*Updated* Free iolo System Mechanic! [24-hours only]
December 11, 2011 67
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Update: This promotion is now over. Sorry to those that missed it! To not miss freebies in the future, be sure to subscribe to dotTech: E-mail | RSS | Twitter | Facebook | Google+.
Software Description
The following is a description of iolo System Mechanic, as per the developer:
Has your PC slowed down?
Tired of bothering friends and family for help, or worse…hauling your PC to the local repair shop?
Get the most comprehensive diagnosis available, and enjoy that new PC feeling again!
You don’t have to be an expert – it’s easy to let System Mechanic automatically run a full battery of over 200 critical tests in just a few minutes using over 50 tools to uncover why your PC is running so slowly. Here’s a quick look at the dashboard:
- Easy to understand system overview
- Quick or Deep analysis options
- Comprehensive status gauge
- Clear explanation of each problem
- Straightforward actions to fix all problems or only those you want
Automatically eliminate each and every root problem affecting your PC’s speed and stability
To achieve maximum PC performance, a solution with a comprehensive set of tools to address each of the 9 root causes of PC slowdowns is required. System Mechanic is the only product available that resolves each and every one.
Fixes Registry errors
Safely cleans & repairs the Registry to fix problems and free up memory.
Speeds up Windows Start Time
Unclogs speed-robbing bottlenecks for up to 800% better startup speed.
Restores Stability & Performance
Diagnoses and fixes hundreds of problems for like-new reliability.
Improves your gaming experience
Play the latest high-performance games at maximum speeds.
System Mechanic is able to provide the most complete approach to PC care because it integrates 50+ diagnostic, repair, and optimization features into one easy-to-use interface. Plus it leverages unique intelligence provided by iolo Labs’ continuously updated Tune-up Definitions™ to custom tailor its diagnosis and repair to your specific system configuration.
Speed up your PC… and more!
More than 50 features sounds like a lot – and it is! – but System Mechanic is designed so that you can quickly get to the repairs and optimizations you need, skip those you don’t, and explore as much or as little about your PC as you’d like. For example, use System Mechanic to find and remove junk and clutter, which is one of the most insidious factors in Windows performance degradation and a threat to your privacy.
System Mechanic provides complete ease and flexibility to help you speed up your PC no matter what your experience level.
What System Mechanic does to clean up Windows
- Cleans over 50 different types of junk files
- Removes invalid installers and programs
- Wipes internet history, clutter and cache
- Regains thousands of megabytes of hard disk space
Perform a complete cleanup in just three minutes.
What System Mechanic does to fix your PC
- Updates critical device drivers
- Repairs and compacts registry
- Eliminates memory leaks
- Fixes random crashes and restarts
- Revives unstartable systems
- Repairs and prevents corrupted drives
- Fixes security vulnerabilities
- Repairs broken internet connections
- Scans for and replaces out-of-date drivers
- Automatically maintains PC health with patented ActiveCare® technology
Automatically fixes hundreds of perplexing errors in just one step.
What System Mechanic does to ensure your privacy
Choose what traces of activity to permanently remove
- Employs multi-pass military-grade wiping to ensure complete removal of all deleted data
- Defeats forensics recovery techniques
- Permanently and completely removes internet history and cache
- Integrates Incinerator® technology with Windows Recycle Bin for high security
- Cleans up after all major web browsers, online chat, and web toolbars
dotTech Advice
Advice on this freebie isn’t hard. iolo System Mechanic is one of the most highly acclaimed system tune-up utilities out there. Sure no after-market tune-up utility is perfect; so it wouldn’t be fair for me to say System Mechanic will improve *all* computers. However, generally speaking, System Mechanic works very well.
That said, system tune-up utilities may sound like the type of program everyone needs, but that really isn’t the case. People with faster, more modern machines will feel little to no speed/performance increase after running a tune-up utility simply because their machines are powerful enough to handle baggage without any hiccups. In fact I recommend people with new machines to not use tune-up utilities (until you feel your computer is “slowing down” after long time use) simply because the risk of malfunction – and no mater how good, every third-party tune-up utility has some chance of causing problems – is not worth the reward of little to no benefit. On the other hand, people with older machines – ones in use for more than a year or so – can typically benefit from allowing tune-up utilities to clean out the junk they have accumulated in their computers.
In the end, it really just depends on you, your computer, and your computing habits if you need a tune-up utility. All I can say is iolo System Mechanic is one of the better ones — highly recommended.
