AVG PC TuneUp 2014 User Manual

AVG PC TuneUp 2014

User Manual

Document revision 2014.09 (28.7.2015)

Contents

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1. Welcome to AVG PC TuneUp!

1.1 System Requirements

1.2 Help and Support

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2. The Start Center

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3. PC Modes

3.1 Economy Mode

3.2 Standard Mode

3.3 Turbo Mode

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4. Flight Mode

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5. Optimization Potential

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6. Menu Bar

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7. Dashboard

7.1 Maintaining System

7.2 Increasing Performance

7.3 Fixing Problems

7.4 System Protection

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8. Optimize

8.1 Reducing System Load

8.2 Optimizing registry and performance

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9. Clean Up

9.1 Cleaning up Windows and programs

9.2 Cleaning up browser

9.3 Removing Broken Shortcuts

9.4 Disabling Windows functions

9.5 Finding and Removing Duplicate Files

9.6 Finding and Deleting Large Amounts of Data

9.7 Securely Deleting Data

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10. Fix Problems

10.1 Fixing Common Problems

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10.2 Checking the Hard Disk for Errors

10.3 Restoring Deleted Files

10.4 Managing Running Processes

10.5 Showing System Information

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11. Personalize

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11.1 Personalizing Options and Behaviors

11.2 Personalizing the Appearance of Windows

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12. All Functions

12.1 Editing the Registry

12.2 Checking for Updates

12.3 Displaying the AVG Optimization Report

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13. Rating Function for Programs

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14. The AVG PC TuneUp Gadget

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15. AVG PC TuneUp in Taskbar Notification Area

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1. Welcome to AVG PC TuneUp!

Congratulations on choosing AVG PC TuneUp! You have just acquired a comprehensive collection of over 30 different tools to optimize your PC. Use this software to revitalize PCs, notebooks or netbooks with a minimum effort.

With AVG PC TuneUp, you can restore the full performance capabilities of your operating system, games and programs. AVG PC TuneUp can also automatically run important maintenance tasks, such as cleaning up your hard disk and registry, or you can run them yourself manually. A slow and untidy computer is now a thing of the past for you. AVG PC TuneUp recognizes whether there are any problems on your system and offers simple solutions. You can also use AVG PC TuneUp to customize the appearance of your Windows system to your personal requirements.

We hope you enjoy using AVG PC TuneUp and your new, revitalized PC.

1.1. System Requirements

To be able to install and run AVG PC TuneUp, your computer must meet the following requirements:

Windows XP (32-bit version only, Service Pack 3 or higher), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10 (all 32-bit or 64-bit versions)

Min. 300 MHz processor 256 MB RAM Screen resolution at least 1024x768 pixels Online version: at least 150 MB of free disk space CD version: at least 400 MB of free disk space (plus CD-ROM or DVD drive) Internet Explorer 6 or higher

1.2. Help and Support

Help and support is available online at www.avg.com/customer-support. You will find more information about support options there.

2. The Start Center

The new AVG PC TuneUp Start Center is the central access point for all functions and optimization options.

The PC mode

In the PC mode area, you can decide which mode should be turned on for your Windows operating system.

For more information, see PC Modes.

The Flight mode

This area is only active on laptops, otherwise it is grayed out. A simple switch allows to turn off all wireless network activity on your laptop.

For more information, see Flight Mode.

The Optimization Potential

The Optimization Potential shows you how well you are already using the options provided to you by AVG PC TuneUp.

For more information, see Optimization Potential.

The Menu Bar

In the menu bar, you have access to the central settings dialog of AVG PC TuneUp and to information about the program and individual modules.

For more information, see Menu Bar.

The five categories

The main area in the AVG PC TuneUp Start Center comprises five categories, giving you fast access to the key features of AVG PC TuneUp sorted by topic.

The five categories in the Start Center represent the key task areas of AVG PC TuneUp. The first category shows the status of the four central optimization areas. You can see at a glance whether there is an urgent need for action or potential for optimization. The other four categories offer conveniently arranged links to the various modules of AVG PC TuneUp.

Dashboard

The Dashboard category shows you an overview of the current condition of your system and gives you recommendations on how you can improve the system's health. On the far right, you can see the status of your system protection.

For more information, see Dashboard.

Optimize

Under Optimize, you can disable or uninstall unwanted programs and clean up your system and your data.

For more information, see Optimize.

Clean Up

Under Clean up, you can delete unnecessary data systematically from your system.

For more information, see Clean Up.

Fix Problems

Under Fix problems, you will find simple solutions for any problems that might occur.

For more information, see Fix Problems.

Personalize

Under Personalize, you have many opportunities to customize your working environment to suit you.

For more information, see Personalize.

All Functions

To the right of the categories, you will see the All functions. This lists all the functions that are available in AVG PC TuneUp, sorted by application area.

For more information, see All Functions.

3. PC Modes

In the PC mode area, you can decide which mode should be turned on for your Windows operating system.

Economy Mode

Using AVG Economy Mode, you can reduce the energy consumption of your computer by turning off the screen, hardware components or unnecessary functions.

For more information, see Economy Mode.

Standard Mode

Standard Mode represents the normal operating state of Windows. For more information, see Standard Mode.

Turbo Mode

You can use AVG Turbo Mode to give your system an additional performance boost at any time and adjust it to suit you.

For more information, see Turbo Mode.

3.1. Economy Mode

In this chapter, you will learn what exactly happens when you switch to the Economy Mode and when it can be useful to do so. You will also receive instructions on how to turn on and configure the Economy

Mode.

What is the Economy Mode?

