Advanced SystemCare 3

We all know the Windows PCs slow down with age as Windows gets clogged up with files, applications, registry keys and the (occasional) spyware / virus. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to boost your PC without having to re-install Windows from scratch again.

Over at Computer World, they’ve assembled a list of 15 of the best apps to boost your PC with.

Here are a few programs from the list I recommend:

Advanced SystemCare Free

This excellent all-around system cleaner from IObit.com will help keep your PC humming. It takes an “everything plus the kitchen sink” approach, scanning your system for spyware, Registry problems, privacy dangers, and junk files that were once needed by your system but are no longer necessary. You can then tell the program to clean up everything it finds or pick and choose what you want it to fix.

Note that the software will install the Yahoo Toolbar by default, so if you don’t want it installed, make sure to uncheck the box during installation.

Works with: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Eusing Free Registry Cleaner

One of the main reasons your PC gets more sluggish with time is that the Registry gets clogged up with old entries left behind by badly behaving software, and with outright bad Registry entries. The problem: It’s not humanly possible to find these bad entries and fix them.

This excellent free program does the job for you. Run it, and it looks through your Registry for many different kinds of problems, then shows you what it finds. Select the bad entries you want the program to fix, and it fixes them all.

Don’t worry that the program will make a mistake and do damage — it automatically backs up your Registry and lets you restore your old Registry entries if changing them causes problems.

Works with: Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista

I wouldn’t just use these apps on an old PC though. They can be rather useful in keeping a monster rig running at its best. Check out the full list.