Un-recommending Some Stuff
Many programs we recommended during the Widows 98 and long Windows XP era, are no longer needed and may, in fact, be detrimental. We’ve been remiss in UN-recommending programs we once recommended. We will try to do better.
We’ve noticed in our experience with Cloudeight Direct, fixing computers, that many of you have installed driver updater programs like Driver Detective (indeed once recommended by us) and serveral others. So for the record we are officially un-recommending any and all driver updater programs we may have recommended over the years.
Why? Our experience has taught us many things, but one of the most important thing is: If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Installing updated drivers when the hardware associated with that driver or depending on that driver is working fine, isn’t going to result in the hardware working better, most of the time. And sometimes installing a new driver can lead to serious Windows problems. One problem, Blue Screens of Death (BSODs) are, most of the time, caused by installing incorrect drivers.
The problem with driver updater programs like Driver Detective is that they are (like all software) dumb. They don’t check to see if your hardware is functioning well, they don’t know if you’re having problems with a certain hardware driver or device, they simple check your drivers and see if there are newer versions of those drivers available — and if there are, they download and install them. Most of the time there is no reason to install new drivers for anything — especially if everything is working as it should. The ONLY time you should ever worry about updating drivers is if one of your hardware devices is not working correctly.
If you are currently using a driver updater program (whether we once recommended it or not) we recommend that you uninstall it and only install new drivers if you are experiencing problems with your computer’s hardware devices. Or as the old adage suggests — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you do need new drivers because one of your hardware devices isn’t working correctly, you can download the latest drivers for that device from the device manufacturer’s web site — and that is the ONLY place you should ever get them.
While we’re on the subject of programs we once recommended and no longer do, we would both like to recommend right now that any of you with Advanced System Care (free or paid version) from Iobit (or ANYTHING else from that company) uninstall it. At the time we recommended it, we felt it was a good program with some worthy features. Unfortunately, like so many programs, it has become an overgrown nuisance that can actually cause more problems than it fixes. In fact, it more resembles malware than it does a helpful program. During our experiences with Cloudeight Direct Computer Care, we’ve found many of you use Advanced System Care and we found it was causing problems. We have removed it from the computers we’ve worked on and we suggest that you remove this program if you are still using it. We also recommend that you uninstall anything from IOBIT – most of their software is annoying, useless, and borders on malware.
We will be “un-recommending” other programs when we become aware of them.
thank you so much for this … very much needed..
Yes, the un-recommendings can be very helpful! Thanks a million
When I am considering installing a program I am unsure of I usually google the program name along with “cloudeight”. Many of the search results are from some time ago so I don’t know if they are still recommended.
Would it be possible to have a place where you list of all your current recommendations online? That way you could remove programs as they become unreliable. We could check to see if you have a program we are going to install listed there.
This could be available to Cloudeight Premium subscribers or to the Cloudeight Boosters and would be an invaluable resource.
TC & EB, this is copied from your Un-recommending Stuff… “In fact, it more resembles malware than it does a helpful program. During our experiences with Cloudeight Direct Computer Care, we’ve sound many of you using Advanced System Care and found it was causing problems”. [sound~~found]. Always glad to help when I am able to. 🙂
I agree with Rose Smith. Your users have no way to determine what you no longer support or recommend of which I’m aware. It would be helpful if you could create a database that would allow input of this information along with a brief explanation of why you feel change is in order. These reasons could be very brief, such as Contains malware, Bundled w/other software, etc. Thanks so much. We all appreciate what you do for all of us. — Lee
It would be a massive, impossible project for two of us to go back through the hundreds of programs we’ve recommended since 2002. Many don’t exist anymore, many have been bought up by other companies ( Reimage, IncrediMail) and are no longer recommended. Some like iOBIT have gradually become so aggressive and annoying that they border on malware – for instance when trying to uninstall iOBIT stuff it does not go gently into that good night. In the case of Driver Updaters, we have no recommended them since the early days of Windows XP (i.e. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).
We agree it would be nice to have a list of everything we ever recommended and have time to go through that list and retest every single program that still exists, but it would take months for us to do that and we simply don’t have time.
What we can do is note some things that are important – stuff like driver updaters and system optimization tools like Advanced System Care – the case with both those categories is that you don’t need driver updaters no matter what its name is, and you don’t need system optimization software – no matter who makes it, because one-click fixes don’t ever work. We mentioned iOBIT only because they make other products too, and the more time that passes the more their stuff acts like PUPs/malware.
Recently we have stopped recommending a Freeware Pick of the Week. Now we may recommended a Web site or a program, but now we put the date we tested the software program and the results. So if 8 years from now someone stumbles upon something we recommend 8 years ago, they will see the date it was tested and that should be a BIG RED FLAG to use caution with something recommended that long ago. Things change and there is nothing we can do about that.
I feel the best way to make sure that you get rid of all past Windows programs is to get Direct Computer Care. I subscribed last week and will try to set a date for checking my computer (have to reconfigure Windows Live) and at the same time remove obsolete programs on Windows 7. Probably the best avenue to having a clean computer.
Like many folks, I buy or d/l only programs given a thumbs up by cloudeight. I have experienced programs that once were thumbs up and now are thumbs down. I am just thankful you folks help keep me on my toes. By the way, could you recommend a good freebie or even paid programs for opening .rar files. I normally use the program that came with Windows7 but it doesn’t open .rar files. Many PSP supplies cam in .rar
Thanks a lot, Judy
P.s Hope you have another sale like the Memorial Day (pc insurance)sale. Missed it by two days.
I stopped using IOBIT about a year ago because of experiences I was having with those programs. I recently bought a Dell laptop and they have an app that will update drivers, etc. Seems to work good so far. Looking forward to more un-recommending stories.
Windows 10–Microsoft announced today that it will be launching Windows 10 on July 29th, encouraging Windows 7 and 8.1 users to reserve their free upgrade with a notification in their task bar. However, while the company has been busy highlighting all the shiny new features in the upcoming OS, it’s been a bit quieter when it comes to spelling out the limitations — including making updates automatic for Windows 10 Home users.
FYI about Windows 10 Home addition
http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/1/8696949/windows-10-feature-loss
Including the dates of your tests of recommended stuff is absolutely fantastic.
I installed this program on my computer about 2 years ago and right after that had a huge problem with my hard drive.
I redid my computer thinking maybe I had done something wrong, reinstalled everything including Iobit and an even more serious problem occurred totally destroying a brand new hard drive. I cannot use that hard drive even now as a secondary drive.
I figured it had to be the Iobit because until I installed that program everything worked just fine. I now tell people not to use any of their software as it causes huge problems. Not only that but Iobit never refunded my money or even apologized for the problem.
So glad you are advising not to use any of their programs.
Barb Polsky