The Economy Mode is an intelligent module of AVG PC TuneUp for saving energy. The Economy Mode provides immediate energy saving whenever you need it. When you switch your computer to Economy Mode, it reduces the energy used by hardware and the tasks, programs and features that are running in the background and not strictly necessary. They are turned off, which can reduce energy consumption (and electricity costs) considerably.

When Should I Switch to Economy Mode?

Using the Economy Mode, you can considerably reduce the energy consumption of your desktop PC or extend the battery life of your laptop, if there is no power socket available. Note however that when you switch to Economy Mode, some functionalities are switched off and will not be available again until you turn off

Economy Mode.

How Can I Tell How Much Energy Has Been Saved in Economy Mode?

The Economy Mode Configuration Wizard uses a traffic light system to show you how much energy you are actually saving with your settings. If the bar to the right of the total saving is green, your energy savings are high. A yellow bar represents moderate energy savings and a red bar represents low energy savings.

The actual level of energy savings in the Services area, for example, can be seen from the color of the bar that is shown to the right of the area in the navigation bar.

How to Switch the Computer to Economy Mode

At the bottom left of the AVG PC TuneUp Start Center, there are three switches. The left-hand switch is for Economy Mode. When you click this switch, the computer is switched to Economy Mode. The AVG icon then appears in the notification area of the taskbar, notifying you that Economy Mode is turned on.

Alternatively, you can access the switch for Economy Mode directly via the AVG PC TuneUp icon in the notification area of the taskbar. Left-click on the icon. A pop-up window opens, showing the Economy Mode switch on the bottom left.

How to Find Out if Economy Mode is On

If Economy Mode is on, a AVG PC TuneUp icon appears in the taskbar notification area (in the bottom righthand corner beside the time), which tells you that Economy Mode is on. You can also recognize this from the switch in the Start Center.

How to Configure Your AVG Economy Mode

The first time you turn on Economy Mode, a window opens that allows you to make your own settings for Economy Mode. Decide here whether you want to use the default settings for Economy Mode or whether you want to configure them yourself for your own requirements.

For more information, see Economy Mode Settings.

3.1.1. Economy Mode Settings

Start the wizard for configuring the AVG Economy Mode by clicking on Settings in the menu bar of the Start Center, selecting the Economy Mode area and clicking the Open Configuration Wizard button located there. Alternatively, open the window for configuring AVG Economy Mode by going to the AVG Start Center, selecting the Optimize category and clicking the Configure Economy Mode link (in the Reduce system load area).

Please note that if the Economy Mode is already switched on, you don't have to run the Wizard again. You can alter Economy Mode settings directly in central configuration dialog of your AVG (the Economy Mode item). Simply check (or uncheck) the appropriate boxes and click Apply.

Now prepare your own Economy Mode by selecting which hardware components, services and features may be temporarily turned off in order to save energy when Economy Mode is turned on. The more you authorize to be turned off, the more apparent the energy saving will be.

General Settings

Here you can specify whether configuration functions should also be offered that reduce the performance of the system and turn off visual effects. You can also decide whether Economy Mode should remain turned on when the computer is restarted.

Screen

Your computer's screen may use more energy even than hardware components such as the hard disk or the processor, for example. Reducing the screen brightness or turning off the screen after a short time if you are not using the computer will reduce energy consumption considerably.

Screen brightness (only for laptops)

General: This setting determines how much the general screen brightness should be reduced when Economy Mode is on.

When dimming: This setting determines how much the general screen brightness should be reduced when the screen is dimmed when Economy Mode is on.

Screen behavior

Turn off: This setting determines the period of time until the screen should be switched off when Economy Mode is on.

Dimming (only for laptops): This setting determines the period of time until the screen is dimmed when Economy Mode is on.

Hardware

If you turn off hardware components temporarily, the energy consumption of your computer will be reduced. What is more, every computer has many services running in the background that detect connected devices and provide you with the necessary functions to use these devices. You can restrict the amount of this support in order to reduce the energy consumption of your computer.

Hardware components

Hard disk standby: This setting determines the period of time until the hard disk should go into standby mode when Economy Mode is on.

Processor energy-saving settings: This setting determines the extent of energy saving for the processor when Economy Mode is on.

Wireless adapter energy-saving settings (only in Windows Vista and 7): This option determines the extent of energy saving for the wireless adapter when the Economy Mode is on.

Connection to external devices

Synchronization with mobile devices: This setting will prevent synchronization of addresses, emails, music files, etc. with your cell phone or portable media player and the related program will not start automatically when the device is connected while Economy Mode is on.

Support for digital cameras and scanners: This setting means that you cannot import images from your digital camera or scan images when Economy Mode is on.

Services

The operating system performs many more tasks than most users are aware of. Many programs and services run permanently in the background, although they are not strictly necessary and use energy needlessly. If you never use some of these functions you can disable them and permanently reduce your computer's energy consumption.

Background functions

Network sharing of media library: This setting ensures that other network devices cannot access your images, videos or music in the media library when Economy Mode is on. However, Economy Mode does not affect the share of folders in the network.

Quick search using index creation: This setting ensures that Windows does not create an index of your files and emails when Economy Mode is on. Turning off this setting slows down any searches significantly.

Error Reporting: This setting ensures that no data will be gathered regarding errors and there will be no communication with Microsoft about crashed programs or other errors when Economy Mode is on.

Support for virtual machines: (This setting is only available if your computer has software for virtual machines installed on it.) This setting turns off background functions for the use of virtual machines when Economy Mode is on.

Various services

Rarely used services: This setting turns off services that are only needed in specific circumstances (e.g. company networks) or situations (e.g. installation of new programs) when Economy Mode is on.

