AVG PC Tuneup. Any good?

[Allen Drake]

I would like some opinions on this application and ask if it is just
another useless registry tool that might end in confusion and trouble.
I have been using AVG for quite some time now and have had no
problems so far but they seem to be adding more and more to their
different versions. This is for a system that gets little use and is
mostly used offline for CAD applications.

Thanks.

AL.

 

[Stan Brown]

I would like some opinions on this application and ask if it is just
another useless registry tool that might end in confusion and trouble.
I have been using AVG for quite some time now and have had no
problems so far but they seem to be adding more and more to their
different versions. This is for a system that gets little use and is
mostly used offline for CAD applications.

I don't know that application in particular, but since it includes a
"registry cleaner" I would stay far, far away.

FWIW, I used to use AVG's antivirus, but it gradually got slower and
slower and dragged down the performance of my computer. So I ditched
it and went with Avast. I don't know if that says anything about the
quality and performance of AVG's "PC Tuneup", but if their flagship
virus program is a pig it doesn't bode well for anything else of
theirs.

 

[Allen Drake]

I don't know that application in particular, but since it includes a
"registry cleaner" I would stay far, far away.

FWIW, I used to use AVG's antivirus, but it gradually got slower and
slower and dragged down the performance of my computer. So I ditched
it and went with Avast. I don't know if that says anything about the
quality and performance of AVG's "PC Tuneup", but if their flagship
virus program is a pig it doesn't bode well for anything else of
theirs.

Thanks Stan. I've seen others give good reports of AVAST. While I
have never had any problems like viruses and Trojans and such I have
always wondered about system slow downs. I'll try your recommendation
with at least one system I am running and see what it looks like.

Al.

 

[Victor]

Thanks Stan. I've seen others give good reports of AVAST. While I
have never had any problems like viruses and Trojans and such I have
always wondered about system slow downs. I'll try your recommendation
with at least one system I am running and see what it looks like.

Al.

AVG Remover
http://www.avg.com/ca-en/utilities

 

[Allen Drake]

AVG Remover
http://www.avg.com/ca-en/utilities

Thanks. I'll do just that. It's funny how many people recommend so
many other AV software that others seem to dislike. I dumped many in
the past that seems so popular like Norton and McAfee. Do they just
go sour after so long?

 

[Rob]

Thanks. I'll do just that. It's funny how many people recommend so
many other AV software that others seem to dislike. I dumped many in
the past that seems so popular like Norton and McAfee. Do they just
go sour after so long?

I use two AV software programmes McAfee and PCTools Spyware Doctor.
(Two computers)


I have found McAfee too aggressive some instances. Spyware Doctor has
its problems - latest I was not able to open a PDF.

Try Malwarebytes as that does seem to clean up better than the others
and its not loaded at startup.



McAfee

 

[Peter Jason]

Thanks Stan. I've seen others give good reports of AVAST. While I
have never had any problems like viruses and Trojans and such I have
always wondered about system slow downs. I'll try your recommendation
with at least one system I am running and see what it looks like.

Al.

I use the "Microsoft Security Essentials" for routine checking of
downloaded eMule files. It finds heaps of viruses. This the only
checker I use now.

 

[Rob]

No, you have one AV program. Spyware Doctor is an anti malware program.

NO I think you should look up PCTool page and see what it does, not just
make an incorrect assumption.

 

[Rob]

I did and it's an anti malware program. It does NOT detect viruses,
which is just as well because you shouldn't have two Anti Virus running
in real time simultaneously. It's not a particularly good one and McAfee
is one of the worst AVs around but, hey, it's your computer, do what you
want. On second thought, and for the benefit of others, what the hell,
here's what I would recommend you have to protect your Windows computer:

Avast
Malwarebytes
Superantispyware
Spywareblaster
IOBit's Malware Fighter.

As McAfee is so poor at detecting viruses, I would run Avast's boot time
scan first thing if I were you.

FCUK can't you read!

 

[Rob]

I did and it's an anti malware program. It does NOT detect viruses,

http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I stand corrected but you shouldn't set it to run in real time along with
McAfee. From reading the reviews, you are paying for a sub standard program,
both McAfee and PC Tools when you could get a free program, Avast, and be
better protected. Both McAfee and PC Tools are memory hogs.

But Rob did say in his first post
"I use two AV software programmes McAfee and PCTools Spyware Doctor.
(Two computers)".

I suspect it's OK to run two AV programs simultaneously on different
computers

I would agree with you otherwise, of course.

 

[Allen Drake]

I stand corrected but you shouldn't set it to run in real time along
with McAfee. From reading the reviews, you are paying for a sub standard
program, both McAfee and PC Tools when you could get a free program,
Avast, and be better protected. Both McAfee and PC Tools are memory hogs.

