System Mechanic v3.7 - OUT!!!

[WE Sim]

Hi!

New release from www.iolo.com, System Mechanic v3.7

New features and bug fixes include:


Registry Cleaner: Added - Increased streamlining of scanning process. *

Registry Cleaner: Added - Increased thoroughness and accuracy of removal process.

Registry Cleaner: Added - More information to log files is now included.

Registry Cleaner: Added - Revamped invalid data display columns to be more intuitive for those familiar with the registry.

Registry Cleaner: Added - Expert Mode: Allow one to open the Windows Registry Editor at a specific displayed key location.

Privacy Tool: Added - Support for removal of later versions of Opera's cache.

Privacy Tool: Added - Support for removal of Office XP history.

Privacy Tool: Added - Support for Outlook Express 6 deleted items removal.

Privacy Tool: Fixed - Support for Outlook Express deleted items under Windows 2000 and XP.

Privacy Tool: Fixed - Some actions in logs were being misreported.

StartUp Manager: Added - When adding a new item, prevented automatic overwrite if an item existed with same name (now prompts).

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Non shortcuts located in the startup folders are now handled properly.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Error message now displayed when attempting to run an item that does not exist.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Original configuration settings were not being saved on some systems, leading to blank startup profiles loaded upon a original settings rollback.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Desktop.ini file in startup folder under Windows XP now ignored.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Startup items in all-users group were being misprocessed during enable/disable operations as well as profile saves/ loads.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - Adding disabled startup items to all-users group would fail.

StartUp Manager: Fixed - If a disabled item existed in the all users startup folder, enabling it would not remove its existing disabled reference, thus resulting in an enabled as well as disabled reference upon completion.

Incinerator: Added - Enhancements to context menus.

Incinerator: Added - Warning when attempting to move files from Recycle Bin to Incinerator.

Incinerator: Added - Warning when attempting to move files from network, CDROM, or floppy to Incinerator.

Incinerator: Added - Upon installation, desktop icon is automatically positioned under Recycle Bin when auto-arrange desktop is enabled.

Incinerator: Fixed - Access violation in explorer when incinerator was full.

Incinerator: Fixed - Sending a shortcut file to the Incinerator sometimes moved the target instead of the shortcut.

Incinerator: Fixed - .pif and .url files are now properly handled in the Incinerator context menus.

Incinerator: Fixed - Disabled ability to install Incinerator under Mobile Toolkit edition.

Incinerator: Fixed - Right-click properties of files within incinerator would not work after the first instance.

Incinerator: Fixed - Less flicker / less refresh when adding or modifying items.

Incinerator: Fixed - Message boxes and confirmations were not always displayed in the foreground.

Incinerator: Fixed - On certain configurations, files moved to incinerator from drives other than C were immediately removed instead of being placed within the incinerator for potential restoration.

System Customizer: Added - More intuitive methods of handling boot screens. Defaults are saved and always restorable.

System Customizer: Fixed - Now properly allows permanent changing of internet cache folder locations.

System Customizer: Fixed - Boot screen changes are not applied until the "apply" button is selected.

System Customizer: Fixed - Changing boot screens is not supported under Windows Me. This option has been disabled.

System Customizer: Fixed - Smooth scrolling setting was not applicable to Windows Me or Internet Explorer 5.5+.

NetBooster: Added - Adjustments to optimal settings.

NetBooster: Fixed - When switching to a LAN connection type SM would lock up if proper dll files were not found. Error message is now displayed.

NetBooster: Fixed - Documentation updates.

NetBooster: Fixed - Individual NIC MTU values were not being handled properly.

Duplicate File Tool: Fixed - Sometimes total duplicate file space incorrectly reported as zero.

Duplicate File Tool: Fixed - Miscellaneous issues related to the use of a floppy as a master file list.

Duplicate File Tool: Fixed - Miscellaneous issues related to search criteria and techniques.

SafeInstaller: Fixed - Saving a system snapshot in a nonexistent location lost the snapshot.

SafeInstaller: Fixed - Aborting a snapshot sometimes resulted in an error.

SafeInstaller: Fixed - Under certain circumstances, entire registry was shown as having been changed.

Junk File Tool: Fixed - Exiting while removing files resulted in error.

Invalid Uninstaller Tool: Fixed - 16 bit uninstaller executables would sometimes launch when being checked for validity.

Invalid Shortcut Tool: Fixed - "Exclude shortcuts referencing CDROM and network files" was not functional.

General: Fixed - Corrected conflicting pneumonic accelerator keys.

[Checkout]

Boy, 3.6 must have been a buggy release! * ;D

[UNICRON]

LOL d@mn you are funny checkout!

