User Manual

AVG PC Tuneup 2012
User Manual
Document revision 2012.01 (10.8.2011)
C opyright AVG Technologies C Z, s.r.o. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Contents
........................................................................................................................
4
1. What
is AVG PC Tuneup?
........................................................................................................................
5
2. AVG
PC Tuneup Features
........................................................................................................................
6
3. Hardware
& Software Requirements
........................................................................................................................
7
4. Installing
the Program
........................................................................................................................
8
5. Main
Window
........................................................................................................................
9
6. Registry
Maintenance
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6.1 Registry ..........................................................................................................
Cleaner
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6.2 Registry..........................................................................................................
Defrag
........................................................................................................................
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7. Disk
Maintenance
..........................................................................................................
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7.1 Clean Up
Your Hard Disk
..........................................................................................................
11
7.2 Defragment
Your Hard Disk
..........................................................................................................
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7.3 Check for
Errors
........................................................................................................................
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8. Disk
Space Management
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8.1 Find and..........................................................................................................
Delete Identical Files
..........................................................................................................
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8.2 Organize
Files and Folders
........................................................................................................................
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9. System
Speed Up
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9.1 Optimize..........................................................................................................
Your Internet Connection
..........................................................................................................
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9.2 Tweak Windows
to its Peak Performance
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10.........................................................................................................................
System Control
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10.1 Control..........................................................................................................
Startup Programs
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10.2 Disable..........................................................................................................
Unnecessary Services
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10.3 Control..........................................................................................................
Processes Running on Your Computer
..........................................................................................................
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10.4 Remove
Unnecessary Applications
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10.5 Get to..........................................................................................................
Know Your Computer Better
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Privacy Protection
..........................................................................................................
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11.1 Hide Your
Computer Activities
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11.2 Delete..........................................................................................................
Files beyond Restoration
..........................................................................................................
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11.3 Wipe Sensitive
Data
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12.........................................................................................................................
Disaster Recovery
..........................................................................................................
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12.1 Recover
Accidentally Deleted Data
..........................................................................................................
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12.2 Back up
Changes Made to Your System
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1. What is AVG PC Tuneup?
You already know how AVG can protect you online. Now we take that expertise one
step further by fixing problems that slow you down. AVG PC Tuneup provides over 16
tools to help you get the most out of your PC.
Benefits at a glance
Increase your internet speed
Free up space on your hard drive
Protect your privacy
Clean your registry and make your PC more stable
Speed up your PC
Protect and recover your personal files
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2. AVG PC Tuneup Features
D is k C le a ne r
D is k D e fra g
R e gis try C le a ne r
Removes junk files slowing
down your computer
Defragments disk drives and Repairs thousands of
optimizes system files
registry errors to increase
placement
PC stability
R e gis try D e fra g
D is k D o cto r
Inte rne t O ptim iz e r
Compacts the registry
eliminating memoryconsuming gaps
Finds bad sectors, lost
clusters and directory
errors and fixes them
Tailors the one-size-fits-all
settings to your specific
Internet connection
Tra ck E ra s e r
D is k W ipe
File Shre dde r
Removes the history of
Wipes free space on disks
your computer and Internet to prevent the recovery of
usage
sensitive data
Erases selected files
beyond recovery on a disk
or USB stick
File R e co v e ry
D uplica te File Finde r
Se rv ice s M a na ge r
Recovers accidentally
deleted files from disks,
USB sticks or cameras
Helps to find and remove
duplicate files that waste
disk space
Disables unnecessary
services slowing down your
computer
Sta rtup M a na ge r
Unins ta ll M a na ge r
Twe a k M a na ge r
Allows to manage programs Completely uninstalls the
Allows to tune hundreds of
that start automatically on software programs that you Windows settings to
Windows boot
no longer need
increase your PC speed
Ta s k M a na ge r
D is k E xplo re r
Sy s te m Info rm a tio n
Lists all running processes,
services and locked files
Shows which files take up
the most space on your
computer
Provides detailed
information about your
hardware and software
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3. Hardware & Software Requirements
Before installing the program, please check that your computer meets the following
hardware and software requirements:
Windows 7, XP or Vista ( 32-bit a nd 64-bit support e d)
50 MB of available hard-disk space
256 MB RAM or more
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4. Installing the Program
Start the Se tup W iz a rd by double-clicking on the downloaded file. If you bought the
program on a CD, insert the disk into a CD/DVD drive which will launch the Se tup
W iz a rd. If the program does not start automatically, open M y Com put e r, select the
CD/DV D driv e and double click on the program file to launch it manually.