I have heard that term for some time now. Years as a matter of fact.
Now that we are running 64Bit machines with many Gigs of dual channel
RAM I wonder if that is even true any more.

 

[Rob]

I stand corrected but you shouldn't set it to run in real time along
with McAfee. From reading the reviews, you are paying for a sub standard
program, both McAfee and PC Tools when you could get a free program,
Avast, and be better protected. Both McAfee and PC Tools are memory hogs.

I didn't say that in the first place.

PCTools is on one PC and McAfee is on the other. Each PC has a different
purpose.

PCTools has created problems One with Photoshop CS5 the other with
blocking a PDF. (Intelliguard)

 

[Rob]

But Rob did say in his first post
"I use two AV software programmes McAfee and PCTools Spyware Doctor.
(Two computers)".

I suspect it's OK to run two AV programs simultaneously on different
computers

I would agree with you otherwise, of course.

Each of the AV programmes have minds of their own and are suited for the
intended purpose.

Neither are perfect.

Both McAfee and PCTools have become bloated. I still run Malwarebytes
every other month and find things - good and bad.


many years ago I used PCtools as a utilities programme with DOS before
we had virus

 

[Workaholic]

I would like some opinions on this application and ask if it is just
another useless registry tool that might end in confusion and trouble.
I have been using AVG for quite some time now and have had no
problems so far but they seem to be adding more and more to their
different versions. This is for a system that gets little use and is
mostly used offline for CAD applications.
Thanks.
AL.

AL I like it. Nice set of utilities.
Yeah, you can get most of this stuff seperately or within Windows...yeah.
John

 

[Allen Drake]

AL I like it. Nice set of utilities.
Yeah, you can get most of this stuff seperately or within Windows...yeah.
John

Hi John.

I am mostly concerned about the registry cleaner app. I have tried a
few and they all claim to get rid of useless entrees so how would one
go about doing this from within windows? Is this even something to be
concerned about? I like to change my oil on a regular basis so why not
my registry? I just think not to many actually know anything about the
registry and aren't brave enough to tackle something like this.

Al.

 

[charlie]

Hi John.

I am mostly concerned about the registry cleaner app. I have tried a
few and they all claim to get rid of useless entrees so how would one
go about doing this from within windows? Is this even something to be
concerned about? I like to change my oil on a regular basis so why not
my registry? I just think not to many actually know anything about the
registry and aren't brave enough to tackle something like this.

Al.

Registry "cleaning" is something that should be done only when there is
a specific need. General cleaning with almost any of the various
utilities can cause some real and sometimes very subtle problems.
Careful use can be of benefit, and with the backup options active,
somewhat safe. Naturally, if you do something that you really should
not, even that may not prevent serious problems.

Remember that MS abandoned it's regclean utility some windows versions
ago. There was a reason.

 

[Ken Blake]

I am mostly concerned about the registry cleaner app. I have tried a
few and they all claim to get rid of useless entrees so how would one
go about doing this from within windows? Is this even something to be
concerned about? I like to change my oil on a regular basis so why not
my registry? I just think not to many actually know anything about the
registry and aren't brave enough to tackle something like this.

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil, and should be avoided
like the plague. Cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is
dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any registry
cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of registry
cleaning software try to convince you of, having unused registry
entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

and http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

and also
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussin.../02/registry-junk-a-windows-fact-of-life.aspx

Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against the
use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

Rather, the problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it
the substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no
benefit to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad
bargain.

 

[Allen Drake]

Registry "cleaning" is something that should be done only when there is
a specific need. General cleaning with almost any of the various
utilities can cause some real and sometimes very subtle problems.
Careful use can be of benefit, and with the backup options active,
somewhat safe. Naturally, if you do something that you really should
not, even that may not prevent serious problems.

Remember that MS abandoned it's regclean utility some windows versions
ago. There was a reason.

I will agree with you here and not take any chances but am very
curious about the inner workings. I do remember older versions of
windows and some tutorials regarding the registry.

 

[Allen Drake]

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil, and should be avoided
like the plague. Cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is
dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any registry
cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of registry
cleaning software try to convince you of, having unused registry
entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

and http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

and also
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussin.../02/registry-junk-a-windows-fact-of-life.aspx

Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against the
use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

Rather, the problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it
the substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no
benefit to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad
bargain.

Thanks for the links. I will check them out. I remember an
application but can't remember the name but one thing I liked was the
way it tracked the files added to the registry when you installed an
application. That way you knew exactly what was being added and not
removed when you uninstalled a program. I see many entries that never
get removed long after a removal of things I haven't used in years.

It does make sense that there is no harm in having unused entries if
they are simply ignored.

Al.