As with any machine, your PC needs regular tune-ups to maintain peak performance. This virtual toolbox can enhance the speed, safety, and power of your computer with a wide range of functions and an extensive help system.

System Mechanic performs cleanup, optimization, and privacy protection with equal agility. As with similar tune-up utilities, it enables you to clean up your registry, remove junk files, and customize hidden settings to improve performance. Novice users can get all of that done at once or automatically taken care of via the software's ActiveCare feature. The app has additional tools for removing spyware and for defragmenting your hard drive, eliminating the need for multiple utility programs. For example, the Configure Windows Startup tool shows the list of applications and services that automatically start with the computer and allows for disabling or removing them individually. This is a handy tool that replaces the "Software Explorer" part that Microsoft has taken out of the Windows Defender in Windows 7. The program is 32-bit, but it will work with Windows 7 64-bit.

There is an undo function that restores your system to its previous state, but it's hidden in the SafetyNet tab and doesn't allow you to bring back one item at a time. The program also lacks a system profiler, and has problems recognizing some antivirus programs such as AVG and ZoneAlarm. Also, when you do a "Deep System analysis," which can take a while, the process can't be canceled. These problems aside, System Mechanic is one of the most complete, effective, and easy-to-use tune-up utilities we've seen to date.