Follow the instructions of the Se tup W iz a rd.
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5. Main Window
To start the program, double click on the AVG PC Tuneup icon on your desktop. The
main window will open where you can instantly see your system status, scan area and
the quick tasks. If the program recommends to scan the system, simply click on the
Sca n No w button and follow the instructions.
1. Select the areas where you want the program to look for errors, junk files and
other problems.
2. Click on the Sca n No w button to begin the scan, or click on the arrow to
select advanced scan options.
3. You can switch to additional tabs with resource usage information, advice on
optimizing computer, or advanced tools.
4. Use the quick tasks if all you want is to quickly erase history, clean up
temporary files or optimize computer memory.
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6. Registry Maintenance
The registry is the main database within Windows. It is where crucial settings of each
application and driver are stored. When running, a program may access the registry
thousands of times per second. Registry errors can cause many problems, starting
from computer slowdowns to system hanging and crashes. Keeping the registry in good
shape means better computer performance and stability.
How to Maintain the Windows Registry.
AVG PC Tuneup includes two essential tools for keeping the registry clean, compact
and error free: R e gis try C le a ne r and R e gis try D e fra g. These utilities can be
launched under the Advanced Tools tab in the main window of the program:
6.1. Registry Cleaner
We recommend cleaning the registry at least once a week. To do that, click on the
R e pa ir entry of the R e gis try M a inte na nce section. A new window will appear:
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Select categories you want the program to scan for errors and click on the Sca n No w
button. After the scan is finished, you will be presented with a list of detected
problems.You can view detailed information about each problem found. Click on the
R e pa ir button to fix all problems immediately.
6.2. Registry Defrag
R e gis try D e fra g is the other essential tool. It eliminates structural defects of the
registry and compacts it, reducing the amount of RAM the registry takes up. To launch
the R e gis try D e fra g tool, click on the D e fra gm e nt entry of the R e gis try
M a inte na nce section.
Click on the Ana ly z e button in the R e gis try D e fra g window to start the registry
analysis. The program will scan the registry to see how much fragmentation there is
and if the registry needs to be defragmented. When the analysis is over, click Ne xt to
defragment the registry.
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7. Disk Maintenance
Any hard disk becomes fragmented and cluttered with junk files over time. This is one
of the most common reasons of computer slowdowns. AVG PC Tuneup has all the
tools needed to get the most out of your hard drive performance.
7.1. Clean Up Your Hard Disk
With D is k C le a ne r tool you can clean up your disks from useless files that waste
space and slow down your computer. These may be temporary files, web browsers
cache, junk files left by online chat programs like MSN or Yahoo Messenger and other
debris. To launch the D is k C le a ne r tool, click on the C le a nup link of the D is k
M a inte na nce section. Specify where the program should look for junk files and then
click on the Sca n No w button.After a short scan you will see the junk files and their
location on disk. Select the files you want to delete and click R e m o v e .
7.2. Defragment Your Hard Disk
AVG PC Tuneup includes a D is k D e fra g tool. This tool can defragment files,
consolidate free space and move system files to the faster part of the disk. This
greatly improves applications response time, system boot speed and overall computer
performance.
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Click on the D e fra gm e nt link of the D is k M a inte na nce section. Select the disks you
want to defragment and click on:
Ana ly z e to determine disks fragmentation level
D e fra g to defragment files
D e fra g & O ptim iz e to defragment files and consolidate free space
7.3. Check for Errors
D is k D o cto r is also included, allowing you to check disk drives for problems related to
bad sectors, lost clusters and directory errors. With D is k D o cto r you will be able to
recover data from unreadable sectors and monitor your hard drive health.
Ple a s e no te : We re c om m e nd running t he Disk Doc t or t ool onc e a m ont h t o c he c k t he
he a lt h of t he disk driv e s on y our c om put e r. If y ou st a rt se e ing a lot of ba d se c t ors,
ba c kup a nd re pla c e t he fa ult y disk t o pre v e nt da t a loss.
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Click on the R e pa ir D is ks link of the D is k M a inte na nce section. Select the disks and
click on:
Sca n s e le cte d to analyse disks without repairing errors
Sca n a nd Fix Se le cte d to repair errors without scanning the volume for bad
sectors
D e e p Sca n a nd Fix Se le cte d to repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover
readable information
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8. Disk Space Management
Daily computer activity inevitably leads to large number of useless files accumulating
on your computer, even more so if you are an active PC user. You may download
gigabytes of music and video files, documents and applications from the Internet and
not even realize how many identical files or files that you don't really need any more
are stored on your hard disks. With AVG PC Tuneup you can organize documents,
media, and other files to increase free space on the disks of your computer.
