Using third party utility software in Windows XP

[Ken Gardner]

Does anyone have strong opinions on this general topic, one way or the
other? I have gone back and forth on this issue many times over the
years, with many different versions of Windows all the way up to
Windows XP. My current view is that these third party utilities (and
utility suites) sometimes help, but more often they are like
prescription drugs -- while addressing some problems (or
psuedo-problems), they also create side effects that themselves cause
new problems.

It seems to me that if you check your disk for errors regularly, clean
up junk files regularly (using the tools already available in Windows
XP), defrag on a regular basis, keep Windows XP and your other
software up to date, do your own research, and perform your own
performance-enhancing registry tweaks, you shouldn't have any need for
third party software to maintain and optimize your Windows XP
performance.

Ken

 

[Tom Swift]

Of course, there are some third-party utilities that no one should be
without, like antivirus software, but I presume that this is not what you
mean. It seems to me that you are asking about software that performs
diagnostic and maintenance activities.

It's just like anything else that you do on a computer: As long as you
understand what you're doing and apply good judgement, the choice is yours.
There are no hard and fast answers. Plenty of arguments, though, so get
ready.

Tom Swift

 

[Ken Gardner]

Of course, there are some third-party utilities that no one should be
without, like antivirus software, but I presume that this is not what you
mean. It seems to me that you are asking about software that performs
diagnostic and maintenance activities.

Exactly. I'm not including a good antivirus program. And I do allow
for specific exceptions (e.g. I am using a third party defrag program
even though native Windows XP has such a program).

I'm focusing more on so-called utility suites, such as Norton
Systemworks, System Mechanic, or Ontrack's SystemSuite. Do these
utility suites really result in objectively measurable long-term
improvements in maintenance and performance over time, or are they
merely bells and whistles at best and invitations to future problems
at worst?

It's just like anything else that you do on a computer: As long as you
understand what you're doing and apply good judgement, the choice is yours.
There are no hard and fast answers. Plenty of arguments, though, so get
ready.

And I know many of them, and have gone back and forth myself. In
the days of Windows 95, these things were essential and even then the
whole thing would eventually crash and burn anyway. In these days of
Windows XP, I am much less persuaded that they do any real good or
result in any measurable, transparent improvement in performance above
and beyond the usual tweaks that one can find in any good Windows XP
book or over the Internet.

Ken

 

[Mike Hall]

Use of third party software is not something to avoid.. in the case of
AdAware and Spybot, there is no XP alternative.. only use software if there
is no reasonable XP stuff and don't use software that is supposed to enhance
XP..

 

[Grant]

Exactly. I'm not including a good antivirus program. And I do allow
for specific exceptions (e.g. I am using a third party defrag program
even though native Windows XP has such a program).

Yes, third party defrag programs seem to work much better. I use Executive
Software's diskkeeper (http://consumer.execsoft.com/diskeeper/diskeeper.asp).

I'm focusing more on so-called utility suites, such as Norton
Systemworks, System Mechanic, or Ontrack's SystemSuite. Do these
utility suites really result in objectively measurable long-term
improvements in maintenance and performance over time, or are they
merely bells and whistles at best and invitations to future problems
at worst?

I have had so many problems with these suites that I don't even bother with them
anymore. I think it's a lot better to spend a few extra minutes to find
individual programs to do what you need. The suites seem to focus more on "how
many features can we cram into this thing" rather than focusing on doing a good
job.

 

[Donald McDaniel]

Does anyone have strong opinions on this general topic, one way or the
other? I have gone back and forth on this issue many times over the
years, with many different versions of Windows all the way up to
Windows XP. My current view is that these third party utilities (and
utility suites) sometimes help, but more often they are like
prescription drugs -- while addressing some problems (or
psuedo-problems), they also create side effects that themselves cause
new problems.

It seems to me that if you check your disk for errors regularly, clean
up junk files regularly (using the tools already available in Windows
XP), defrag on a regular basis, keep Windows XP and your other
software up to date, do your own research, and perform your own
performance-enhancing registry tweaks, you shouldn't have any need for
third party software to maintain and optimize your Windows XP
performance.

Ken

Windows XP (or any version of Microsoft's OSes) is an operating system. It
has the software necessary to operate a computer's cpu, HD, and memory.
This is as it should be. However, it does NOT have the facilities to
operate all devices as well as they could be operated. In a perfect world,
the OS would operate all parts of the computer perfectly. But, we know this
is not a perfect world.

This is where third-party tools come in handy. They provide facilities
which the OS maker does not provide, and they enhance the already-existing
facilities of the OS. Take for instance Microsoft's Disk Defragmenter: It
does a passable job of defragging the HD. But it TAKES FOREVER to
accomplish it, especially on a larger HD with MANY files. Several companies
have taken it upon themselves to provide defraggers which accomplish the
same thing the Microsoft-provided defragger does, yet faster and more
thoroughly, and in the process, they are able to generate revenue for
themselves and their employees.

As well as providing helpful facilities which the OS does not provide,
third-party tools also provide work and revenue for non-Microsoft persons,
thus contributing to the overall economy.

Do you really want an OS which contains EVERY software program you will EVER
need? Then Microsoft would truly be a monopolistic monolithic giant, like
the phone company of 30 years ago. On the other hand, third-party tools
provide CHANGE and INNOVATION in the software world, which monolithic giants
seldom provide.

 

[Tom Swift]

"Take for instance Microsoft's Disk Defragmenter: It does a passable job of
defragging the HD. But it TAKES FOREVER to accomplish it, especially on a
larger HD with MANY files."

Microsoft's defragger does a fine job on my hard disk (110,000+ files) and
does the job is 13 minutes.

Tom Swift

 

[Ken Gardner]

[...]

I have had so many problems with these suites that I don't even bother with them
anymore. I think it's a lot better to spend a few extra minutes to find
individual programs to do what you need. The suites seem to focus more on "how
many features can we cram into this thing" rather than focusing on doing a good
job.

Either individual programs (e.g. a good third party defragger such as
Diskeeper or PerfectDisk) or individual tweaks that one can learn in a
good book or over the Internet.

In addition to feature bloat, a related problem with these utilities
is that they are designed with more than one Windows operating system
in mind. And then there is the problem I think I mentioned before:
are they more like good food (healthy, no ill side effects for your
computer) or more like prescription drugs (alleviates some symptoms
but may cause unwanted side effects)?

Ken

 

[Ken Gardner]

Use of third party software is not something to avoid.. in the case of
AdAware and Spybot, there is no XP alternative.. only use software if there
is no reasonable XP stuff and don't use software that is supposed to enhance
XP..

Isn't it the case that the 2004 version of Norton Antivirus checks for
signs of adware and spyware? In any event, there are websites that
can check your machine online for such stuff. See, e.g.,
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.php.

Ken

 

[Ken Gardner]

[...]

Do you really want an OS which contains EVERY software program you will EVER
need? Then Microsoft would truly be a monopolistic monolithic giant, like
the phone company of 30 years ago. On the other hand, third-party tools
provide CHANGE and INNOVATION in the software world, which monolithic giants
seldom provide.

No doubt. As I mentioned earlier, I'm using a third party defragger
myself. My focus is really limited to those utility suites such
as SystemWorks, SystemSuite, and System Mechanic. Do they really
improve the maintenance and performance of XP, or the other way
around?

My experience has tiltled slightly more to the latter. I have done it
both ways, with mixed results both ways.

Ken