Dashboard Overview
Under Dashboard on the navigation bar, click Overview.
The Overview pane on the Dashboard is your starting point for using System Mechanic - you find out the condition of your PC, and System Mechanic gets the information it needs to make specific recommendations for repairs.
Click Analyze Now, and after a few minutes you will see if any problems are detected. You can then use the pane in one of two ways, to suit your working style.
One-step. Simply click Repair All. System Mechanic will automatically repair the detected problems, using default settings. This is the fastest and easiest way to keep your PC in top condition.
Detail: If you want to look "under the hood" and see more information prior to running any repairs, click View Problems to see detailed results on the Problems pane. This gives you total control over System Mechanic's actions, as well as more information about your computer's condition.
"Detailed instructions" below provides more in-depth instruction on using the Overview pane.
From the System Status section, you can analyze your computer, repair or view any detected problems, view LiveBoost statuses, manage your product service, and view messages from iolo.
Click Analyze Now (or Re-analyze) and then choose to run either a quick or a deep analysis:
Perform Quick Analysis. A quick analysis runs a fast check of your computer. A quick analysis takes approximately 2 minutes to complete.
Perform Deep Analysis. A deep analysis is a more comprehensive check of your computer. A deep analysis takes more time to perform than a quick analysis; approximately 7 minutes.
When the analysis completes, your computer's status displays. Statuses are based on the number of problems detected and their severity. You will see:
The overall health and security of your computer, with graphic indicators similar to a car's speedometer (see System Status Gauges below).
An overall status message with one of the following: Good, Fair, Poor, or Critical
If problems are detected, System Mechanic will display the number of problems or recommendations found and offer two actions:
Repair All. Click Repair All to have System Mechanic automatically repair all the problems, using default settings.
View Problems. To view a list of all the problems that System Mechanic detected, click View Problems. The Problems pane will display, listing each problem and allowing you to pick and choose the desired repairs, if any. Refer to the Problems pane topic for continuing instruction.
The analysis section also shows:
How long it has been since the last analysis, and may recommend that another analysis be run.
If a system restart is required for any repairs to take effect.
System Mechanic’s Overall/Health/Security “gauge” is a high-level graphical representation of your PC’s condition, based on the status, quantity, and/or severity of one or more of the following1:
System clutter
Registry errors
Startup programs classified as dangerous or unnecessary by iolo Labs2
Hard drive errors
Security vulnerabilities
Unoptimized network settings (WinXP only)
Disk fragmentation
Filesystem entropy
SSD optimization status
Free RAM levels
Broken shortcuts
Registry fragmentation
Core data conflicts
Registry backup status
Internet connectivity status
Anti-malware protection status
Firewall protection status
Tune-up Definition status
(1) A Deep system analysis includes more tests than a Quick system analysis. As a result, the two analysis types may produce different Overall/Health/Security diagnoses.
(2) iolo Labs classifies programs into various categories: dangerous, unnecessary, user choice, necessary, and system. A dangerous program is one that our research has verified to be malicious or susceptible to exploit.
The ActiveCare section displays the status of your automated tasks. There are five possible statuses:
Manual mode: No automated tasks are enabled.
Standard: Basic recommended automated tasks are enabled.
Standard+: Basic recommended automated tasks plus at least on other setting are enabled.
Maximum: All automated tasks are enabled.
Custom: Customized automated tasks are enabled.
Click anywhere within the ActiveCare section to configure automated task settings.
The LiveBoost section displays the status of the LiveBoost. There are several possible statuses:
All boosts off: No LiveBoost features are active.
Full boost: All three LiveBoost features are active.
CPU boost only: OptiCore is active.
File boost only: AcceleWrite is active.
Ram boost only: RAMJet is active.
CPU + File boost: OptiCore and AcceleWrite are active.
CPU + RAM boost: OptiCore and RAMJet are active.
RAM + File boost: RAMJet and AcceleWrite are active.
Statistics reflecting the use of LiveBoost features can be found under your boost status and rotate every 5 seconds. These statistics are:
CPU lag(s) avoided: The cumulative instances of lag avoided by using OptiCore.
RAM optimizations: The cumulative instances of RAM freed by RAMJet.
Fragments prevented: The cumulative number of fragments avoided by using AcceleWrite.
Note: Clicking on the LiveBoost widget will open the LiveBoost dashboard.
The Service Status section displays the status of your System Mechanic service. There are several possible statuses:
Ongoing: The service is activated and set to renew automatically.
No connection: System Mechanic is unable to contact the server for validation. Ensure that the computer is connected to the internet and click anywhere within the Service Status widget to re-validate the service.
Activate now: System Mechanic is running under a trial license, click the Click to enter your key link to license the product.
Upgrade Available: An upgrade is available for this limited version of System Mechanic. Click Explore the Full Version to learn more about the benefits of the complete System Mechanic product.
Expired/Expiring (Trial): The trial service has expired or is expiring soon. Click the Click to begin service now link to read more about iolo's product service and securely purchase one.
Expired/Expiring (Licensed): The service has expired or is expiring soon. Click either the Click to add time now or Click to re-activate now link to purchase additional service time from iolo's secure website.
Invalid billing info: The billing information associated with the account is no longer valid. Click anywhere within the Service Status widget to update this information.
The Hints and Tips section will display any messages iolo has for you, such as informational articles and product offers. This section only displays if there is a message.
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