Microsoft PC Manager - The free & ad-free alternative to CCleaner

Fancy more performance on your Windows computer? Then Mircosoft PC Manager might be a tool you should take a closer look at. In a digital world where efficiency and speed are crucial, users like you and me are looking for ways to optimize computer performance. Microsoft has developed a free & ad-free solution with its tool, PC Manager, which aims to improve the performance of Windows-based systems. PC Manager offers a variety of tools and features designed to optimize the system, manage memory, control processes and improve startup times. But how effective is this tuning program really, and how does it differ from other similar tools on the market? In this article, you'll get a closer look at Microsoft PC Manager and its features, benefits and potential impact on computer performance, and we'll see if it's really better than CC Cleaner.

Microsoft PC Manager - What can the program do?

The automatic background mechanisms in Windows alone are not enough to keep the system running smoothly in the long term. And even the tools in the settings are not enough for many users. That's why Microsoft is now working on PC Manager, a kind of CCleaner for Windows. It is an all-round carefree package with health checks, memory management, process control and autostart management.

So far, Microsoft hasn't exactly made a big splash with the PC Manager. The plans for this tuning tool are still pretty much under wraps at the moment. German users can use the software, but will have to make do with an English interface. A central component is the Boost button, which mercilessly kicks temporary files out of memory.

With the "Health Check", users can reclaim a lot of storage space. You can specify exactly where you want to clean up by simply ticking a box. It can also be used to locate large files. You can also adjust the settings here and search for files larger than 1 GB, for example.

You should be careful here

Some of the functions also lead to familiar Windows settings, such as memory optimization.

But be careful: The program is still beta and may contain bugs. I also wonder why the Windows Prefetch folder is supposed to be deleted in the deep clean. The prefetch folder is a Windows mechanism that is used to start programs faster by storing information about the programs used and their start times. However, if the program deletes the prefetch folder, this can cause Windows to take longer to start programs as it has to collect the startup information again.

Windows also cleans the prefetch folder automatically and removes old entries that are no longer relevant. Manual deletion could therefore be unnecessary and potentially even lead to performance problems.

It is generally recommended not to manually delete system files and folders, including the prefetch folder, unless you are absolutely sure what you are doing and what effects it could have. But perhaps the program is so "smart" that it analyzes exactly what is deleted and what is not (e.g. only content that is no longer needed is deleted).

Comparison of Microsoft's PC Manager with CCleaner

PC Manager:

Advantages:

1. Official support from Microsoft: PC Manager is developed and supported by Microsoft itself, which could be a confidence factor for some users.
2. Integration into the Windows ecosystem: As a Microsoft product, PC Manager is tightly integrated with the Windows operating system and could therefore provide a seamless experience.
3. Health checks and system optimization: PC Manager offers a variety of tools, including health checks, memory management and process control, aimed at improving system performance.
4. Transparent features: Microsoft portrays the program as clean and trouble-free, offering clear insights into its features.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited experience: As PC Manager is relatively new to the market, there may not yet be enough user testimonials to judge its effectiveness. Also, it is currently still beta.
2. Fewer customization options: Compared to CCleaner, PC Manager may offer fewer customization options, which may not be enough for advanced users.
3. Potentially limited features: Although PC Manager offers a variety of tools and features, it might not be as robust as CCleaner in terms of advanced optimization options.
4. Only available in 3 languages, one of which is not German.

CCleaner:

Advantages:

1. Years of experience: CCleaner has been on the market for a long time and has gained a large user base as well as extensive experience.
2. Extensive customization options: CCleaner offers a wide range of customization options and advanced features that allow users to optimize their system exactly according to their needs. Among other things, you can also clean the registry, which is not possible with PC Manager. You can also delete entire drives so that no files can be recovered from them.
3. Familiarity: Many users are familiar with CCleaner and appreciate the reliability and effectiveness of this tool.
4. Available in all possible languages

Disadvantages:

1. Independent development: Unlike Microsoft's PC Manager, CCleaner is backed by an independent development company, which may raise concerns about security and reliability.
2. Potentially less integration with Windows: Because CCleaner was not developed by Microsoft, integration with the Windows operating system may be less seamless than with PC Manager.
3. Cost: Some advanced features of CCleaner may require the purchase of the paid version, while PC Manager may be available for free.
4. Advertising: There are occasional advertisements if you allow CCCleaner to start automatically with Windows.

Overall, both Microsoft's PC Manager and CCleaner offer advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on the user's individual needs and preferences.

Download Microsoft PC Manager and CCleaner

Click here to download the free Microsoft PC Manager and here to download the CCleaner.