PCAnalyzer

The Windows Task Manager got better over the years. It can show valuable data in real time, also letting you choose what processes to run, including on startup. For extra help, there are various third-party applications like PCAnalyzer which can scan registry entries, create backups, or securely remove files from your PC.

Once installed, the application can be launched directly, with no system restart required to make all functions available. However, you need to make sure that .NET Framework is already on the PC you want to use it on, or install it otherwise.

The main window is pretty compact, but it can be maximized for more viewspace. All sections are cleverly delimited by tabs, with options to access system settings, process manager, miscellaneous tools, as well as backup. Every section comes with its own set of functions, and most of the space usually represents the preview area for identified registry entries which need to be fixed, or processes you want to manage.

First of all, the system tab can scan system registries for any broken or invalid links. Scanning doesn’t take a lot of time, with the list showing items by their path, with a dedicated checkbox to select only specific options you want to fix. On the other hand, you can simply save a TXT report with all detected items.

The process manager doesn’t update in real time, and only enlists files by path, and no filter options. Only one process can be manipulated at a time, and you need to refresh the list in case changes occur. Just like the registry scanner, you can save a TXT report here as well.

A few extra tools are at your disposal. These include a quick link to the HOSTS file which opens up in Notepad. Deleting files on reboot, checking the existence of a file based on file name and path, or permanently removing files from your PC. As far as the backup tool is concerned, it can only handle existing items, with no option to create new ones on the spot.

Taking everything into consideration, we can state that PCAnalyzer is a straightforward tool with which to attempt to fix registry entries, manage running processes, or at least export simple reports. Truth be told, the simplicity in features makes it easy to use, but is a little underprepared to handle advanced tasks.