Fix-It Utilities is designed to keep a computer running smoothly and fix problems using a huge selection of hard-disk optimisation tools, fix-it utilities and a special disk that will boot the PC if Windows refuses to start at all.

When the program is installed the main screen displays the computer’s overall health and protection status against viruses and other threats. These remain locked on ‘poor’ until the recommended tools are run.

The five one-click optimisation wizards check the hard disk for errors, defragment it, delete unused temporary files and scan it for viruses and spyware.

Startup Commander allows the user to monitor and control which programs automatically load each time they start up the computer, and the Check Point tool provides a way of restoring the PC to a previous state if there is a problem after installing something.

Fix-It Utilities’ other functions are excellent and were successfully used twice to resurrect malfunctioning laptops in the first few weeks of using it. The PC Diagnostics check discovered a previously unknown fault with our test computer’s graphics card that may have been the cause of several crashes.

Fix-It Utilities will offer excellent value for most people, considering that it includes a year’s worth of virus protection updates and can be installed on up to three PCs at once.

Distributors: Gem, Ingram Micro