Special encryption services: When Economy Mode is on, this setting turns off services for logging onto a domain.

Network communication services: When Economy Mode is on, this setting turns off network communication services that are rarely used, e.g. fax or peer-to-peer services.

Display

Visual effects provide a graphical display of Windows but take up valuable space in the memory. Particularly with a low performance graphics card you can increase the computer's performance by turning off visual effects.

Tip: This is a popular way of increasing the performance of netbooks on a sustained basis.

Visual effects

Visual special effects for windows: This setting turns off transparency effects and shadows of windows, the preview window in the taskbar and three-dimensional navigation between windows when Economy Mode is on.

Classic window style: This setting uses the classic Windows design for the appearance of windows, menus and buttons when Economy Mode is on. Also, in Windows XP, the colorful Windows interface is disabled, whereas in newer Windows transparency effects and thumbnails of windows in the taskbar are disabled.

Desktop background

Slideshow: This setting stops the slideshow for the desktop background when Economy Mode is on.

3.2. Standard Mode

The Standard Mode is turned on by default (if you have not switched to either the Economy Mode or the

Turbo Mode).

In Standard Mode all functions of AVG PC TuneUp are available without restriction.

3.3. Turbo Mode

In this chapter, you will learn what exactly happens when you switch to the Turbo Mode and when it can be useful to do so. You will also receive instructions on how to turn on and configure the Turbo Mode.

What is the Turbo Mode?

The Turbo Mode provides an immediate performance boost whenever you need it. When you put your computer into Turbo Mode, an analysis is performed to see which of those programs and functions currently running in the background are not strictly necessary. These programs are stopped or slowed down, allowing the additional processing power gained to be used exclusively by the programs you are actually running.

How Does the Turbo Mode Work?

The following graphics illustrate the internal workings of your PC with the programs that you are currently using (green) and those running in the background (blue). Here you can see how your PC is assisted as soon as you enable Turbo Mode:

The green circles represent those programs that you wish to accelerate using the Turbo Mode. The blue diamonds are all the programs and functions that are not required at all when Turbo Mode is on. These are

therefore turned off so that all of the PC's processing power is available to the required programs. In addition to those programs that you are currently using (green), many others are also running in the

background that are really not that important for your work (blue). If such background processes suddenly start to require a great deal of processing power, they are assigned a lower priority so that your other programs can continue to run smoothly.

When should I switch on Turbo Mode?

Using the Turbo Mode can, for example, speed up computer games, make it easier to work with performancesapping programs or prevent videos from flickering or freezing when they are played. Note however that when you enable Turbo Mode, you also turn off some functionalities that will not be available again until you turn off Turbo Mode.

How to Switch the Computer to Turbo Mode

At the bottom left of the AVG PC TuneUp Start Center, there are three switches. The right-hand switch is for Turbo Mode. When you click this switch, the computer is switched to Turbo Mode. The AVG icon then appears in the notification area of the taskbar, notifying you that Turbo Mode is turned on.

Alternatively, you can access the switch for Turbo Mode directly via the AVG PC TuneUp icon in the notification area of the taskbar. Left-click on the icon. A pop-up window opens, showing the Turbo Mode switch on the bottom right.

How to Find Out if Turbo Mode is On

If Turbo Mode is on, a AVG PC TuneUp icon appears in the taskbar notification area (in the bottom right-hand corner beside the time), which tells you that Turbo Mode is on. You can also recognize this from the switch in the Start Center.

How to Configure Your AVG Turbo Mode

When you start Turbo Mode for the first time, the Turbo Mode Configuration Wizard will appear to help you create your own customized Turbo Mode. The wizard is integrated into the new central configuration dialog of AVG PC TuneUp.

For more information, see Turbo Mode Settings.

3.3.1. Turbo Mode Settings

Start the wizard for configuring the AVG Turbo Mode by clicking on Settings in the menu bar of the Start Center, selecting the Turbo Mode area and clicking the Open Configuration Wizard button located there. Alternatively, open the window for configuring AVG Turbo Mode by going to the AVG Start Center, selecting

the Optimize category and clicking the Configure Turbo Mode link (in the Reduce system load area).

Please note that if the Turbo Mode is already switched on, you don't have to run the Wizard again. You can alter Turbo Mode settings directly in central configuration dialog of your AVG (the Turbo Mode item). Simply check (or uncheck) the appropriate boxes and click Apply.

In the Turbo Mode Configuration Wizard, set up your own Turbo Mode in six easy steps – simply select which tasks, programs and functions can be disabled temporarily to give a performance boost while Turbo Mode is enabled. The more you allow to be switched off, the better the gain in performance will be. You can always temporarily turn off all functions and tasks suggested here. None of your software features for Internet security or virus protection will be turned off.

Step 1: Postpone automatic maintenance tasks until later

Maintenance measures that start automatically in the background are important for the maintenance of your computer, but are not usually urgent. They can be carried out at a later date to free up the resources needed for your programs.

Postpone scheduled defragmentation: This will prevent the scheduled hard disk defragmentation by Microsoft or other well-known manufacturers from starting when Turbo Mode is on.

Postpone scheduled maintenance tasks: This will prevent automatic maintenance tasks and scheduled tasks for Microsoft and other manufacturers from being carried out when Turbo Mode is on. This includes AVG Automatic Maintenance and the automatic creation of backups.

Postpone automatic updates: If you select this option, you will be notified that program updates are available but these will not be automatically downloaded or installed while Turbo Mode is on.

Step 2: Limit connection with external devices.

