WindoFix Review
License: Shareware
Download Size: 2.02 MB
Operating System: Windows 98, ME,
NT, 2000, 2003, XP and
Price: $29.95XP
Developer: WindoFix.com
Developers of WindoFix claim their product scans your
system for various errors such as invalid files and system references to
reduce system instability, and eliminate errors, crashes, system slowdown
and blue screens issues. According to them the tool can scan and fix missing
file associations, missing start-up programs, missing DLL files, invalid
device drivers, invalid application paths, missing help files, missing
system fonts, and a lot many other errors.
WindoFix comes with a file size of 2.02 MB and is
compatible with all Windows operating systems, such as
Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows
NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Vista
64-bit.
WindoFix application offers a free scan that scans your
PC for registry and other errors. However, to get rid of all these errors
you need to purchase a paid version that will set you back by $29.95. This
is normal for all registry cleaners where they try to whet your appetite
with a free scan and come in for a kill with their paid versions!
What did not impress our technical team was that on
logging on to their website we receive an automatic health check, which
lists the following:
- Scan Time
- Operating System
- Screen Resolution
- Browser Type
- System Errors
- System Performance
- Junk Files
- System Safety
The last four items has ‘System Alert!’ displayed
against them – in red. We mention this here because we had already scanned,
run and tested an alternate registry cleaning application earlier and there
is no reason WindoFix should have shown these system alerts! This leaves an
impression that they want to scare you into downloading their product. This
is a big negative as far as we are concerned.
However, our team went ahead to test this product to
check if they live up to their claims.
Installation And Scanning
Downloading and installation is easy and quick. The
user interface is simple with Startup Programs, IE Plugins, Installed
Programs, and Backup/Restore buttons, among others on the left. The right
side lists the areas you can choose to scan. These are:
- COM objects entries
- Application paths entries
- File associations entries
- Shared DLLs entries
- Services & Drivers entries
- Windows fonts entries
- Help files entries
- Startup programs entries
- Uninstall entries
The “Scan Now” button on the top of the right menu is
quite visible because it has a bold yellow color that makes it stand out of
all other buttons, which are primarily in gray.
The application allows you the option of selecting the
areas you wish to scan. However, we always recommend that it is always
better to scan all the areas in your system. So, make your selection and
then click the ‘Scan Now’ button to start checking your registry for errors.
During the scan, which is quick, the application
displays the area it is scanning along with the total number of keys and
values analyzed as well as the number of errors found. At the end of the
scan the total errors are shown against the individual areas scanned, with
the option to fix them. Of course, you will need to purchase the full
version to do that. This version comes with a 100% satisfaction or a no
questions asked money back guarantee.
We highly recommend that you take a full backup of the
registry through its backup option. This is a positive action as it gives
you an option to restore the registry back to its original state. It is
always possible that things could go wrong during the scan and repairs, or
you could inadvertently do something to adversely affect your system. Backup
always helps.
Features Of WindoFix
There are a number of features of WindoFix worth
mentioning. These are features which all good registry cleaners should, and
do have.
- IE Plugins
manager – This feature
enables you to IE issues. It allows you to eliminate the unwanted
harmful IE plug-ins. This leads to improved browser speeds. There is a
need to see whether their claim of 4 fold increase in browsing speeds is
true.
- Startup
Programs manager – When you startup your Windows system a number of
programs run along with it. There are some that are required and some
not required for the startup. These startup programs usually run in the
background and contribute towards slow startup of your system. You need
to disable some of these unwanted startup programs to speed up your PC.
This can be easily done through the WindoFix Startup Manager.
- Installed
Programs manager –
Through this feature you can remove all unwanted programs installed on
your system. As you use your PC you tend to install and uninstall
software, and install updates of various applications, as and when you
require to. Not all traces of programs are removed when you uninstall
them. This feature enables you to do so easily.
-
Backup/Restore – As explained earlier, this is a good feature to
have. In case of registry crashes you can easily restore your registry
to its prior, error-free state. Use of this utility saves you the
trouble of having your Windows operating system re-installed as you can
easily restore your registry.
Our Verdict
Our test team found that WindoFix application does
improve the performance of your system after the errors are fixed. The IE
Plugins feature help improve the browsing speed, the Startup Manager help
improve the startup speed, and the Backup/Restore feature does the job it is
supposed to. Unwanted traces of programs uninstalled earlier are easily
removed through the Installed Programs feature.
WindoFix application did remove all the errors as
claimed:
- Repaired the missing startup programs
- Invalid application paths
- All the missing DLL files
- Missing help files
- Invalid device drivers
Our team finds it is an easy application to use, even
for a non-techie and a novice. The errors were detected easily, fast, and
removed to improve system performance.
Having said that our team of technical experts has a
feeling, a doubt at the back of their minds; something they are unable to
put their finger to. This could be because of the initial ‘health check.’
However, if you wish to use WindoFix registry cleaning
application we advise that you first download a potent anti-spyware
application – just in case.
Useful Links:
http://www.windofix.com/dindex.php
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