PC Pitstop Optimize scans and identifies many common problems that plague most computers— get a better performing computer without the expense or difficulty of adding new hardware.

General Information

CA has teamed up with PCPitstop.com, a leading online computing diagnostic and optimization destination, to offer a very exciting product to CA customers. Since PC Pitstop opened in March 2000, it has tested and optimized more than a million computers. During that time, it has taken the experience from the services offered on its website and created an application that makes your PC run faster, allows it to be more stable, and cleans up hard drive space. PC Pitstop has designed the Optimize program to be easy to use and resolve many common computing issues that you may be currently experiencing. PC Pitstop Optimize can improve the performance and stability of just about any PC running Windows XP, 2000, ME, or 98.

Why Choose PC Pitstop Optimize?

There are many reasons to choose PC Pitstop Optimize, such as:

• It’s developed by a trusted company Since PC Pitstop opened in March 2000, it has tested and optimized more than a million computers.

• It’s backed by CA Given that CA, which provides software to 98% of the Fortune 500 companies, teamed with PC Pitstop shows an extreme level of confidence.

• It’s powerful technology PC Pitstop developed its technology to be flexible yet powerful, which can be used to improve many of today’s common web and computing experiences.

PC Pitstop Optimize Features

The following are several features of PC Pitstop Optimize:

• Energize Internet Speeds Improve your Internet connection up to 200% by adjusting your Windows Internet settings, based on your connection type.

• Recoup System Resources Eliminate unnecessary background processes and get back memory and processor cycles stolen by rogue applications.

• Maximize Hard Drive Space Quickly and easily find and remove unnecessary files, making your drive run even faster.

• Eliminate Registry Errors Remove erroneous and leftover registry entries created by viruses, spyware, and incorrect program removal.

• Revitalize System Performance Increase your system performance by tweaking Windows settings.

New Features in Version 1.5

The new version of PC Pitstop Optimize, which is included with this article, doubles the performance tweak from the previous versions by adding things such as:

• Fresh new look

• Scheduling options

• Automatic updates

• More registry tweaks

• Enhanced Internet optimization

• Internet download and ping tests

• Removal of unneeded programs running in background

• Clean up of broken add/remove program entries

• Deleting unnecessary files across multiple users

Frequently Asked Questions This section contains a few common questions and answers relating to PC Pitstop Optimize. Can I Undo the Changes It Makes? The hard disk clean-up permanently removes unnecessary files and cannot be undone. However, all of the other utilities in Optimize can be completely reversed. The very first action Optimize does before making any registry setting changes is to make a backup of these settings. When you run Optimize it will give you the option to restore the registry settings back to any point before the application was run. What Files Does It Delete? Windows often forgets to clean up many files that are no longer needed by the system. The space taken up by these files can clog your disk and cause slower disk access. These files are in three major categories:

• Recycle Bin Files are not actually removed from the drive when you initially delete them. Instead, the files are moved to the Recycle Bin where you can retrieve them if you later decide that you should not have deleted them. Optimize empties your Recycle Bin to reclaim this disk space.

• Internet Cache Internet Explorer (IE) creates temporary files that are not needed after you finish surfing. These files can take up large amounts of space and should be removed periodically. Although you can clear the cache in IE, Optimize uses a more thorough method that deletes files left behind by IE.

• Temporary Files Windows and applications create various temporary files that are not needed after the application exits or Windows is shut down. In many cases, however, the applications do not always clean up after themselves. After scanning your system, Optimize gives you the option to review the files that it found and to select which files should be deleted. What System Settings Does It Change? Optimize has three parts that change your system settings: Internet optimization, registry cleaning, and system performance optimization. The settings changed in the Internet optimization part of the application, such as those listed here, are set according to your connection type:

• Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU)

• Fast Retransmission and Recovery

• Number of Allowed Simultaneous HTTP Connections Invalid keys that are removed by the registry cleaning part of the application are entries in the registry containing information about COM and ActiveX objects. These objects are parts of programs, and when you remove the programs these keys sometimes still exist. Optimize safely removes these keys if the COM object no longer exists. Areas of the registry where we look for the invalid keys are:

• Invalid Class IDs (CLSID)

• Invalid Program Identifiers (ProgID)

• Invalid Type Libraries (TypeLib)

• Invalid Interfaces The performance section of the application changes some registry settings that help get the most out of your PC, such as:

• LargeSystemCache

• DisablePagingExecutive

• ContigFileAllocSize

• NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate

• DisableScreenSaver

• AlwaysUnloadDll

INSTALLING PC PITSTOP OPTIMIZE

Installing PC Pitstop Optimize is the first step toward quickly and easily resolving many common computing issues that your PC may be currently experiencing in order to improve the performance and stability of your computer.

System Requirements

The following requirements must be met, or exceeded, for the installation of PC Pitstop Optimize 1.5:

• 100 MHz processor or greater

• Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98

• 64MB or greater of RAM

• 10MB or more of free disk space

• Super VGA Video, 15-inch monitor, 800x600 min. resolution

Installing PC Pitstop Optimize

To install PC Pitstop Optimize 1.5, which is included with this article, follow these steps.

Step 1 Insert the PC Pitstop Optimize installation CD into the drive on your PC. The installation will begin automatically.

Step 2 You will now see the Welcome dialog box.

Step 3 You will be prompted to accept the license agreement.If you disagree with the license terms, click the I Do Not Accept the Agreement option, click Next, and the installation will not continue.