Every computer has many services running in the background that detect connected devices and provide you with the necessary functions to use these devices. You can limit this support and have more resources available for your programs.

Turn off synchronization with mobile devices: This setting will prevent synchronization of addresses, emails, music files, etc. with your cell phone or portable media player and the related program will not start automatically when the device is connected while Turbo Mode is on.

Limit support for digital cameras and scanners: When Turbo Mode is on, you cannot import images from your digital camera or scan images.

Step 3: Reduce visual effects

Tip: This is a popular way of increasing the performance of netbooks on a sustained basis.

Turn off visual special effects: This setting turns off transparency effects and shadows of windows, the preview window in the taskbar and three-dimensional navigation between windows when Turbo Mode is on.

Switch to classic window design: This setting uses the classic Windows design for the appearance of windows, menus and buttons when Turbo Mode is on. Also, in Windows XP the colorful Windows interface is disabled, whereas in newer Windows transparency effects and thumbnails of windows in the taskbar are disabled.

Step 4: Configure computer resources for optimum performance

Your computer's resources are in demand. A clever sharing solution for the resources will help increase your computer's performance enormously.

Tip: Since this does not limit any functions, this setting is also highly recommended for the long term.

Ensure optimum performance regardless of energy use: This setting uses the "high performance" Windows energy-saving plan when Turbo Mode is on. This ensures maximum performance regardless of the amount of energy used.

Step 5: Disable background functions

The operating system performs many more tasks than most users are aware of. Many programs and services run permanently in the background, although they are not strictly necessary and use valuable resources. If you never use some of these functions you can disable them and permanently increase your computer's performance.

Disable media library share in local network: This setting ensures that other network devices cannot access your images, videos or music in the media library when Turbo Mode is on. However, Turbo Mode does not affect the share of folders in the network.

Turn off quick search using index creation: This setting ensures that Windows does not create an index of your files and emails when Turbo Mode is on. Please note that turning off this function significantly slows down the search.

Turn off error reporting: This setting ensures that no data will be gathered regarding errors and there will be no communication with Microsoft about crashed programs or other errors when Turbo Mode is on.

Turn off support for virtual machines: (This option is only available if your computer has software for virtual machines installed on it.) This setting turns off background functions for the use of virtual machines when Turbo Mode is on.

Step 6: Additional performance boost

Every time Windows starts up, it starts up services that are used rarely or never. These services can occupy a large amount of the system's resources and slow down your PC. To prevent these services from not working when you need them, you should only turn them off temporarily for an added performance boost.

Turn off rarely used services: This setting turns off services that are only needed in specific circumstances (e.g. company networks) or situations (e.g. installation of new programs) when Turbo Mode is on.

Turn off special encryption services: When Turbo Mode is on, this setting turns off services for logging onto a domain.

Turn off network communication services: When Turbo Mode is on, this setting turns off network communication services that are rarely used, e.g. fax or peer-to-peer services.

Step 7: How long should Turbo Mode stay switched on?

The Turbo Mode can either be switched off automatically when the computer is shut down, or stay on until you switch it off manually. If you leave Turbo Mode on constantly, this can also speed up the startup process.

However, please note that for the system performance increase, the features that you selected in the configuration wizard must be switched off. If, when Turbo Mode is on, you are missing a required feature, turn Turbo Mode off and modify your settings so that when you restart Turbo Mode, this feature is available again.

Click Finish to close the wizard.

4. Flight Mode

This feature is only active on laptops, otherwise the whole section is grayed out. The Flight Mode switch allows you to partly turn off wireless network activity on your laptop. This includes:

Wifi – technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet wirelessly using radio waves.

Bluetooth – wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using shortwavelength radio transmissions.

Please note that when you access this feature for the first time, an information dialog appears asking you whether you really want to activate Flight Mode. However, you can simply choose not to display this message ever again (by checking the appropriate checkbox).

5. Optimization Potential

The Optimization Potential is your personal indicator of optimization progress. You can find it on the AVG PC TuneUp Start Center next to the PC mode area.

What is the Optimization Potential?

The Optimization Potential uses a graph and associated notifications to show you how extensively you are already using the options of AVG PC TuneUp to increase performance and maintain the system and where there is still potential to optimize your system further.

The Optimization Potential shows you details of already the completed optimizations and the potential you have exploited; moreover, it also helps you to recognize the remaining unused potential and make use of it.

The Graph

In the graph, the blue sections on the left represent the modules you have used to make your optimization progress so far, while the light gray sections on the right represent open optimization options. A message is assigned to every section of the graph: the messages under blue sections are purely informative, notifying you about already completed optimizations. The messages under gray sections, representing the optimization potential that can still be exploited, are more interactive, allowing you to directly access problems and deal with them right away.

Messages

Below the graph, you can see the current messages about optimizations already completed and about untapped potential. If you point your mouse cursor at any of the sections, an appropriate message will be displayed. In case of sections containing some unused potential, some button (like Scan Now, Fix Now or Show Details) will be available; clicking it opens the precise AVG PC TuneUp module that you can use to achieve the unused potential.

Even if your system is perfectly optimized today, anything could change tomorrow that could present areas for optimization, e.g. the installation of new programs or a change to system settings. Pay attention to the messages on unused potential in order to keep your system optimized for the long term and therefore maintain a good Optimization Potential.

What is Used to Calculate the Optimization Potential?

AVG PC TuneUp performs an analysis to see which optimizations it can perform on your system. This

potential is displayed in a graph showing you how close your system is to having 100% optimization. You will achieve 100% – the perfect Optimization Potential and therefore a fully filled out graph – when you implement the recommended optimization potential for your system as much as possible.