[Checkout]

Maybe Paul could give me a unique title here at Wilders - "Checkout - Security Jester" *:)

[MickeyTheMan]

And i liked 3.6, just imagine how i feel about 3.7 ! :D

[Marsman]

SM users,

Hot on the heels of V3.7 there now is a V3.7a release.

Cheers,
Mars Man * ::)



* *

[Checkout]

-{ Quote: "
Hot on the heels of V3.7 there now is a V3.7a release.
" }-
Ah...must be more new...er...features discovered!

[Marsman]

New Version Notes Version 3.7a (May 13, 2002)

Registry Cleaner: Fixed Some Norton AntiVirus information was being misreported as invalid.
Registry Cleaner: Fixed Extremely long registry key names were generating errors.
Invalid Uninstaller Tool: Fixed Some Windows XP Hotfix data was being reported as invalid.
Incinerator: Fixed WebUpdate was not properly updating incinerator.
Privacy Tool: Fixed Removed debug message.
NetBooster: Fixed Diagnostic graph data was disabled.

Cheers,
Mars Man *;)

[john2g]

They still haven't fixed all the bugs in 3.7A

I am getting an Access Violation message on clicking the box "No invalid registry entries found"

Haven't had that before.

[WE Sim]

Hi john2g!

You're not alone. I'm also facing the same problem as you. v3.7 is without this problem.

Well, just have to wait till they release v3.7b

[UNICRON]

hey no problem, you'll all be happy when you get you beta testing checks in the mail right?

[root]

With all the noise being made about this program, I finally decided to try it.
Sure glad I didn't uninstall System Suite.
End of message. *:D

[snapdragin]

i was looking at System Mechanic but not familiar with registry editing programs at all, so errr....given the comments above ~LOL~....would this be a program say a, newbie wouldn't have TOO much trouble with?? yes? no? (try it anyways and let's see how she does with it?) *:)

[FanJ]

Hi Snap,

About System Mechanic I cannot tell you much (never used it; same as Root: I too have Ontrack SystemSuite).

But more in general:
ALWAYS make a backup of your registry before going into "tweaking" it !

[snapdragin]

oh dang....i had those backup instructions for XP somewhere! *~puts SM on hold, pops on XP newbie hat again~

[spy1]

Couldn't figure out why this program seemed so familiar, since I've never used it.

Then I realized it was reminding me of a lot of the 'mechanics' I've had work on my vehicles over the years - often replaced for lack of performance! :) Pete

[MickeyTheMan]

-{ Quote: "i was looking at System Mechanic but not familiar with registry editing programs at all, so errr....given the comments above ~LOL~....would this be a program say a, newbie wouldn't have TOO much trouble with?? yes? no? (try it anyways and let's see how she does with it?) *:)" }-
i'm surprized of some of the comments above, as System Mechanic as been my faithful companion for a good 2 years without a glitch ever. *Everything as easy as 1,2,3 !

[TAG97]

Snap:
* * * * System Mechanic will do the BackUp for you. I've had it for a week and really like it. Every thing you do can be backup. I like the option of scanning different parts of registry. Oh and I had to use the BackUp a few times and as MTM say's it's as simple as !,2,3 ;)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Regards
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Tim

[snapdragin]

-{ Quote: "
....Everything as easy as 1,2,3 !
" }-

but you are not a newbie with these kinds of programs Mikey......i have a double newbie hat to wear, i'm not all that familiar with XP home yet-----still can't figure out what all those svchost are doing yet ~LOL~ ..... i want to secure my pc's but not totally crash them trying to secure them, so i am looking for programs as close to the one's suggested at Wilders as needed or good to have without getting in over my head.

not that i don't like a challenge, but everything i've learned about computers have been strickly self-taught through trial and error....i just wanna decrease the error rate if at all possible. *:D

[snapdragin]

-{ Quote: "Snap:
* * * * System Mechanic will do the BackUp for you. I've had it for a week and really like it. Every thing you do can be backup. I like the option of scanning different parts of registry. Oh and I had to use the BackUp a few times and as MTM say's it's as simple as !,2,3 ;)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Regards
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Tim" }-

~puts her Brave Hat on~ *alrighty i'll give it a go.....wanna see what a snapdragin looks like when they hold their breath?? ~LOL~ j/k!

i liked what i saw at their site when i was reading about it....and it did seem to have everything i felt i needed along with a few more options i didn't know i wanted until i read about it......soooooooooo.....it's the long weekend here ~grin~

if you see my sig flower turn blue, you'll know i held my breath too long! *But i'll give SM a go'round! :)

[MickeyTheMan]

Hey, if you are really so unsure about it, i do have a recommendation.
Do you use a program such as DRIVE IMAGE ?
Perfect to make an image of your system just before trying out a new program. *Anything turns out sour testing it, you just go back to to your image !