Freebie Details
iolo System Mechanic is being given away in a promotion by Softpedia. The promotion is live for 24-hours only but the exact start/end times are not specified; my guess is the promotion ends December 12, 2011 14:00 GMT. Also, Softpedia does not mention this, but the freebie is for System Mechanic “1 year of service”. I am not sure if this means you can use System Mechanic for one year (in which case you would no longer be able to use it after the year has expired) or if you will get free updates for one year (in which case you could still continue to use System Mechanic after the year has expired but without updates). Furthermore, it looks like this promotion is being processed like a purchase (although you aren’t paying anything nor do you have to enter any payment details such as a credit card) so you should be able to install/reinstall whenever you want within the one year time-frame; each license is a 1-PC license so if you want it for more than one PCs you need to get multiple licenses.
To get iolo System Mechanic for free, do the following:
Version being given out for free: v10.5.4
Free updates and technical support: Yes, for one year
Supported OS: Windows XP/Vista/Win7
Download size: About 18 MB
- Visit the
promotion pageand click on the Start Download button:
- When you click the Start Download button, you will be taken to iolo’s shopping cart and asked to checkout. This freebie is processed just like a purchase so you need to enter your “shipping address”; however, since this is a freebie, you won’t be entering your billing details nor will you actually be shipped anything:
Hit Continue after you have filled out the form.
- After you hit Continue you will be asked for confirm the details:
Hit the Finish order button.
- After you hit the Finish order button you will be given a download link and your registration key:
Update: iolo has changed how they process this freebie since I originally wrote this article earlier today. When I wrote this article, after you clicked the Finish order button iolo provided you with the download link and license key onscreen, as shown in this step. Now iolo is e-mailing users the download link and license key. So be patient and look for that e-mail. Once you get the e-mail, skip to the next step.
Copy the license key because you will need it very soon. Click on the Download button, which will take you to another page; at the next page you need to click on the System Mechanic link to begin the download:
- The download itself is only 416 KB because you aren’t downloading System Mechanic but rather iolo’s download manager. However, don’t worry — once the download manager finishes downloading, all you have to do is run it and System Mechanic is automatically start to download (you don’t have to install iolo’s download manager):
System Mechanic itself is 17.52 MB.
- Once System Mechanic finishes downloading, you will be asked if you want to store the installation file locally:
It is your choice if you want to save the installation file on your computer or not. If you are on a slow or bandwidth capped Internet connection, it is probably a good idea to save the installation file for easy re-install at a later date. If you are not, you can probably save yourself some space by not storing it.
In any case, whichever you decide, after you click Yes and pick a location to save the file or after you click No, the installation of System Mechanic will automatically start.
- Follow onscreen instructions to install System Mechanic. It installs just any other program except for one thing — you must enter your license key during installation. When you get to the window prompting you to select installation mode, select the I have a System Mechanic Activation Key and can enter it now option and click Next >:
- Now paste in the registration key you copied earlier (if you don’t have it in your clipboard any longer check your e-mail inbox for it), enter the e-mail address you registered with iolo, and click OK:
- If everything goes well, the installation will continue as normal (no success message will be shown):
Continue to follow onscreen instructions and finish installing iolo System Mechanic.
- Enjoy!
If you have any trouble getting iolo System Mechanic for free, post below and other dotTechies or I will try to help.
About the author: Ashraf View all posts by Ashraf
67 Comments »
Leave A Response »
@chuck (detailer): Interesting. Thanks for sharing with us!
@chuck (detailer): The reason the gadget is not available on XP is ’cause XP doesn’t support desktop gadgets.
I don’t remember a specific separate installation for the gadget (I may have overlooked it) but the gadget works just fine on my Win7 comp.
@Thaijay: The capping bandwidth explanation makes sense; I never thought about it that way before, but I agree. And thanks for the feedback!
@WobblyWombat: Hmm… maybe. Or maybe the process is different for Aussies?
@chuck (detailer):
Thanks for the warning. (I thought PIA was Latin for Holy!) Fortunately I read it before download. In fact, I still haven;t received the email with the download key.
xØx
jd
@ Ashraf..I have an earlier giveaway of this program which HAD 5 months left, the program has automatically updated and gave me 12 months free.
Download link sent me to Avangate Payment System, where “purchase” info was collected. No charge, but an order receipt was sent that said I will get download link and key sent separately after my order was “approved”. Not like in the article where I would get the key and download from Iolo. Still waiting.
@jivadas: How long as it been?
@M.T.: Did they do 5 + 12 months or did the 12 months override the 5 months?
@Greg: They must have changed how they process the freebie. Sorry, nothing I can do about that. Just wait for the e-mail, hoping for the best.
same case as WobblyWombat
Hi,
downloaded like it said and got email product paid for. wait for next email with download info. that was 3 hrs ago and the site says” Your payment was approved. The ordered products/services will be delivered to you” . so I have to leave for work and wont be back for 12 hrs…. no access to pc while working and dont want to miss it . any ideas?
thanks,
Dadante
@muhammad: You haven’t got the e-mail either?
@dadante: I think you just have to register within the 24-hours. Once you are as far as you are – i.e. you are told your order has been approved – you can install the program past this 24-hour window. So you should be able to go to work then come back and still install this.