The graph is made of different sections. The sections on the left-hand side (displayed in blue) represent optimizations completed and the sections on the right-hand side (displayed in gray) show optimization potential still remaining. The Optimization Potential is calculated based on the analysis results of the following sections:

Maintenance

For this section to be considered as optimized, one of the following conditions must be fulfilled:

Automatic Maintenance must be activated with all the necessary maintenance tasks enabled, or

AVG 1-Click Maintenance is carried out within 14 days of use with all the necessary maintenance tasks, or

AVG Registry Cleaner and AVG Shortcut Cleaner are run within 14 days and Temporary files are deleted within 14 days of use.

To delete Temporary files, open the Clean Up category in the Start Center. Here, open the Clean Up Windows and Programs dialog (in the Gain disk space and delete usage data area). Then check all boxes in the Temporary Windows files section and click the Clean Up button.

Live Optimization

For this section to be considered as optimized, the two Live Optimization options should be enabled. These two options have the same weighting.

PC Performance

Please note that you must answer the questions on your profile in order to receive appropriate recommendations for your system.

For this section to be considered as optimized, the following condition must be fulfilled:

You have either accepted or hidden all recommendations.

Recommendations that you have hidden for 30 days will cause the status to be reclassified when this period expires and the recommendation will be displayed again.

PC Health

For this section to be considered as optimized, the following condition must be fulfilled:

You have either fixed or hidden all problems.

Problems that you have hidden for 30 days will cause the status to be reclassified when this period expires and the problem will be displayed again.

Disable programs

The Optimization Potential analyzes how many of your existing programs are using up your system's resources and recommends that you optimize these through AVG Program Deactivator or AVG StartUp Manager. In doing so, the Optimization Potential takes into account the fact that you have classified some of your programs as important despite their system load and that they should remain active. Therefore this section of the graph is considered as optimized after a certain number of programs have been disabled.

6. Menu Bar

In the menu bar, you have access to the central settings dialog of AVG PC TuneUp and to information about the program and individual modules.

The "Settings" Menu

Clicking on Settings takes you to the central configuration dialog of AVG PC TuneUp. Here you can adapt the program to your requirements, apply maintenance settings and configure AVG Live Optimization, AVG

Turbo Mode, the update check and many other modules of AVG PC TuneUp.

The "Help & Support" Menu

The Help & Support menu provides you with access to this program help. You can also click the link there and go to the AVG website directly. The Info entry opens a window with detailed information on your version of AVG PC TuneUp. This information can be useful if you need to contact technical support. Clicking on Check for updates starts the AVG Update Wizard module, which checks whether there are any new updates for your AVG PC TuneUp.

7. Dashboard

The Dashboard category displays the current status for the three most important function areas provided to you by AVG PC TuneUp. In the event of warnings or recommendations, you can use the appropriate button to immediately address the problem behind the warning or view the recommendations. In the fourth area, you can see whether the AVG Rescue Center protection is enabled, so that you can undo any changes at any time.

Maintenance

The status in the Maintenance area shows how often your computer is maintained. This takes into account whether Automatic Maintenance is carried out regularly with the most important maintenance tasks or whether you have manually run 1-Click Maintenance recently.

Under the status indicator is the Scan Now button. If you click it, 1-Click Maintenance will be carried out with the default AVG PC TuneUp settings or the changes to the maintenance settings made by you.

When you click on the gear wheel button next to the Scan Now button, the central configuration dialog opens, where you can specify the maintenance tasks that should be carried out by Automatic Maintenance and 1-Click Maintenance. You can also specify when Automatic Maintenance should be carried out.

For more information, see Maintaining system.

PC Performance

The status field in the PC performance area shows whether AVG PC TuneUp has detected options for increasing the performance of your computer. For example, you may receive recommendations for increasing

the speed of your Internet, uninstalling programs that haven't been used for a while or upgrading your hardware.

However, in order to get the most out of performance recommendations that are personalized to your requirements, you must first answer some questions regarding your usage profile. To do trigger this dialog, click the Scan Now button (or, if you're not running the PC performance test for the first time, use the gear wheel button next to the Scan Now button).

If there are recommendations, you can view these by clicking Show details or the link to the recommendations. Each recommendation has a detailed description and you can apply most recommendations with just a click of the mouse. You can also hide individual recommendations. Once all recommendations have been applied or hidden, the status for this area reverts to green.

For more information, see Increasing Performance.

PC Health

The status in the PC Health area shows whether everything is working fine on your computer or whether critical problems have been detected which may affect the system's health. For example, a check can be carried out to see if key Windows settings have been configured correctly, if there is enough free space on your system drive or whether important security programs have been installed.

If problems have been found, click Fix problems. For each problem, you will receive a description and can choose if you want to solve it now or hide it until later. Once all problems have been solved or hidden, the status of this area reverts to green.

For more information, see Fixing Problems.

Rescue Center

On the far right under Rescue Center, you can see the current status of AVG Rescue Center. By simply clicking on Undo changes you can undo any changes made in AVG PC TuneUp at any time.

The AVG Rescue Center module monitors the changes you make to your system using AVG PC TuneUp and allows you to undo these at a later stage. You can also use AVG Rescue Center to manage restore points and thereby undo system changes that you did not make using AVG PC TuneUp.

When you click on the gear wheel button next to the Undo changes button, the central configuration dialog opens, allowing you to specify the modules protected by the AVG Rescue Center, as well as the number of stored backups and frequency of their deletion.

For more information, see Undoing changes.

7.1. Maintaining System

In this chapter, you will find out how 1-Click Maintenance or Automatic Maintenance can help you to maintain an optimized system performance and a clean computer, so that the system runs quickly and reliably.