[snapdragin]

:)
now i did look into Drive Image, whoa a bit pricy too! (but then, some things are priceless and unreplaceable)

i think i am able to "roll-back" to some point with XP but i've read different views on that option. *Some of the views said not everything rolled back correctly, meaning leaving some things out ? But given it's a M$ roll-back feature.....well......i think i'd trust Drive Image more!

btw...i actually did d/l System Mechanic on this pc (XP) from iolo technologies; said it was vers 3.6 on their site but when i check the properties of the file uhh...it has no version number, no company listed...nothing about it....

i can't seem to d/l it from my Win98 pc trying either Netscape 4.76 or IE 5.5...in Netscape it just starts to connect to the d/l and then nothing, as if i never clicked at all. *With IE i can get to the d/l page but then there just this li'l tiny box up in the left corner....and i can't get anything else no matter what i've tried---------and i REALLY tried! LOL

(i know it's not the site, so it must be something wierd about that pc i haven't figured out yet) LOL
[hr]
opps--just checked their site again and it says ver. 3.7 now.

[FanJ]

-{ Quote: "now i did look into Drive Image, whoa a bit pricy too! " }-

Drive Image is a fine tool, not any doubt about that !

There are other possibilities like for example Ghost from Symantec, or ERS.

ERS is mentioned here;
http://www.wilders.org/securing_your_pc.htm
you can find it here:
http://www.backtec.com/
I use the version ERS9x for W98SE, and I like it.

[snapdragin]

Thank you FanJ!!

much better price too! ~wheww~ :)

i read the page over and it looks like i can't use ERS 2k/XP because it is just for FAT32 and my system is NTFS...so i'll probably look at Drive Image for the XP (if it's compatible with NTFS systems)

but my Win98se is FAT32 so i d/l'ed the ERS9x for that pc! *~big smyle~

thank you again for your help!! *:D

(gonna check out that System Suite also....then i'll get back to the System Mechanic!) *~refocuses her eyes and goes for another re-read~-------i don't drink....i might....LOL

[FanJ]

Snap,

I should have told you that ERS backs up all your critical system files etc. etc. and registry. But it doesn't back up all your other programs, Word-doc's, pictures, etc. For backing up those things you still need something else.
Sorry, I should have posted that.

[snapdragin]

Thanks FanJ, you confirmed what i had thought too, that it just backs up the system files, and that is ok because that is really what i would be wanting backed up. *i back up all my pictures, art, and editing software to CD's along with saved doc/txt files i make.

i have checked into the Ontrack System Suite too, and not ruling out System Mechanic since i may need to use different programs given i have two different systems to work with. LOL

but i will start another thread for those questions.

Thanks also to you Mickey for your suggestions! :)

[MickeyTheMan]

This is by no means a free solution, but for a sure trouble free almost guaranteed permanent back up solution :
Drive Image for an image of your drive.
Smart backup for easy backing of data between images.
2 hdd to allow for always possible hardrive failure and making image on other drive as well !

Now, is that paranoid enough or what ? :D

[MickeyTheMan]

System Mechanic v3.7b
+++++++++++++++++

Version 3.7b has been released on May 17, 2002.

Whats+New
-+_+-+_+-+
Registry Cleaner: Fixed - Access violation error after scanning process completes in Windows 9x
System Customizer: Fixed - Windows NT/2000/XP options were disabled under Windows XP Home edition
Incinerator: Fixed - Error message when attempting to install Incinerator under Windows 95
General: Fixed - Error message when starting under Windows NT4
++++++++++++++++++

Previous Version 3.7a which was released on May 13, 2002.

What+What+New
-+_+-+_+-+_+-
Registry Cleaner: Fixed - Some Norton AntiVirus information was being misreported as invalid
Registry Cleaner: Fixed - Extremely long registry key names were generating errors
Invalid Uninstaller Tool: Fixed - Some Windows XP Hotfix data was being reported as invalid
Incinerator: Fixed - WebUpdate was not properly updating incinerator
Privacy Tool: Fixed - Removed debug message
NetBooster: Diagnostic graph data was disabled
++++++++++++++++++
(thanks to phantom)

[MickeyTheMan]

BTW, latest version is now 3.7 D !

[Checkout]

Anyone bid me an 'F'? *A 'T'?

Sold! *To the Beta Tester in the front row!