8.1. Find and Delete Identical Files
Keeping unnecessary duplicate files on your computer means wasting valuable hard
disk space. D uplica te File Finde r will help you to get rid of those files. With this utility
you can increase free space by up to 50%.
To launch D uplica te File Finde r, click on the R e m o v e duplica te s link of the Fre e Up
Spa ce section. Select the folders where you wish the program to look for identical files
and specify which file types the program should look for. After the scan is finished you
will be able to select the duplicate files you want to delete.
8.2. Organize Files and Folders
D is k E xplo re r is designed to help with tracking disk space usage. This tool will show
the largest files and folders on your disks, so you can free up additional space by
archiving them onto a CD or DVD.
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To launch D is k E xplo re r, click on the E xplo re dis ks link of the Fre e Up Spa ce
section. Select disks you wish the program to analyze and click Sca n No w. You will
then be able to see which files and folders take up the most of the disk space, as well
as some useful statistics. Click on the Sho w button to choose between several views.
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9. System Speed Up
AVG PC Tuneup offers over hundreds of settings to tune your system for maximum
performance and speed up Internet connection.
9.1. Optimize Your Internet Connection
With Inte rne t O ptim iz e r tool you can speed up Internet connection by optimizing
numerous settings like Max MTU and RWIN specifically for the type of Internet
connection you use.
If you want the program to optimize your Internet connection automatically, click on
the Auto m a tic entry of the Spe e d Up Inte rne t section and follow the program's
instructions. You can also customize all settings manually. To do it, click on the
M a nua l O ptim iz a tio n entry. In the right-hand column you will find detailed
description of each setting.
9.2. Tweak Windows to its Peak Performance
Twe a k M a na ge r tool includes lots of undocumented Windows settings that can be
customized to speed up your system. All settings come with descriptions that make it
easy to understand what you are doing.
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To launch the Twe a k M a na ge r tool, click on the Sy s te m Twe a ks link under the
Adv a nce d To o ls tab. In the right column of the appeared window you can select
categories you wish to customize. Each option has a tweak rating, telling you how
much effect changing the setting will have on your computer performance.
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10. System Control
AVG PC Tuneup provides you with a set of tools that will help you to control every
task, service or application running on your computer.
10.1. Control Startup Programs
Reducing the number of programs that start automatically will make Windows boot
faster and free up system resources. Sta rtup M a na ge r lists all startup programs
installed on your system and allows you to disable the programs that you use
occasionally or don't use at all.
To launch the Sta rtup M a na ge r tool, click on the Sta rtup items link of the So ftwa re
C o ntro l section. Manage the list by adding new programs or removing unnecessary
startup applications. You can also disable any program before removing it from the list
to see the effect the change will have on your system.
10.2. Disable Unnecessary Services
There are some services constantly running on your computer that you don't really
need. Each of them uses valuable system resources - memory, CPU and hard drive.
Disabling these services may significantly increase your computer performance.
Se rv ice M a na ge r will help you to identify and disable unnecessary services by
providing you with comprehensive descriptions and recommendations regarding each
running service.
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To launch the Se rv ice M a na ge r tool, click on the Se rv ice s link of the Sy s te m Sta tus
section. Select the services you don't need running on your system and click on the
D is a ble s e rv ice . If you are not sure whether you need a particular service, please
read the description and the advice concerning its usage, displayed in the right
column.
10.3. Control Processes Running on Your Computer
Ta s k M a na ge r lets you track all running applications, processes and open files. It
displays how much CPU, RAM and disk is used by an individual program or a process, as
well as the total consumption of system recourses. It also allows you to speed up
individual processes by bumping up their priority.
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To launch the Ta s k M a na ge r tool, click on the Ta s ks link of the Sy s te m Sta tus
section. Select one of the categories on the right: Applic a t ions, Proc e sse s, Se rv ic e s or
Loc ke d F ile s. If there are processes believed to be dangerous, Ta s k M a na ge r will
warn you about them, so you can easily end the processes or find out more about it in
the Internet.