7.1.1. 1-Click Maintenance

1-Click Maintenance is particularly suited to those users who would rather set the time for maintenance themselves and wish to monitor its progress. The link for starting 1-Click Maintenance can be found in the status field of the Maintenance category in the Start Center. After maintenance has been performed by 1- Click Maintenance, further details on any problems found are also displayed.

By default, 1-Click Maintenance performs the following tasks for you:

Cleans your registry

Over time, the central Windows registry becomes filled with hundreds of superfluous entries. These include references to non-existent files, backlogs of programs deleted long ago and faulty entries. Your registry is cleaned, making your Windows system fast and problem-free.

Defragments your registry

Even after the registry has been cleaned as described above, it is not automatically smaller because the disk space that is freed up is not released. This feature compresses the registry by deleting these gaps.

Removes broken shortcuts

1-Click Maintenance checks whether there are any broken shortcuts on your desktop or in the Start menu or Quick Launch taskbar and then automatically deletes them. At the same time, a search is also made for faulty entries in the history lists of various programs such as Windows Media Player or Microsoft Office.

Frees up disk space by deleting unnecessary files

So-called "temporary" files are something of a nuisance. Windows and programs create temporary files on the hard disk, in order to temporarily store certain settings or data. If the program in question is closed, these files should really be deleted from the program. However, the program in question often "forgets" to clean up after itself so that over time your hard disk can be filled with a lot of unnecessary data. 1-Click Maintenance reliably deletes all temporary files and folders from your hard disk.

Cleans up your browser

As you surf the Internet, your browser saves various kinds of data on your computer. 1-Click Maintenance cleans up the cache and download history of your browser.

Optimizes system startup and shutdown

Some programs that are run each time you start your system slow down the startup process to an unnecessary extent. Such known programs that are definitely not required are turned off here.

Defragments your hard disk

In the background, AVG PC TuneUp changes the arrangement of files and folders so that they can be read more quickly. Regular defragmentation is paramount - especially if the data structure of your hard disk changes frequently, for example because you move or delete files or install new programs. Defragmentation is, however, only carried out when necessary. And you can even

choose whether - if it was determined that defragmentation was necessary - a thorough or a quick defragmentation should take place, or whether this should depend on the result of the analysis.

Solid-state drives (SSD) are detected by AVG PC TuneUp. They are not analyzed or defragmented, as it is not possible to optimize solid-state drives through defragmentation and they could be damaged by defragmentation.

7.1.2. Automatic Maintenance

The Automatic Maintenance is particularly useful for all users who do not want to worry about the maintenance of their computer. As its name suggests, Automatic Maintenance regularly and automatically performs the most important maintenance work on your system to ensure that Windows remains fast and stable.

The Automatic Maintenance function is also configured so that it performs all maintenance tasks. However, it is run in the background and only the notifications tell you when it was carried out.

Performing Maintenance

You can specify whether and when Automatic Maintenance should run automatically in the background. You can even have automatic maintenance run only in idle mode, i.e. it only starts when you are not currently working on your computer and no programs are required in the background. This way Automatic Maintenance will never interrupt your work. If you select this option, following the number of days specified by you, maintenance will be attempted as soon as your computer is in idle mode. Three days is selected by default.

If, after a period of a week, it was not possible to perform full maintenance because your computer was not in idle mode for long enough then - if you enable this option - maintenance will be carried out anyway. This prevents your computer from not being maintained over a long period of time.

If you choose scheduled maintenance, the procedure is similar: If your computer is not switched on at the time of scheduled maintenance, Automatic Maintenance is performed 5 minutes after you next start your PC. This option can also be disabled.

If you work with a portable computer, you can also specify - in addition to the other options - that you don't want maintenance to be performed when the computer is running off the battery, so as not to reduce the battery life unnecessarily. This option is enabled by default.

7.1.3. Changing Maintenance Settings

In the Start Center, click click on the gear wheel button in the Maintenance area of the Dashboard category. The central AVG PC TuneUp configuration dialog opens, with an area for Automatic Maintenance and one for 1-Click Maintenance. Configure your settings here.

Alternatively, you can open the maintenance settings window by going to All functions in the Start Center and selecting the Settings entry under AVG PC TuneUp. Or click on Settings in the Start Center menu bar and select the Automatic Maintenance or 1-Click Maintenance area.

Because AVG PC TuneUp preferably wants to provide comprehensive maintenance for your computer, all maintenance tasks are activated by default for both Automatic Maintenance and 1-Click Maintenance. However, if you do not want certain maintenance tasks to be performed, you can exclude them from maintenance. For example, if you would rather defragment your hard disk manually, simply clear the Defragment hard disks checkbox.

7.2. Increasing Performance

In this chapter, you will find out why it is important to do so and how you can use Increase performance to increase the performance of your system, by turning off unnecessary tasks and services.

You can improve your system performance by turning off tasks and services that run in the background and that you rarely, if ever, need for your day-to-day work. For tablet PC compatibility (i.e. the option of operating the computer by moving a stylus across the screen) or network server technologies. You can also increase the performance of your computer by uninstalling programs. A search is therefore run for programs that have not been used for a long time - programs that you may not even remember you had and which slow down your system unnecessarily. AVG PC TuneUp also recognizes when your computer hardware is not powerful enough.

Your Internet settings can prevent Windows from using the bandwidth of your Internet connection optimally. Downloading two files at once or downloading data from websites can be slowed down by Windows default settings. You will also be shown the potential for optimization here too.

