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DLS review: System Ninja complements CCleaner, doesn't replace it
Using the word "ninja" in the name of an application is a good way to grab a geek's attention. Enter System Ninja, a CCleaner-like cleaning and tune-up utility for Windows. After reading about System Ninja this morning on Freeware Genius, I decided to give it a go.
In addition to performing file clean-ups, System Ninja includes a handful of other utilities. However, I don't need to use a startup manager or process manager very often, and the included tools aren't really an improvement over those that are already a part of your Windows install, like MSConfig and Task Manager. To me, it's really all about cleaning up the digital junk I leave scattered about my hard drive -- and CCleaner located almost 50 times more than System Ninja. That's a pretty substantial difference.
In addition to performing file clean-ups, System Ninja includes a handful of other utilities. However, I don't need to use a startup manager or process manager very often, and the included tools aren't really an improvement over those that are already a part of your Windows install, like MSConfig and Task Manager. To me, it's really all about cleaning up the digital junk I leave scattered about my hard drive -- and CCleaner located almost 50 times more than System Ninja. That's a pretty substantial difference.
I'm also not keen on "borrowing" icons from successful apps -- and System Ninja does just that (image after the break).
Does that folder junk cleaner icon look familiar to anyone else? Moving on...
The Folder Junk Cleaner is somewhat interesting, however, in that it looks everywhere for certain types of files that might not be needed. CCleaner, on the other hand, only checks pre-defined locations out-of-the-box. That means System Ninja could theoretically find and remove more cruft -- except that you can add custom folders and file types to CCleaner (which is what I'd recommend doing).
The Folder Junk Cleaner is somewhat interesting, however, in that it looks everywhere for certain types of files that might not be needed. CCleaner, on the other hand, only checks pre-defined locations out-of-the-box. That means System Ninja could theoretically find and remove more cruft -- except that you can add custom folders and file types to CCleaner (which is what I'd recommend doing).
System Ninja can also download and run MalRun Destroyer, a malware and spyware tool. Upon downloading the tool and running a scan, however, I found that the MalRun .INI file currently only sports 93 known processes -- not quite the comprehensive coverage I'm looking for in a malware cleanup tool. It could, however, prove useful for taking care of certain common, easy-to-remove malware.
Need to check a file's MD5 or SHA checksum? I've never really had the need, but System Ninja has the built-in ability to do so. There's also a boot log generator, but again -- you can do this quite simply using MSConfig.
The Good:
- Portable
- Lightweight and fast
- Finds some files that CCleaner won't without customization
- Decent assortment of system tools
The Bad:
- Didn't find anywhere near as much junk as CCleaner in my testing
- Process and startup manager aren't really an improvement over Windows' built-in tools
- No option to customize file types to search for
Bottom Line: It never hurts to give a new clean-up application a try, and System Ninja may work better for you than it did for me. If not, all you've got to do is delete the files and move on -- there's really nothing to lose except for a few minutes of your time. System Ninja definitely has potential and will be worth keeping an eye on.
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsdo.ronSep 22nd 2010 2:09PM
DLS, teaching software and grammer.
MarkyB86Sep 22nd 2010 4:32PM
Grammar.
do.ronSep 22nd 2010 5:16PM
:) hmm, that's too bad.
jfjbSep 23rd 2010 3:17PM
@ Lee
Who is using MSConfig and Task Manager?
Referencing them might be recognizable by many, but would not be a representative argument in a fair assessment or comparison of tools.
These above-mentioned Windows OS apps have been superseded a long-long time ago by outstanding 'workers' of sorts
To name a very few, compare Turbo Service Manager or Starter with MSConfig, set side by side ProcessExplorer and Task Manager.
System Ninja is a .NET Framework program in beta, hardly measurable against old timer hard-coded operating system applications.
To be effective, any analysis should include tantamount facts aside one's opinion. To be great, an analysis should be educative.
My take, for I may be wrong.
jfjbSep 23rd 2010 3:22PM
P.S. sorry, not in beta
Meenah ShahNov 1st 2010 11:21PM
Nice post! I must agree with you. I have done some research and based on what I have found, this really works great along with you CCleaner or any other registry cleaner you have