10.4. Remove Unnecessary Applications
Uninstall Manager shows you the list of all programs installed on your computer and
allows you to easily uninstall any of them. Uninstall Manager displays detailed
information about each program, including its publisher, current version, installation
size and location on disk. You can also see which programs you hardly ever use and
decide whether you need them or not. In addition, Uninstall Manager warns you if
there are programs believed to be spyware or adware.
Click on the Ins ta lle d So ftwa re link of the So ftwa re C o ntro l section, select the
program you want to remove and click on:
Unins ta ll to launch the program's uninstall wizard
Q uie t Unins ta ll to quickly remove the program
Fo rce R e m o v e to delete the program's registry entry
10.5. Get to Know Your Computer Better
Sy s te m Info rm a tio n provides comprehensive and easy-to-understand information
about your computer. It will show hardware configuration and operating system
details, as well as all programs and drivers installed on your PC. It can also generate a
detailed report containing all the information about your system in a single file. This
feature will be useful if you need to provide a technical support team with information
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about your computer.
To launch the Sy s te m Info rm a tio n tool, click on the Sy s te m info link of the Sy s te m
Sta tus section. The starting page shows a short computer configuration and operating
system summary. You can select one of the 19 categories from the program menu to
get the information you need. Alternatively, click on the Sa v e R e po rt link to obtain a
detailed system information report.
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11. Privacy Protection
11.1. Hide Your Computer Activities
When you surf the Internet, open documents or run various programs, your activity is
recorded in “cookie” files, temporary Internet files and the registry. This means that
people who have access to your computer can easily see which web sites you have
visited or which documents, images and applications you've recently opened. Tra ck
E ra s e r will protect your privacy by removing this confidential information from your
computer.
To launch the Tra ck E ra s e r tool, click on the E ra s e his to ry link of the Priv a cy
section. In the list on the right hand side of the window select the history tracks you
want the program to look for click on the Sca n No w button. After the scan is finished,
select the history tracks and files you want to remove and click on the E ra s e button
to remove them.
11.2. Delete Files beyond Restoration
Did you know that by simply deleting files or folders in Windows you just remove
references to them but not the actual data? Files you think were deleted in fact
remain intact on the disk for some time and can be easily restored with data recovery
software. File Shre dde r was designed to permanently delete files, folders and the
Recycle Bin contents, so your sensitive data cannot be restored. It provides four
different shredding algorithms: from fast to military-grade privacy level.
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To launch the File Shre dde r tool, click on the Shre d file s entry of the Priv a cy
section. Click on the Add button to add files and folders you want to shred. You can
also drag files to the program's window directly from Windows Explorer. Click Shre d to
delete selected data permanently.
11.3. Wipe Sensitive Data
Unlike File Shre dde r, this tool wipes free space on an entire drive, making sure that
files you have deleted previously can't be restored. To provide extra security, D is k
W ipe r allows turning off Sy s te m R e s to re while wiping a disk. Since Sy s te m R e s to re
keeps track of files changes, turning it off ensures that no file copies will be created
during wiping.
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To launch the D is k W ipe r tool, click on the W ipe dis ks link of the Priv a cy section.
Select the disks you want the program to wipe and click on the Wipe button to start
erasing deleted data. To change wipe method, click on the Se ttings in the main menu.
Select W ipe s e ttings tab and specify how the program should wipe the disks.
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12. Disaster Recovery
12.1. Recover Accidentally Deleted Data
Lost an important document or picture? File R e co v e ry tool will save you from panic.
Don't let months or years of your work disappear with accidentally deleted documents,
pictures and other important files. Use this program to recover deleted files or files
damaged by applications, spyware or computer viruses.
To launch the File R e co v e ry tool, click on the File R e co v e ry entry of the D is a s te r
R e co v e ry section. Select the drives you want to scan for deleted files and specify
the types of files you are searching for and the date the files were modified.
No te : T he m ore a c c ura t e y our file se a rc h c rit e ria a re , t he e a sie r it w ill be t o find t he
de le t e d file s y ou w e re looking for.
12.2. Back up Changes Made to Your System
Designed to clean, optimize and protect your computer, AVG PC Tuneup is absolutely
safe to use. All changes made by the program on your computer are stored in the
R e s cue C e nte r. If you experience any problems caused by the program, you can
easily roll back the changes made to the system.
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To launch the R e s cue C e nte r, click on the R e s cue C e nte r link of the D is a s te r
R e co v e ry section. Select the backup you want to restore and click on the R e s to re
button in the toolbar above the list to undo the changes made by the program. You
can select which tools should back up their changes in the R e s cue C e nte r Se ttings
menu.
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