Should your computer be slowed down by superfluous visual effects, this will be identified. AVG PC TuneUp checks your computer for such performance-sapping visual effects and provides

recommendations for increasing performance. To enable AVG PC TuneUp to provide you with comprehensive recommendations, you must complete the

profile before running the software for the first time. The way is then clear to a rapid and simple performance boost.

In the Start Center under the Dashboard category, you can see whether you have any recommendations in the status field of the PC performance category. If you have hidden some recommendations, these do not impact the status any more. Open the details window by clicking on the Show details button.

When you open this window for the first time, you must answer the short questions from the profile wizard, so that the optimization can be precisely tailored to your situation and needs. If you wish to adjust or update your profile info, simply click the gear wheel button (just next to the Scan Now/Show details button). For more

information, see Profile.

Overview

The details window opens on the Overview tab, where you can find out whether there is any potential for increasing performance. In the areas Internet settings and Visual effects, you can perform all the optimization recommendations found by clicking Optimize all. This will not restrict any of your important functions.

The recommendations in the Hardware and software area on the other hand depend heavily on your usage behavior. This is why you can only apply them one at a time.

Switching Tabs

Click on a recommendation or on the Details button to move to the other tabs, where you can view the details of each recommendation. Alternatively, you can click on the name of the tab you want.

Applying Recommendations

In the Internet settings and Visual effects tabs you can perform all the optimization recommendations found by clicking Optimize all. Alternatively, you can click on a recommendation in the left column. In the right-hand area of the window, a detailed description will appear and you can apply the recommendation by clicking on the button on the bottom right.

In the Hardware and software tab you must answer a few simple questions on each recommendation in order to receive suitable options to continue. If you can't answer a question or want to postpone the decision, you can hide the recommendation by clicking on Hide recommendation on the bottom right.

Please note that you cannot of course simply accept the recommendations concerning your hardware, but can only hide them.

Hiding and Showing Recommendations

If you do not want to accept a recommendation, click Hide recommendation. Now you can select whether you want to hide it permanently or only for 30 days. The number of hidden recommendations is always displayed in the taskbar on the right. By clicking on the number displayed, you can easily show these recommendations again.

Changing a Profile

Selecting Change profile on the top right takes you to the profile, which shows the basis for your optimization recommendations.

7.2.1. Profile

The first time you use AVG PC TuneUp, you are prompted to complete a profile, so that it can provide you with tailored recommendations for increasing performance. This profile contains the following questions:

How is your Computer Usually Connected to the Internet?

Select the type of connection from the list so that your network, Internet and browser settings (for example packet sizes) can be adapted as best as possible to your Internet connection.

What Criteria Should be Used to Optimize Visual Effects?

If you select Maximum performance (irrespective of display quality), all effects and the colorful Luna theme (Windows XP), or the Aero glass theme (newer Windows) are turned off. This is highly recommended, especially for slower computers, because the display of these sophisticated interfaces really eats up resources.

If the interface on your computer flickers and it takes a while for windows to open, choose the option A balance between performance and display quality. The attractive interfaces are retained but the performance-sapping effects are switched off.

If you have a high-performance graphics card, your system performance will not be improved by turning off the Windows Vista Aero desktop experience.

How Many Days Should a Program Remain Unused Before We Recommend Removing it?

Your computer is checked for programs that have not been used for a long time. These are then displayed with the recommendation that they are removed so that they do not slow down your computer unnecessarily. Based on your user behavior, you specify here after how many days a program that has not been used is considered to be potentially unnecessary and displayed with the recommendation that it is removed.

Changing a Profile

You can change the settings for your profile later at any time, by going to PC performance in the Dashboard category of the Start Center and clicking the gear wheel button (located just next to the Show details button).

Alternatively, you can click on the Change profile button at the top left of the Increase performance - details window.

Note that you cannot confirm your profile until you have entered all the necessary information.

7.3. Fixing Problems

In this chapter, you will find out how to use the Fix problems – Details feature to fix problems that affect the health of your system and why it is important to do so.

To find out whether there are problems affecting your system's health, go to the Start Center in the Dashboard category and look at the PC health status field.

For example, checks are made to see if key settings have been set correctly in Windows, if there is enough free memory on your system drive, if important security programs are installed and if there are any new Windows updates. If you have hidden some problems, these do not impact the status any more. Open the details window by clicking on Fix Now.

Overview

The details window lists the problems found. When you select a problem from the list, the detail panel gives you a short description of the problem and a suggestion for a solution.

Fixing Problems

For each problem, you can decide whether you want to solve it straightaway or hide it. The easiest way is to fix problems by clicking on the link for the suggested solution.

Hiding Problems

If you don't want to fix a problem immediately, click Hide problem. Now you can select whether you want to hide it permanently or only for 30 days.

7.4. System Protection

In the following chapters, you will find out how to use the AVG Rescue Center module to undo changes that you made with AVG PC TuneUp. You can also use AVG Rescue Center to perform system recoveries, i.e. to undo changes that you did not make with AVG PC TuneUp.

System Recovery

The AVG Rescue Center even lets you undo changes made not by AVG PC TuneUp but by other applications. AVG Rescue Center offers integration with the Windows system recovery function for this.

Windows regularly creates restore points. Should your system stop behaving as it should, you can revert at any time to one of the restore points. The previous system status is then restored and any changes made after this point are lost.

Where Can I Find the AVG Rescue Center?

The AVG Rescue Center is always within reach: To access the AVG Rescue Center, press Undo changes button that can be found in the Dashboard category of the Start Center (Rescue Center area). This button is also located in the individual modules.

