Verdict:
Something for nothing? A basic utility suite that works pretty well.
Occupying just 875K of hard disk space, this tiny program is less than a seventieth of the size of Norton System Works. We downloaded and installed it in about the time it took for the Norton software to start up. It's also entirely free.
That might make you suspicious. However, we found NCleaner's junk file and
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Registry cleaner, system tweaking options and startup manager were as well implemented and effective as those found in at least the less impressive of the paid-for suites. NCleaner wasn't the easiest program to use, though. We did like its ability to disable one of the most irritating features of Windows: balloon tips. There's also a useful tool to free up system memory when it drops below a certain level, to prevent crashes, although we had reservations about its effectiveness.
However, NCleaner's freeware status made itself felt in several ways. The main console's layout, while clear and easy to use, was less polished than those of the other products. It could also prove risky for beginners to use the Registry cleaning tool, as there's no forewarning to back up your current configuration before you proceed.We can recommend NCleaner for more advanced users and those very low on hard disk space.
By Andy Zarkesh
SPECIFICATIONS:
Requires Windows XP or Vista 300MHZ processor 64MB RAM 875K hard disk space.
