Extend the Life of Your PC
In lean times, the last thing you want to do is buy a new PC when you don't need one. If your current machine is sluggish or experiencing a problem, don't assume that you have to buy a replacement. Instead, grab some software that can whip your existing system back into shape and keep it that way. You can find plenty of for-pay software that will do the trick, but if you want to save as much money as possible, you ought to choose free tools. Check out the following four downloads; one way or another, all will help extend your PC's life.
Advanced SystemCare Free
If you're looking for just one freebie that does as much as possible to make sure your PC runs as efficiently as possible, this is the tool to get. It scans your system for spyware, Registry problems, privacy dangers, and junk files, and then cleans them up for you. You can have the program perform the fixes automatically, or you can tell it which items to fix and which to leave.
By itself, Advanced SystemCare Free isn't enough to uncover every problem your PC might have. In cleaning the Registry and sweeping your system clean of spyware, however, this tool is a great first step. And you certainly can't beat the price.
Note that the software will install the Yahoo Toolbar by default; if you don't want that component, make sure to uncheck the box during installation.
Download Advanced SystemCare Free | Price: Free
CCleaner
If your PC is slow or your hard drive is clogged, nab this superb free cleaner, which excels at eliminating years of detritus. It cleans your Registry by killing unused and bad entries, and it rids your system of unnecessary items, such as cache files. In addition, it shows you what programs run automatically on startup and allows you to disable those you don't need.
It also sweeps away the junk that applications leave behind, cleaning debris from Web browsers (including Chrome), Windows Media Player, Windows Defender, and Microsoft Office, among many others. Within a few seconds the program can free up hundreds of megabytes of hard-disk space and get your PC running more smoothly.
One caveat: CCleaner adds a Yahoo toolbar by default. If you don't want the toolbar, uncheck the box next to it in the installation window.
Download CCleaner | Price: Free
PC Decrapifier
Frequently PCs become so stuffed with trialware, annoying free software, and "craplets" that they become lethargic, prone to crashes, or downright unusable. Sometimes the software ships with the PC; other times you'll download software and forget that you have it.
The best way to extend the life of a bloated machine is to rid it of all the useless stuff. That's exactly what PC Decrapifier does. It removes dozens of the most common pieces of software that junk up computers, such as Dell URL Assistant, Wild Tangent Games, and free trials. (For a full list, go to the PC Decrapifier site.) The end result? A faster PC--one that you won't have to abandon in favor of a new machine.
Note: When you use this program, you might want to have it create a restore point first, just in case it removes something that you wanted to keep.
Download PC Decrapifier | Price: Free
Secunia PSI
A PC is only as good as the software that runs on it. And oftentimes when someone has problems with their system, the issue is the software, not the hardware. It would be a shame to throw away money on a new PC when the computer isn't the real culprit.
This great, free utility will help make sure that the software you run is up-to-date and secure. It scans your system, finds all the software on the PC, and then reports to you when it discovers programs that should be patched or updated. Better yet, the tool then downloads the patch or update and installs the file for you when you click on it, or links you to a location where you can download the patch or update yourself.
Run Secunia PSI regularly (or have it running all the time in the background), and it will constantly check for new patches and updates. That way, you can be confident that all your software is in top condition.
Download Secunia PSI | Price: Free
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