TuneUp Utilities 2013

Is your PC not running as smoothly as it did when you first took it out of the box? A lethargic machine is oftentimes the result of a fragmented hard drive, an overabundance of junk files, and a Windows registry in disarray. If you'd like to put some pep in the step of your sluggish desktop or laptop, then check out TuneUp Utilities 2013. This application is designed to improve computer performance by tossing junk files, uninstalling unneeded programs, defragmenting the hard drive, and much, much more. Overall, the software does a fine job of revitalizing a worn PC, but the license limitations keep it from reaching the heights of the Editors' Choice award-winning Iolo System Mechanic 11.?

Getting Started
Compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP PCs, TuneUp Utilities 2013 requires just an Internet connection for activating the license and receiving updates. Unlike Iolo System Mechanics 11, the Editors' Choice among paid tuneup utilities, TuneUp Utilities 2012 limits you to only three installs. The free Comodo System Utilities?also lets users install the software on an unlimited number of PCs.

When you first fire up the program, you're prompted to run a system scan that will dig up registry and defragmentation problems, as well as other issues. Afterward, you can either run the one-click cleanup or go to the Start Center to check out all the features. I went with the latter option.

Features
Start Center has a mostly blue-and-white tabbed interface that highlights five sections: Status & Recommendations, Optimize System, Clean Up Computer, Fix Problems, and Customize Windows. Each tab has several useful, clearly-defined functions that are easy for the layperson to understand. The Status & Recommendations tab, which is the app's default screen, displays the number of problems found under the Fix Problems sub-heading and the Start 1-Click Maintenance button under the Maintain System sub-head. At the bottom of the window is an Optimization Status band that fills as you complete the steps needed to whip your PC into shape. I found it a nice way to stay on top of the maintenance process.

TuneUp Utilities introduces two new tools in this year's release: TuneUp Disk Cleaner and TuneUp Browser Cleaner. The former removes left over bits when programs don't cleanly uninstall; the latter removes browser activity from the likes of Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and 22 other browsers.

TuneUp Uilities 2013 is more than a basic PC clean up application. It also contains many other functions including file backup and recovery, file deletion, Windows customization, and more. Some of the features duplicate native Windows function, but it's convenient to have them in one central location.

The Cleanup Process
Clicking Start 1-Click Maintenance launches the system cleaner, which scanned my test bed and displayed numerous of registry problems, broken shortcuts, and other PC problems. Clicking the "Show Details" beneath each problem count took me to a new screen that described problems in everyday language. Clicking the Start 1-Click Maintenance button cleaned up the mess, eliminating all the previously listed problems.

I returned to the home screen after that task was completed, where I noticed that the Optimization Status bar was at 50 percent. Anxious to see it hit 100 percent, I began exploring TuneUp Utilities 2013's other options that freed up disk space and repaired a handful of problems. The application identified 41 programs that potentially should be disabled. I appreciated that TuneUp Utilities 2013 displayed star ratings culled from the application's user base that helped me quickly see which software that I should keep.

Performance Improvements
I tested TuneUp Utilities 2013's ability to reinvigorate a PC by performing two tests?running the Geekbench system performance tool and measuring boot times?before and after running the software to compare the computer's potency. Each test was run three times and averaged. Before TuneUp Utilities 2013 scrubbed the system, the 2GHz Intel Core i7 X990 Style-Note notebook with 4GB of RAM and an 80GB Intel SSD drive achieved a 5,914 Geekbench score and booted in 50.3 seconds.

However, after using TuneUp Utilities 2012, the system saw improved performance. The GeekBench performance score rose to 6,428?just shy of Iolo System Mechanic 11's category leading 6,452 score. The boot time decreased to just 31.3 seconds, which topped Iolo System Mechanics 11's 31.7 second mark by a hair. Check out the performance chart below to see how TuneUp Utilities 2013 fared overall.

After running the tests, I used the computer extensively to get a sense of how the app had changed the responsiveness of the machine. Norton Utilities delivered a noticeable performance improvement; the entire OS moved at a snappier pace even with iTunes and Photoshop open.

Should You Use TuneUp Utilities 2013?
Priced at $49.95, TuneUp Utilities 2012 is pricier than the free Comodo System Cleaner, but does a better job of removing the digital crud. Its Geekbench performance is strong, and it delivers improved performance that rivals Iolo System Mechanic 11. If you can overlook the fact that the software can only be installed on three PCs at a time (if you want to install it on more than three PCs, you have to buy two licenses, which will cost nearly $100), you'll find it quite a useful tool for improving computer performance.

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