Founded in 2001 as the independent research arm of iolo technologies, iolo Labs aims to understand issues in PC performance and stability through scientific study. The research from iolo Labs is used in a variety of ways, including improving iolo's commercial products and publishing educational material to help the public better understand PC optimization.

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Yes. The research information used by the iolo technologies' commercial arm to improve its PC tune-up products is also made available to the public – the iolo Labs web site has white papers, research articles, a searchable program database, and more. Using this information to learn about the causes of system deterioration and how to reverse it can help you maintain or improve your PC's performance.

A PC tune-up is the use of software to reverse the degradation of system performance that occurs with normal PC use. A PC tune-up can entail different repairs and optimizations, but it typically includes diagnosing and fixing errors, cleaning out unneeded files, eliminating corrupted or obsolete settings, and adapting system configurations to enhance speed and stability.

It is a common misconception that a new computer straight from the box will operate at peak efficiency. In actuality, most new PCs come with many pre-installed applications, and much of this software is unnecessary and slowing down your system from day one. In addition, studies performed by iolo Labs have shown that most new PCs arrive with significant clutter, misconfigurations, and unoptimized settings. A tune-up right from the beginning can help you start your new PC experience with maximum performance, and regular tune-ups thereafter help properly maintain your new computer, preventing slowdowns and problems from occurring over time.

The ideal start-up time for a new or tuned PC is under 1 minute. An un-tuned PC, after only three months of use, can take upwards of 3 minutes. Recent studies performed by iolo Labs show that a PC tune-up can improve Windows startup time by up to 50%.

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A common response to a slowing PC is to format the hard drive and reinstall Windows. However, there are compelling reasons why this may not be the best choice.

• Less tech-savvy users are understandably uncomfortable with the thought of completely wiping their system and are unsure about their ability to return the computer to a working state.
• Many store bought PCs do not include Windows installation disks. Instead, these PCs include system recovery disks, which can restore the system from a crash but cannot completely reinstall the operating system.
• Backing up important data and reinstalling Windows can take hours. Reinstalling applications, adjusting settings, loading back up files and information, and otherwise returning your system to an ideal state can take several days or longer.
• Even with thorough backup procedures, there is always the risk that an overlooked file may be permanently deleted when the hard drive is formatted.

A comprehensive tune-up avoids these issues by returning your system to near-new performance, while preserving all of your data.

Keeping a PC tuned and operating efficiently can:

• save money by extending the life of your computer and reducing energy bills;
• save time by reducing loading and wait times, and
• eliminate the frustration and stress of having to use a slow or unstable computer.

In addition, many of these same advantages will benefit the environment by reducing waste and emissions from excess energy use and premature machine replacement.

Over time, it is common for a computer to become cluttered and unstable – random errors, slow responses from programs, sluggish internet speeds, and system crashes/lockups are all frequently reported issues.

The causes of these problems and slowdowns can be wide-ranging. Some issues are related to how Windows itself is designed and others just come from regular operation – settings become obsolete as applications and devices are repetitively added and removed, clutter is left behind from web surfing, unneeded programs run in the background, and resource-draining startup processes and potentially destructive files hide themselves on your PC, silently leeching performance and disrupting stability.

Indentifying and quantifying what causes a PC to slow down is one of the issues that iolo Labs research is currently focusing on.

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iolo Labs monitors the performance levels of computers (1) kept in our labs in a controlled state, and (2) found in the "wild" from users, unaffiliated with iolo technologies, who have provided snapshots, physical specimens, and other data for analysis. This information is used to create observed benchmarks of how much performance degrades in the average PC after specific periods of time. iolo Labs then studies the content of these PCs to determine why the deterioration has occurred and uses this insight to develop methods of reversing system degradation.

A machine state is the name of a category used in iolo Labs testing which is based on controlled simulations of PCs in specific conditions (such as a machine that has undergone typical use for a certain amount of time). The simulations are computer models based on scientific observation of real PCs (or system snapshots) obtained from real users from all over the world. Machine states are generally used to quantify changes in performance over time or throughout a specific pattern of usage and are identified with a descriptive modifier such as a number and a month. For example, a 3-month PC is a simulation that represents the typical state of a computer that has been used for three months.

A machine class is the name of a category used by iolo Labs to describe a class of PC that is normally intended for (or limited to) a certain purpose or use. These classes are used to differentiate the various groups normally found in use by people during a specific time period. Each machine class is associated with an associated range of hardware and software, which is updated regularly as new hardware and software are released into the market. Currently, iolo Labs defines five different machine classes.

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iolo Labs generally defines a clogged PC as one that has unneeded files, errors, and obsolete or corrupted settings that cause one or more of its tracked performance traits to be reduced by at least 25%.

Available memory is a key indicator of PC performance, with higher availability being desirable.

A higher amount of physical memory means more space is available for high performance temporary data storage. When there is a shortage of this memory, programs do not have enough memory to function at optimal speeds and can begin to respond slower and frequently freeze or crash.

CPU usage during idle periods is a key indicator of PC performance, with lower usage being desirable.

During idle time, a PC may occasionally perform desired actions, such as a virus scan, but a consistently high CPU idle usage percentage indicates an excessive number of background processes are running while the computer is on.