temporary files on your disks, erase your application and Internet browser history, cache, and cookies. You can control startup programs that load automatically with windows, find duplicate files, fix broken shortcuts and uninstall software.
The built-in scheduled task manager allows you to schedule the cleaning tasks that take place automatically, other features include secure file deletion, shred recycle bin, application protection, split and rejoin files, backup and restore the Windows Registry, and remove unsafe BHOs. Version 5.15 includes unspecified updates.
Review
This suite of tools doesn't do everything to clean and optimize your system, but it seems that way. Advanced Windows Optimizer's well-designed clean and logical interface is consistent over 20 different tools. Though each tool has different needs, each opens with an explanation screen, includes simple options, and operates in a similar manner. The help file isn't much of a help though. Users are expected to understand many normal Windows operating procedures.
We found all these tools useful, usually quick, and always designed with safeguards for less experienced users. While each tool displayed progress in some manner, none had a good scan time left meter. Often, we just walked away and hoped the scan would be finished on return. Unusual for this genre, though, you could stop a scan without losing found files. The system cleaning tools found most of the detritus of our test machines. Finding duplicate files is easy to implement with a few quickly set rules. The system control and system tool functions mimic Windows tools, but with better explanations and more flexible options. With wild cards, case search, and hive choice the Registry Search tool is much more flexible than the search option found in RegEdit. Across the board for all tools, we did wish for a select/deselect all option before deleting files.
We didn't cover every tool in this short review, but each operated well. Problems were rare and were similar over all tools; no progress meters, no select all switches and columns that couldn't be sorted were the major complaints. The 10-day trial is short but still allows users enough time to test everything Advanced Windows Optimizer offers. Though this application is flexible enough for advanced users, it's suitable for all users looking to keep their system clean and optimized.
