Free Maintenance Software

The software on this page is free. Free software may be the solution to your problem, but often times paid software does a better job.

All of the software listed is spyware and adware free at the time it is listed. If you can't afford the software listed in My Software Picks, or prefer freeware, then try some of these programs.

Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal - a program that does registry cleanup, startup programs cleanup, and basic spyware all with one click.

AusLogics Disk Defrag - a free hard disk defrager.

AutoRuns - a free program that finds all of the hidden auto-start entries on your computer and provides an easy way to disable them. - 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista

CCleaner - a free temp file and registry cleaner. This program cleans Windows temp files along with many third party programs. -XP/Vista

CleanUp! - free drive cleaner. Removes temporary and unused files. Recovers lots of wasted space from your hard drive.

Disk Cleaner - free drive and temp file cleaner.

Eusing Registry Cleaner - Free registry cleaner compatible with all versions of Windows.

FreeRAM XP Pro - frees and defragements your system memory. Also displays available memory in the taskbar.

IObit SmartDefrag - a free hard disk defrager.

JKDefrag - a free, fast, and thorough hard drive defrag program. - 2000/XP/Vista

MyUninstaller - a free replacement for Windows Add/Remove Programs. Much easier to use. Offers more information, and can remove entries (such as updates) from the list.

Mz Ultimate Force - Windows XP system tweaker. Many advanced tweaks including: Performance, Visual, Media Player, Drive cleaner, and basic backup. - Win XP

NTRegOpt - a free registry defragmenter.

RegCleaner - a free registry cleaner.

RegCool - the best registry editor I've used. Great interface and search utility.

Startup.cpl - a free program that adds a "Startup" icon to the Control Panel. This shows what programs start with Windows, where they are starting from, and allows you to easily prevent them from starting. One of my favorites. - 98/ME/2000/XP

Startup Inspector - A nice freeware program that provides information about startup applications. Startup Inspector includes a database of popular programs and provides information including: if the program is required, and if there are any caveats to disabling the program. - XP/Vista

Total Uninstall - a free program that monitors all settings and files changed when a new program is installed. Enables a complete removal with no leftover reg keys or files.

TweakUI - a free program from Microsoft that allows changing some hidden Windows settings. -XP

Tweak Vista - a free program to easily control many of Vista's hidden settings. -Vista

Tweak XP - a free program to easily control many of XP's hidden settings. - XP

Vista4Experts - Adjust hidden Vista settings - Vista