Iolo has taken the wraps off System Mechanic 9, the latest version of its PC maintenance and tune-up suite.

System Mechanic provides a number of system tools, such as a disk defragmenter, a registry repair tool, and a suite of privacy tools. System Mechanic 9 adds various new features, including Department of Defense-grade file-shredding, bolstered registry error detection, and a new sidebar gadget that provides a quick overview of your PC’s overall health and security.

System Mechanic 9 features what Iolo calls Tune-Up Definitions. Tune-Up Definitions are, as Iolo puts it, like virus definitions, but for detecting and repairing PC performance problems. Iolo has a collection of 10,000 Tune-Up Definitions so far, which identify various issues which could may cause your PC to feel sluggish. Iolo updates this list on an ongoing basis, so as new issues arise, System Mechanic 9 will be able to adjust accordingly. Also new: EnergyBooster, which ties in with Tune-up Definitions to identify and disable any non-essential background processes; the idea is to free up more system resources for heavy-lifting tasks such as gaming or graphic design.

System Mechanic 9 is a free update for existing users. New users can purchase System Mechanic 9 for $40 for a three-system, one-year subscription. A free trial, of course, is also available.