System Mechanic
Encyclopedia
System Mechanic is an all-in-one PC tune-up utility software suite that analyzes, fixes, optimizes, and maintains Windows computers. It incorporates multiple patented and patent-pending technologies, such as ActiveCare, a technology that allows the program to run automatic maintenance scans and repairs on a Windows PC while a computer is on but not in use.
System Mechanic was created by iolo technologies
in 1998; in June 2011, the company released version 10.5. iolo estimates that by 2011, System Mechanic had been used by over 36 million people worldwide.
Some features unique to System Mechanic include:
Patented ActiveCare technology included in the System Mechanic product line allows users to configure maintenance to run automatically during idle time. ActiveCare is designed to keep PCs optimized without interrupting work or reducing foreground resources, and uses a unique method to perform operations when the system is on but not being interacted with by a user.
Tune-up Definitions are a growing database of information based on iolo Labs research that helps System Mechanic diagnose and resolve a growing list problems specific to each PC configuration. All System Mechanic users (version 7 and later) with an active product license receive constant, real-time Tune-up Definitions updates.
Whole Home License, introduced in 2010, allows System Mechanic to be installed on an unlimited number of PCs for personal use. PC Magazine called Whole Home License a "marvelous multi-PC friendly arrangement” and a "welcome feature in the age of the multi-PC household."
Program Accelerator is a tool unique to System Mechanic that uses a patent-pending technology to align logically related files in optimal physical locations on a hard drive. This process of re-alignment helps reduce program load times and improve overall system responsiveness.
EnergyBooster 's patent-pending technology temporarily shuts down unnecessary or unused programs running in the background in order to deliver extra speed and power to foreground programs that require more prioritized resources, such as games, image editing or video editing software.
PC Magazine, Best Product of the Year (2010). The editors of PC Magazine chose System Mechanic as their top pick in the category of utility software, noting that the program is a "must have for well-used computers…designed to blow the virtual dust out of worn machines by repairing the registry, defragging the hard drive, and eliminating files that stymie snappy performance."
PC Magazine, Editors' Choice (2010). Reviewer Jeffrey Wilson performed a comparison test using several different utility software programs, and noted that "After using iolo System Mechanic 10, the system saw the most improved performance of all the tune-up utilities tested…System Mechanic 10 is our new PC tune-up utility champ."
Windows IT Pro, Best System Utility (2010). The editors of Windows IT Pro magazine chose System Mechanic Business, a version of System Mechanic designed for office networks, as their Best System Utility of 2010. "With System Mechanic Business, small organizations can speed up and clean up users' PCs without blowing their IT budget."
Government Computer News, Best Products of 2009. Government Computer News magazine named System Mechanic as one of their picks for the best products of 2009, noting that repairs run by System Mechanic created "noticeable and measurable change" in a modestly-used computer. Pointing out that these improvements "might save you a lot of money by avoiding costly new computer buys," GCN noted that "For that alone, System Mechanic 8.5 could be the hero of the current economy."
Laptop Magazine, Best Gear for the New Year (2008). The editors of Laptop Magazine selected System Mechanic as one of their picks for "Best Gear for the New Year," noting that System Mechanic was one of "the most complete utility suites we've seen."
Laptop Magazine, Editors' Choice (2007). Reviewer Steve Smith was impressed by how System Mechanic "found and fixed a lot of errors the other programs overlooked or didn't even try to find," and concluded that "iolo technologies' suite is a bargain that will keep your system clean and optimized."
Computer Shopper, Best Utility Suite (2005, 2006). The Computer Shopper staff noted that System Mechanic "delivers an incredible array of utilities for fine-tuning, repairing, and maintaining your PC," and named it the best utility suite in their roundup of the Top 100 technology products of the year in both 2005 and 2006.
CNET/ZDNet, Editors' Choice (2004). ZDNet chose System Mechanic Professional as its editors' pick, and reviewer Barry Brenesal noted that the staff found the tools in System Mechanic Professional to be "more useful than that of Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional," and "offers advanced users a lot more value." Brenesal also praises the "comprehensive depth" of the product, and notes that System Mechanic's "help index is well organised and extremely detailed, with plenty of cross-links to useful subjects."
Home Office Computing, Product of the Year (2000). System Mechanic was named one of Home Office Computing's Products of the Year (winning in the utility software category) at the COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas.
PC Photo, Editors' Choice (1999). System Mechanic was named the best PC tune-up software by the editors of PC Photo Magazine, who concluded that "System Mechanic makes system tune-ups easy."
System Mechanic was created by iolo technologies
Iolo technologies
iolo technologies is a privately held American software company headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. iolo creates software designed to repair, optimize, and protect Windows PCs: its flagship product, System Mechanic, is a top-selling software product in the PC tune-up utility software category, and...
in 1998; in June 2011, the company released version 10.5. iolo estimates that by 2011, System Mechanic had been used by over 36 million people worldwide.
Statistics and product milestones
- In 2006, System Mechanic earned the largest mag to reports from the NPD Group.
- As of July 2011, System Mechanic holds 85% of the market share (in the category of tune-up utilities) in the U.S. and 98% in Canada.
