Iam looking for a software suite that is the best PC optimizing software package available, I want one that will cover discovering errors in the system ,evaluate the H.D. for best configuration including uneeded padtitions and wasted space + registry cleaner ! Iam not looking for a freeware package ,however a Suite that is a single user package. There are many out the and they all claim to be th best ,I was hoping for coputing.net memebers opinions on utility software. This would be a X-Mas present from wife ,or would I just be better off getting a externial USB H.D.and back up my data to it ,Iam torn I have like a $100 cap and Iam of course a gadet freak so Iam looking for a gadget to add to my PC ,I first thought I would upgrade to 4 G.B. of RAM ,however I have 2G.B. DDR2 RAM and rarley break the 33% of Ram being used, Then I thought web cam ,however I had one on my last system and used it maybe twice in 8 years ! I just bought a Logitech USB Microphone ,it was the most expensive one avalable and I was told the best mic. out ,another item I may use a couple of times ! Any one that has a suggsestion Iam open to ideas ! Thanks Nick

why not run a complete test at: http://www.pcpitstop.com/ Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!

My vote for what it is worth is for the external HD.

Take a look at Sisoft SANDRA. There are freeware versions that have many of the modules diabled but it will give you an idea what the program is like. Anyway you do things you need to create regular backups or images. An external drive is good but people use them as the only copy. I prefer optical media for backup/ imaging. http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.h...

Havent used the latest but it is a nice suite. Let us know how you like it if you buy it. http://www.v-com.com/?tr1=VC_US_PP_...

Well thank you for your opinions they as always are greatly appreciated .I actually have decided to go with both options .I purchased my wife a Garmin c350 navagation tool becasue she is so difficult to give directions to and claims she cannopt read a map ,now she can argue with the voice coming from the box on her windsheild ! That ran my aprx $300+ and not that we exchange gifts on a tit for tat basis ,when I told her the cost of the ulitlity suite ,she said she would get me something else .So B/4 she buys me some expensive smelly stuff or a sweater I will never wear ,Iam going to just go ahead and spend the $ on a externial H.D. ,I figure if my system is runnig well and I do not feel backing up daily is nesssary (I have about 10G.B. of used space ,with a externial H.D. I can record movies or TV shows to the externial B/4 I burn them onto DVD ,I have a TV Tuner card install the ATI TV Wonder Elite I installed myself after I purchased the PC ,ad I have the My DVD Combo software by Roxio and a DVD+-RW for burning DVD's and CD's ! Iam going to the Best Buy web site just to get an idea of what size and speed externial H.D. I should go with ,my current internial H.D. is a 250G.B. Samsung 7200RPM 8 M.B.cache ! I will probably want to match the speed and not try to use a 10,000 rpm with a 7200 rpm ? Thank you to all for your suggestions ,I like the Fix-It Utilities ver8 ,I already have 2 layers of vitus protection and spyware pretection so some of them that include virus and spyware protection would be overkill for me ! Happy Holidats ,Take Care Nick

>>I already have 2 layers of vitus protection and spyware pretection so some of them that include virus and spyware protection would be overkill for me<< I would say if you run 2 layers your PC will eventually slow to a crawl.....too much is NOT good. Some HELP in posting on Cnet plus free progs and instructions Glad to Help!