7.4.1. Undoing Changes

Start the AVG Rescue Center module by clicking Undo changes button that can be found in the Dashboard category of the Start Center (Rescue Center area).

Alternatively, you can start the module by going to All functions in the Start Center and selecting the Undo changes entry under AVG PC TuneUp.

In the right-hand column, AVG Rescue Center shows you a list of all saved backups arranged by module or date and specifies for each entry the number of modified settings, time of change and the disk space freed up by the changes.

Showing details

The Details button takes you to an exact log of the changes carried out. However you can only view this log. You cannot undo only selected changes. For this reason you may have to restore a number of superfluous files before you can use just one file again that you deleted by accident.

Delete

If you are quite certain that you no longer need a backup, you can delete it permanently using this button.

Restore

Use this button to restore the system to its status before the selected backup.

7.4.2. System Restore

Start the AVG Rescue Center module by clicking Undo changes button that can be found in the Dashboard category of the Start Center (Rescue Center area)

Alternatively, you can start the module by going to All functions in the Start Center and selecting the Undo changes entry under AVG PC TuneUp.

Click on System Recovery.

In the right-hand column, AVG Rescue Center shows you a list of all stored backups and also the time at which each entry was changed.

Create Backup

Use this button to create a system restore point. Give this point a name by which to remember this system status at a later time.

Since a system restore point saves the status of your configuration and system files, you are advised to create a system restore point before making any significant changes to the system (such as installing a program). If something goes wrong during installation or your computer no longer works the way it used to, you can always restore it back to its original status at any time.

Delete

If you are quite certain that you no longer need a backup, you can delete it permanently using this button.

Restore

Use this button to restore the system to its status before the selected backup. You will need to restart your system.

This function is useful if your computer no longer functions properly following a change to the system.

First, select a restore point that is as recent as possible, in order to avoid undoing too many system changes.

7.4.3. Changing Settings

You can change some of the settings of the AVG Rescue Center. In the AVG Rescue Center click on the Settings button.

Alternatively, you can enter these settings from the Start Center. In the Menu Bar, click Settings and find the Rescue Center protection item (in the list on the left side of newly triggered configuration dialog).

Rescue Center Protection

Every AVG PC TuneUp module is protected by AVG Rescue Center as standard. You can disable this support for individual modules by clearing the relevant checkboxes.

Backups

Here you can set how long the individual backups of AVG Rescue Center should be stored for. The standard setting is for backups to be automatically deleted after two weeks and for a maximum of 60 backups to be stored.

Do not restrict the AVG Rescue Center protection too much in order to save disk space. In the event of problems, the protection function is very useful as a last resort and generally more important than saving a small amount of space on your hard disk.

8. Optimize

Your computer does not always work quite how you would like it to. Often it seems to take an eternity to call up individual programs or to save files and you start to doubt the performance capabilities of your computer. But in many cases this has nothing to do with the hardware. The problem is caused by the programs that are started, without you being aware of them, or remnants of programs that were not completely removed from your computer during an uninstallation process.

All modifications to your system will be monitored by AVG Rescue Center and can be undone if necessary.

Reducing System Load

The Reduce system load area is devoted to dealing with your installed programs and services. Its functions extend from disabling startup programs that have no impact whatsoever on the actual program, and manually uninstalling individual programs, to automatically turning off entire function areas. But that is not all! In this area, you will also find a link to an unprecedented function. Have you ever had an intelligent alternative to uninstallation? Now you do – AVG Program Deactivator a module that uses our unique AVG Programs-on- Demand Technology.

For more information, see Reducing System Load.

Optimizing registry and performance

Being able to disable or uninstall programs is an important criterion for optimizing system performance. But this may not achieve a great deal if your Windows system is still full of "relics", i.e. remnants of programs that were uninstalled long ago but were not fully removed. You can use our cleanup program to only keep entries on the computer that really belong there - then complete your tidying with a more intelligent arrangement of the

system entries and data to ensure a quicker startup of programs and files.

For more information, see Optimizing registry and performance.

8.1. Reducing System Load

Disabling Programs

The AVG Program Deactivator module shows you to what extent the installed programs are loading the system at various times (system startup, operation, shutdown). Thanks to the new AVG Programs-on- Demand Technology, you can now disable any performance-sapping programs easily and no longer need to uninstall them immediately. This means you can keep the programs on your computer in case you need them again at a later date.

For more information, see Disabling Programs.

Disabling Startup Programs

The AVG StartUp Manager module gives you recommendations and additional information about programs that are automatically run on your computer when the system starts up. You can disable the automatic startup of individual programs and thereby speed up your computer's startup.

For more information, see Disabling Startup Programs.

Uninstalling programs

The AVG Uninstall Manager module shows all the programs installed on your computer together with detailed information about them. For example, you can identify which programs you only rarely use and uninstall these if necessary. This helps you clean up your computer, gain disk space and increase system performance.

For more information, see Displaying and Uninstalling Programs.

Rating Function for Programs

The three modules mentioned above contain the useful Rating function for programs. The experience of many AVG PC TuneUp users shows you which programs have been classified as useful by other users and helps you to decide which startup programs you want to disable and which programs you want to disable or uninstall.

Configuring Live Optimization

AVG Live Optimization consists of two intelligent optimization methods that monitor the load on your

computer in real time and can thereby intervene if necessary to avoid sudden drops in performance. Both help to speed up your system - one increases the startup speed of programs, the other increases the response rate of the computer.

This is done by intelligently prioritizing the programs that are running. If your computer is currently working at near full capacity, the programs you access will start up more rapidly by briefly assigning them a higher priority. And if a background program suddenly gets carried away and requires a particularly high amount of

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