PC Tools Registry Mechanic

We all slow down with age and our PCs are no exception. Old downloads, scattered files, unused applications and problems with the registry can all lead to slow boot times, freezes and crashes.

The registry is the database from which Windows stores all the settings and options of your operating system, third party applications and all drivers. The registry can become corrupted and the only way to repair some of the damage is with software like PC Tools Registry Mechanic.

What we like best

Registry mechanic removes orphaned registry references, condenses the existing registry entries and fixes broken references. It is difficult to evaluate how effective this is if your machine is not broken, but if you’re being plagued by regular crashes then this might be the solution.

Registry mechanic also has several features to maintain your privacy. Firstly it securely deletes files and makes them unrecoverable according to US Dept. of Defence standards. Secondly it removes lists of your activity from your browser, IM and other pieces pf software. Registry mechanic will also turn off non essential Windows services in order to speed up boot time and performance.

What we like least

The simple interface doesn’t give you a great deal of information what it’s actually doing, and it would have been nice to have more in-depth explanation of what the tools did.

Registry mechanic retails for around £30, and although you can run it on up to three computers, the price tag still feels a little high for a registry cleaner.