CNET Editors' review
Most utilities that promise to clean, tweak, and protect your PC share a shortcoming: they do too much and too little. They give users little control over the sweeping changes they make, sometimes disastrously. WinSettings Pro from FileStream offers plenty of control, but it requires more knowledge and effort than the "all-in-one" tools. However, that's precisely why we recommend it over the free and cheap alternatives.
WinSettings Pro's primary access point is an icon in the Notification Area, aka system tray. The program's stylishly skinned interface and Windows-style layout is anchored by the Group Bar, a left-hand console panel labeled with the program's primary functions: Cleanup, with 10 separate system cleaning tools; Registry, with around 20 tools; and Desktop, which includes customization features such as wallpaper and background music as well as a screencapture tool. We sampled the Backup, Restore Point, Clean Up Track, Remove Junk Files, Remove Startup, and File Association tools, among others; each had an impressive number of options and settings. Next we clicked Remove Duplicate Files to test WinSettings Pro's ability to weed through our digital snapshots, which are so badly organized they might as well be in a shoebox. We selected a drive, navigated to our Pictures library, added a folder to the Exclude list, selected the check boxes for our Compare Options, and clicked Scan. After a thorough scan, WinSettings Pro identified far more duplicates than we'd expected to see, with the option to select items to move to the Recycle Bin or delete permanently. The Desktop section has a neat Notification Icon tool that we used to add system tray icon for system tools such as SysConfig and the MMC as well as WinSettings Pro's various tools. The Wallpaper and Screensaver features didn't seem to add much to the built-in features in recent Windows releases, but the screencapture tool is much more versatile than the Windows snipping tool, with 16 capture options. WinSettings Pro also offers extensive statistics and reporting tools as well as passwords and other protections.
We've barely scratched the surface of the useful features WinSettings Pro packs, such as Windows and Internet tweaks, special folders and names, adding items to context menus, and editing restrictions. WinSettings Pro has something for everybody, but it's not for everybody; users who know something about their systems will get much more out of it than those who are less experienced.
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of FileStream WinSettings Pro 10.1. The trial version is limited to 20 days.
Publisher's Description
From FileStream:
Have a faster, cleaner, and error-free PC. With over 40 System Backup, Clean Up, Organize, and Stylize tools, WinSettings Pro makes your PCs always run like new! Find and fix errors, clean up junk and duplicates, optimize Internet speed, ensure privacy and security protection, maintain your computer's for peak performance and reliability, WinSettings Pro is a Windows System Utility Program. It uninstalls and removes unregistered programs, moves application, takes registry and system snapshot, repairs and maintains your Windows, optimizes your PC, and protects your online privacy and security. Its suite of intruder protection features includes program and service terminator. It speeds start-up and deletes locked files. You can lock up security and privacy settings, as well as hide Registry editing tools for added security protection. It comes with GUI for editing security related Registry settings with restore function. It cleans your surfing tracks automatically or on demand. It offers additional features such as desktop customization. Its suite of utility programs also includes a screen capture utility.
What's new in this version: Version 10.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
More Popular System Utilities downloads
- Glary Utilities
230,823 downloads
- MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition
52,838 downloads
- Auslogics Disk Defrag
41,350 downloads
- Pandora Recovery
19,555 downloads
- Glary Utilities Pro
13,481 downloads
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 10 votes
-
Current version:
3.7 starsout of 3 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-3 of 3
-
"nice program"
Version: FileStream WinSettings Pro 10.1
Pros
a freeware messed up my file association even after I uninstall the darn thing. i just tried winsettings pro to fix it and it did! i used winsettings pro to reassociate the file type with my old application. it works.
Cons
i did not find any con
Summary
will try some more features
-
"The best cleaner tool"
Version: FileStream WinSettings Pro 10.1
Pros
I have some files with the same file name that I want to keep and the rest I want to clean out. WinSettings Pro searches for files by name, size, folder, version, for me to decide which ones to clean out and which one to keep.
Cons
none so far
Summary
Will purchase it after my trial runs out.
-
"DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FUNCTIONAL TILL YOU BUY THE PRODUCT"
Version: FileStream WinSettings Pro 10.1
Pros
NONE UNLESS IT IS THE COMPANY HAS IT PRELOADED ON YOUR COMPUTER WHEN YOU DOWNLOAD EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT!
Cons
SEE ABOVE. ALSO THE FRACTION OF A SECOND IT TAKES TO "UNINSTALL" DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL GOOD.
Summary
AVOID!
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