- According to iolo technologies’ website, System Mechanic has been used on over 75 million PCs worldwide, and is being sold in 33 countries and 6 languages as of 2011.
Tools and features
System Mechanic includes a number of features that can help PCs run faster and operate more efficiently. The product has over fifty integrated tools designed to improve computer performance and stability by removing clutter and junk files, repairing registry problems, re-aligning related program components, recovering wasted memory (RAM), defragmenting hard drives, optimizing internet connection settings, managing Windows startup settings, and more.Some features unique to System Mechanic include:
Patented ActiveCare technology included in the System Mechanic product line allows users to configure maintenance to run automatically during idle time. ActiveCare is designed to keep PCs optimized without interrupting work or reducing foreground resources, and uses a unique method to perform operations when the system is on but not being interacted with by a user.
Tune-up Definitions are a growing database of information based on iolo Labs research that helps System Mechanic diagnose and resolve a growing list problems specific to each PC configuration. All System Mechanic users (version 7 and later) with an active product license receive constant, real-time Tune-up Definitions updates.
Whole Home License, introduced in 2010, allows System Mechanic to be installed on an unlimited number of PCs for personal use. PC Magazine called Whole Home License a "marvelous multi-PC friendly arrangement” and a "welcome feature in the age of the multi-PC household."
Program Accelerator is a tool unique to System Mechanic that uses a patent-pending technology to align logically related files in optimal physical locations on a hard drive. This process of re-alignment helps reduce program load times and improve overall system responsiveness.
EnergyBooster 's patent-pending technology temporarily shuts down unnecessary or unused programs running in the background in order to deliver extra speed and power to foreground programs that require more prioritized resources, such as games, image editing or video editing software.
System Mechanic family
In addition to the standard version of System Mechanic, iolo offers four other products that include System Mechanic's suite of tools.- System Mechanic Professional combines System Mechanic with System Shield (an antivirus and antispyware program), Search and Recover (for data recovery), DriveScrubber (for secure data deletion), and secure online backup.
- System Mechanic Premium includes all of System Mechanic Professional’s features except for System Shield AntiVirus and AntiSpyware.
- PC TotalCare combines System Mechanic with System Shield and secure online backup.
- System Mechanic Business is a version of System Mechanic that is specifically designed for commercial use in small business office networks.
Accolades and awards
System Mechanic has won a number of industry software awards and Editors' Choice acknowledgements. Some highlights include:PC Magazine, Best Product of the Year (2010). The editors of PC Magazine chose System Mechanic as their top pick in the category of utility software, noting that the program is a "must have for well-used computers…designed to blow the virtual dust out of worn machines by repairing the registry, defragging the hard drive, and eliminating files that stymie snappy performance."
PC Magazine, Editors' Choice (2010). Reviewer Jeffrey Wilson performed a comparison test using several different utility software programs, and noted that "After using iolo System Mechanic 10, the system saw the most improved performance of all the tune-up utilities tested…System Mechanic 10 is our new PC tune-up utility champ."
Windows IT Pro, Best System Utility (2010). The editors of Windows IT Pro magazine chose System Mechanic Business, a version of System Mechanic designed for office networks, as their Best System Utility of 2010. "With System Mechanic Business, small organizations can speed up and clean up users' PCs without blowing their IT budget."
Government Computer News, Best Products of 2009. Government Computer News magazine named System Mechanic as one of their picks for the best products of 2009, noting that repairs run by System Mechanic created "noticeable and measurable change" in a modestly-used computer. Pointing out that these improvements "might save you a lot of money by avoiding costly new computer buys," GCN noted that "For that alone, System Mechanic 8.5 could be the hero of the current economy."
Laptop Magazine, Best Gear for the New Year (2008). The editors of Laptop Magazine selected System Mechanic as one of their picks for "Best Gear for the New Year," noting that System Mechanic was one of "the most complete utility suites we've seen."
Laptop Magazine, Editors' Choice (2007). Reviewer Steve Smith was impressed by how System Mechanic "found and fixed a lot of errors the other programs overlooked or didn't even try to find," and concluded that "iolo technologies' suite is a bargain that will keep your system clean and optimized."
Computer Shopper, Best Utility Suite (2005, 2006). The Computer Shopper staff noted that System Mechanic "delivers an incredible array of utilities for fine-tuning, repairing, and maintaining your PC," and named it the best utility suite in their roundup of the Top 100 technology products of the year in both 2005 and 2006.
CNET/ZDNet, Editors' Choice (2004). ZDNet chose System Mechanic Professional as its editors' pick, and reviewer Barry Brenesal noted that the staff found the tools in System Mechanic Professional to be "more useful than that of Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional," and "offers advanced users a lot more value." Brenesal also praises the "comprehensive depth" of the product, and notes that System Mechanic's "help index is well organised and extremely detailed, with plenty of cross-links to useful subjects."
Home Office Computing, Product of the Year (2000). System Mechanic was named one of Home Office Computing's Products of the Year (winning in the utility software category) at the COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas.
PC Photo, Editors' Choice (1999). System Mechanic was named the best PC tune-up software by the editors of PC Photo Magazine, who concluded that "System Mechanic makes system tune-ups easy."