Types of utilities

System utilities are the core software functions that allow you to manage your computer in
ways that you would find it inconceivable to be without. System utilities may be already
included in your computer or downloaded from the Internet. No matter where you look, you
can always find plenty of system utility programs at little or no cost. In this article, we will go
over several examples of system utility programs and how they effect you and your computer.
 Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.
 Archivers output a stream or a single file when provided with a directory or a set of files.
Archive suites may include compression and encryption capabilities. Some archive
utilities have a separate un-archive utility for the reverse operation.
 Backup software makes copies of all information stored on a disk and restore either the
entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event of accidental
deletion).
 Clipboard managers expand the clipboard functionality of an operating system .
 Cryptographic utilities encrypt and decrypt streams and files.
 Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when provided with
a stream or file.
 Data synchronization utilities establish consistency among data from a source to a
target data storage and vice versa. There are several branches of this type of utility:
o File synchronization utilities maintain consistency between two sources. They
may be used to create redundancy or backup copies but are also used to help
users carry their digital music, photos and video in their mobile devices.
o Revision control utilities can recreate a coherent structure where multiple users
simultaneously modify the same file.
 Disk checkers scan an operating hard drive and check for logical (filesystem) or physical
errors.
 Disk cleaners find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up
considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to decide what to delete
when their hard disk is full.
 Disk compression utilities transparently compress/uncompress the contents of a disk,
increasing the capacity of the disk.
  Disk defragmenters detect computer files whose contents are scattered across several
locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase
efficiency.
 Disk partition editors divide an individual drive into multiple logical drives, each with its
own file system which can be mounted by the operating system and treated as an
individual drive.
 Disk space analyzers provide a visualization of disk space usage by getting the size for
each folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution of
the used space.
 File manager provide a convenient method of performing routine data management,
email recovery and management tasks, such as deleting, renaming, cataloging,
uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying folders and data sets.
 Hex editors directly modify the text or data of a file. These files could be data or an
actual program.
 Memory testers check for memory failures.
 Network utilities analyze the computer's network connectivity, configure network
settings, check data transfer or log events.
 Package managers are used to configure, install or keep up to date other software on a
computer.
 Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows Registry by removing old registry
keys that are no longer in use.
 Screensavers were desired to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer
monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the
computer is not in use. Contemporary screensavers are used primarily for
entertainment or security.
 System monitors monitor resources and performance in a computer system.
 System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and
hardware attached to the computer.
 Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is a function that comes with all versions of Windows Operating Systems. Disk
Cleanup allows for you to scan your entire hard drive to search for extra room by deleting any
unneccessary files such as temporary files from the Internet and cookies that are downloaded
when you visit webpages. Not only does Disk Cleanup allow you to delete simple files from the
Internet, but it also allows for you to delete Restore Points, uninstall programs, remove
Windows components, and compress old files all in the click of a mouse. You can find Disk
Cleanup in Windows XP by going to the Start menu –> All Programs –> Accessories –> System
Tools –> Disk Cleanup.
 Disk Defragmenter
The Disk Defragmenter is another tool that comes with Windows and is used for many different
solutions. The main function of the Disk Defragmenter is to reassemble fragmented files.
Whenever a file is modified in any way, the computer stores the file in broken pieces across the
hard drive rather than putting the whole file in one spot. This can lead to system malfunction
and poor performance because your computer must search for all the pieces of a specific file
before it can display it. The Disk Defragmenter searches for all pieces of every file on your hard
drive and reassembles the files into a specific location. This increases the speed at which files
are displayed and results in less delays when opening files or programs.
 System Restore
System Restore is a function that comes with Windows that allows you to return your computer
to an earlier time in which you had not encountered an error. System Restore is great for fixing
problems that a virus has caused after you use antivirus software to rid your computer of the
malware. System Restore allows you to manually set Restore Points on a calendar and also
automatically creates Restore Points on a regular basis as well as right before your computer
goes through any major change such as installing a new program. System Restore can be found
by going to Start –> All Programs –> Accessories –> System Tools –> System Restore.
 Disk Compression and Archivers
Disk compression is a type of function that allows for a program to search your hard drive and
compress files, particularly old or unused files. This greatly improves your computer’s
functionality and performance because it does not have to keep track of so many files at once.
It also serves to free up space, which is the main function of disk compression software.
Archivers, another form of file compression software, allows for you to compress a file or folder
and then decompress the file whenever you decide to. The most popular archiver to date is
Winrar, which is named after Winzip but has no affiliation. Both Winrar and a plethora of disk
compression programs are available on the Internet at no charge.
 Registry Cleaners
Registry cleaners are programs that allow for you to scan your computer for any errors in the
registry, which is a collection of the core computer files that are essential to performance and
functionality, and repairs them if needed. Registry cleaners are widely available on the Internet
and give you a significant upperhand when cleaning up the mess that a virus or other malware
has left on your computer. Likewise, some otherwise safe programs can cause errors in the
registry without intending to. Registry files can also be corrupted if the user unknowingly
deletes or modifies a file in the registry. This usually occurs when an inexperienced user tries to
fix their computer and inevitably causes more damage than before.
 File Splitters
File splitters are programs that allow you to break a file into smaller pieces in order to store or
send files. File splitters often come in handy because many online storage services, including
email attachments, limit you to a specific file size that can be transferred at one time even
though files often exceed these limits. File splitters allow you to break the file into two or more
pieces, send them simultaneously, and then piece them back together when you are ready to
use the file again. A good file splitter is File Splitz. It allows for you to break a file of any size into
multiple pieces and then rejoin the files together just as easily.