Doesn’t this folderol make you wonder. To get the download you need to tie to Avangate, even though Avangate can’t supply the download. Why is this, Dr Watson?
Would you trust a firm that has such a fucked-up delivery system to fix your alarm clock, let-alone your Operating System?
And note the comment above about PIA uninstalling. I’ve had painful assperiences dumping similar stuff, and only found a rescue through these pages.
xØx
jd
Merry Christmas to all good Christians, and Happy Birthday to the rest of us.
Thanks Ashraf for the info. I didn’t get a page with the Reg code or download link. Mine says thanks for order, confirmation email will be sent , and after order has been approved a further email will be sent with reg code and download link. I’ve received the order confirmation payment receipt of $0 but not the 2nd email and nothing to click on the webpage order. I guess if I don’t receive anything in a few hours I’ll need to contact support.
thanks for this and your articles and reviews and a happy and healthy new year
I tried the process again using a different browser and clicking on a different Finish Order Button in case that made a difference but got the exact same result. I’ll wait and see what happens.
Okay, I just went back and read the info above and see the reg and link is now being sent by email, so I’ll be patient. Thanks for updating.
I bought this program recently and have stopped using it. It deleted some registry information that stopped my Bluetooth from running properly and the ‘help’ comments I got were completely useless unless you were an IT professional, which I am not.
Thanks Ashraf; I usually avoid mechanic programs but am cautiously trying this one. I set up restore points in case something messes up. Backing up registry is also important. They want $15 for a second year. I’m not going for it but it may be a good deal.
Update-have installed on 3 pc’s with one DL and one .exe file (shared on my LAN)-so one license working for all.In regard to the “gadget”,color me stupid on the XP thing,and I suspect since I’m not running desktop gadgets on my Win7 rigs,that would explain the problem with installing it.I do note some changes to the program from a couple years ago when I ran it-network monitoring-not to keen on that Googleish feature-and any software that requires it’s own downloader??….for 17MB??….to what end?? I’ve got some more trolling to do to find what else is “bundled” in this package.I’m not trying to alarm anyone,but I believe these to be serious considerations.About it “getting it’s hooks in”-try a file search for Iolo-I even found a .dll in WMP-haven’t tried a search for SM yet-this one will be to hardest yet to remove if the need arises-a “beyond Revo” type of uninstall I’m guessing.There,don’t we all feel better now? Just call me Buzzkill-Cheers!
thanks for this great program my 3 years old comp got wings
keep going on best regards from Croatia
Thank you Ashraf for the share, I was waiting for this one
Have been thinking about getting an all-in-one maintenence program, but also sounds like a very risky program to install and very bloated. Not sure its needed. My PC is 1.5 years old (Core i5 750) and it runs well. Have a few seperate utilities installed (ie, CCleaner, MyDefrag, Your-Unistaller, etc) which work fine.
Ashraf – How do you compare this to TU2011/2012 ?? They also occassionally have giveaways as well and I would not be surprised if they react to this iolo giveaway and therefore provide one themselves.
What do you think of the following user reviews ?? Sounds scary:
fileforum DOT betanews DOT com/review/957499743/1/view
Many thanks for the review and making us aware of the giveaway.
I haven`t got the 2nd email.
I`m steel waiting for 5 hours.
I hpoe it will come sometimes.
Thanks for this great program, and for the great advice, support and programs over the past year. Although I am a christian due to birth circumstances, I don’t participate in the annual consumption orgy, which is to my mind as un-christian a way to celebrate Christ’s birth as one can get! But I do wish everyone, and especially the people who keep this site up and running, a happy holiday season and best wishes!
As the neighborhood mid-level tech person, I share the ideas and programs from this site to help keep our neighborhood up and running. We have a super-guru who handles the major stuff that stumps me. Sharing the best of the online community is what this site is all about!
I followed the instructions filled in the form and recieved an e-mail stating purchase succesful. but i have still not recieved an e-mail with a downlod link someone help
Not able to get… Iolo is blaming advent…. advent is blaming Iolo Can you Help????
@Ashraf:
I have the same problem, just got an email to confirm the purchase and I am starting to have my doubts about this company because I have been in contact with them before after a give away and there was no help at all to get, but this seems like a good program to try and want to, but nonetheless if it proves to be a problem, then its best to let go, but I will say to Ashraf and all other people that put up freebies, thanks, all are greatly appreciated. All the best to all !
sorry Ashraf for my late reply. I didn’t get a page with the Reg code or download link. it says thanks for order, confirmation email will be sent , and after order has been approved a further email will be sent with reg code and download link. I’ve received the order confirmation payment receipt of $0 but not the 2nd email i completed 13 hr.
same here
I haven’t got the 2nd email.
I’ve been waiting for 12 hours.
Doesn’t look good!