WinZip System Utilities Suite is a Windows maintenance program from the WinZip SystemTools line. It brings registry repair, junk cleanup, driver updating, startup control, program removal and several troubleshooting aids into one window. The download runs as a feature-limited trial: it can scan the PC and show what it finds. Repairs and the locked tools need a registered license. The license covers one PC for twelve months.
Scan and repair on the Repair tile
The main job of WinZip System Utilities Suite is a combined analysis of the system. From the Repair tile, the user picks which scanners to run, with the option of leaving all of them checked. The user then starts the scan. The scan serves as the first step, giving an overview before the user opens any of the individual tools.
When the scan finishes, the program lists the problems found and can show the details behind each one before anything changes. A single Repair button then fixes the selected issues. In the trial, this is the point where the program asks for registration; an unregistered copy reports problems but does not repair them.
Registry, junk and driver fixes
Three of the core tools deal with the problems most often reported by the scan.
- Registry Cleaner looks for invalid or broken entries in the Windows Registry and repairs them.
- Disk Cleaner removes privacy traces, cache files and other temporary data that take up disk space.
- Driver Updater identifies outdated or obsolete device drivers and installs current versions from the original hardware manufacturer.
Backups before changes
Because the suite edits the registry and replaces drivers, it saves copies before it acts. WinZip System Utilities Suite automatically backs up the registry and the drivers it is about to change before running repairs or updates. If System Protection is on for the Windows drive, it also creates a Windows restore point whenever repairs or a registry defrag run.
The user accesses these backups through the Restore Manager under Troubleshoot. The user selects the type of change, a registry cleanup or a driver update, then checks the backup date to return to. Windows System Restore handles rolling the entire computer back to an earlier state. None of this covers personal documents, photos or music, which need a separate backup.
A separate Driver Backup tool in the Maintain area saves drivers on demand. It can copy every driver on the system or only drivers the user selects. This lets the user keep a working set before hardware or Windows changes.
Optimization tools for startup, disk space and the registry
The Optimize section of WinZip System Utilities Suite groups the tools the user runs directly rather than through the scan.
Startup Manager lists the programs and Windows services that launch when the computer starts. Each entry has a switch. The user can disable an item to shorten boot time and turn it back on the same way.
Uninstall Manager shows installed applications with an Uninstall option for each. This option starts the removal and guides the user through on-screen instructions. A Repair option sits next to it for programs that are damaged rather than unwanted.
Disk Explorer builds a complete list of the files and folders on the drive. The user goes through the list and selects files or folders that are no longer needed. Deleting them from the same view helps increase available hard drive space.
Registry Defrag compacts the registry hives so they take less space. It first runs an analysis and shows the results, then optimizes the hives when the user confirms. Since Windows keeps the registry in use, the program may schedule the final stage for the next restart. Windows loads normally once that stage completes.
Troubleshooting crashes and unknown processes
Two reference tools in the Troubleshoot section help explain problems rather than fix them automatically.
Crash Helper deals with blue screen errors. The user types the stop code shown on the blue screen, for example 0x000000F4. The tool returns information about that error with guidance on how to resolve it.
Process Library is a lookup for processes running on the PC. The user can find a process by searching its name or browsing an alphabetical index of file names. Selecting one shows a description of what it is.
System information reports
The System Info page in WinZip System Utilities Suite shows details of the Windows installation, the computer’s hardware and installed components, grouped by area. The user can save the information as a text file or print it for an offline record of the machine’s configuration.
Scheduled scans and reminders
Scan and repair tasks can run on a schedule instead of only on demand. From the settings menu behind the cog icon, the Setup Schedule option sets the task to run once, daily or weekly. The program also shows reminder alerts for maintenance tasks. The same settings area controls the interface language and whether WinZip System Utilities Suite starts with Windows.