Step 4 Now you will see the Select Destination Location dialog box.

Step 5 You will now see the Select Start Menu Folder dialog box

Step 6 You will now see the Select Additional Tasks dialog box.

Step 7 Now you will be at the Ready to Install dialog box. If the installation preferences are correct, click Install to start the installation. Otherwise, you can go back and change the preferences.

PERFORMING A SCAN

Before PC Pitstop Optimize can do any optimization, it first needs to scan your PC for junk files, invalid system and Internet settings, and other items that should be addressed to ensure maximum PC performance. Then you’ll have the chance to specify exactly which items are removed or changed. Here are the steps performed during a scan, which are discussed in this article:

Step 1: Open PC Pitstop Optimize

Step 2: Specify Initial Settings

Step 3: Start the Scan

Step 4: Perform the Scan

Step 5: Get Rid of Temporary Files

Step 6: Optimize Your Internet Settings

Step 7: Remove Unnecessary Startup Programs

Step 8: Optimize Your Registry Entries

Step 9: Optimize Your PC Performanc

Keep in mind that the actual deletion of junk files and any needed system changes aren’t removed or applied until you start the optimization process. Step 1: Open PC Pitstop Optimize Before you can begin, you have to open PC Pitstop Optimize.You can usually access this program from the Start menu by browsing to the following path: Programs (or All Programs) -> PC Pitstop -> Optimize Step 2: Specify Initial Settings After starting PC Pitstop Optimize, you will see the welcome screen, and a few settings you need to specify. First, you need to select an Internet Connection Type from the dropdown list.

• Do not tune Internet settings, or not connected If you aren’t currently connected to the Internet or for any other reason, you can select this option to prevent the optimization of your Internet connection settings.

• Dial-up If you are using a dial-up Internet connection such as with America Online (AOL) or NetZero, you should select this option.

• LAN, Cable, DSL, Satellite, ISDN,T1 (Safe) Select this option if you’re using any other type of Internet connection than dial-up, such as the mentioned broadband or high-speed connections, and when PPPoE is being used or if you aren’t sure.

• LAN, Cable, DSL, Satellite, ISDN,T1 (Max) Select this option if you’re using any other type of Internet connection than dial-up, such as the mentioned broadband or high-speed connections, and when you are positive that PPPoE is not being used, because it may cause you to experience trouble connecting to some websites after the optimization. If you aren’t sure that PPPoE is used for your Internet connection, you should use the Safe option instead (discussed in the preceding bullet) to prevent any potential problems.

Note Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) is a protocol specifying how a PC interacts with a broadband modem (i.e., xDSL, cable, wireless, etc). It provides the Internet service provider (ISP) with better control over how their customers log into the network and use network resources. From an Internet optimization standpoint, the important thing about PPPoE is that its maximum packet size is slightly smaller than non-PPPoE connections. In most cases, Windows can detect this situation and adjust automatically with the cooperation of the website being contracted. The Safe settings are designed to accommodate situations where the website does not know how to request a PPPoE-friendly packet size. If the Max option is selected, and connection problems materialize later, open and run the Optimize program again, but with the Safe option selected, to override and undo the Max settings. • Unknown If you’re unsure of the maximum rated download speed of your particular Internet connection, you can select this option.

• Less than 1 Mbit Typically, the following Internet connection types fall into this range:

• Dial-up

• ISDN

• Residential DSL (SDSL)

• Satellite

• Fractional T1

• 1 Mbit – 3 Mbit Typically, the following Internet connection types fall into this range:

• Cable

• Full T1

• ADSL

• 3 Mbit – 6 Mbit The following Internet connection types may have the ability to achieve download rates in this range:

• Cable

• ADSL

• Over 6 Mbit The following Internet connection types may have the ability to achieve download rates in this range:

• ADSL

• T3 If you would like to automatically optimize your PC on a recurring basis, check Schedule Optimize to Run, and then choose your desired interval.

Step 3: Start the Scan Now you will see the Start Scanning screen. As stated in the program, no changes will be made to your PC yet. It will simply scan your PC files and resources to figure out what should be optimized. Click Start Scanning to continue.

Step 4: Perform the Scan Sit back and let PC Pitstop Optimize scan your PC for typical file and system issues. You’ll be notified after the scan is done by a message under the scanning status bar.

Step 5: Get Rid of Temporary Files Now you will be at the Temporary Files screen. You need to identify which junk files you would like Optimize to remove, by checking or un-checking the applicable checkboxes:

• Remove Internet Cache This deletes the temporary files created by Internet Explorer (IE) during web browsing. Remember, these are temporary files that aren’t needed after you are finished web surfing. These files can take up large amounts of space and should be removed periodically. Although you can clear the cache in Internet Explorer, Optimize uses a more thorough method that deletes files left behind by IE.

• Empty Recycle Bin This will empty your Recycle Bin to reclaim the disk space occupied by files you have initially deleted from your computer. Remember, files are not actually removed from the drive when you delete them. Instead, the files are moved to the Recycle Bin where you can retrieve them if you later decide that you should not have deleted them.

• Remove Temporary Files This deletes the temporary files that the Windows operating system and other applications leave behind. Remember, these temporary files are not needed after the application exits or Windows is shut down. In many cases, however, the applications do not always clean up after themselves. Note If you are curious, you can view your computer’s temporary files by clicking the Details button. Permanently deleting these types of files frees up disk space that typically results in better overall PC performance. Click Next after identifying the junk files you would like to optimize and to continue to the next screen.