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System Optimizer


I have just been made aware by TripleHelix that the Webroot Gamer Version consists of the AV plus the System Optimizer and nothing else: the perfect combination imho to recommend to my friends, both gamers and non-gamers (I won't go into the details of why).
 
However, I have a question. It has been pointed out, for example in a couple of the end-posts in this thread, that optimisation is neither necessary  nor desirable (because it shortens SSD disk life) if your computer uses an SSD disk (mine don't currently). My question is: whilst I've never felt the need to do privacy cleanups on my own computers and so the issue doesn't arise for me, for my friends are there any System Optimizer options relating to privacy, such as erasing cookies, erasing internet history* that would mean System Optimizer might still be a useful option even on a computer with SSD disk?
 
Thanks for any comments or responses to this question.
 
*How does one do this with Firefox or Chrome? Would that be the FF and Chrome "Cached Files" options in the Advanced SettingsSystem Optimizer options?
 
EDIT: The correct answer was given by TripleHelix in the very next post (below).  However, confusion arose in my mind due to apparent conflicting advice that led to protracted exchanges and which was finally resolved here. Out of all this came some very helpful advice, mainly from TripleHelix, about the nature of and the proper maintenance of SSDs.
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Best answer by RetiredTripleHelix 1 April 2016, 14:05

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Userlevel 7
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Hi Muddy7 all System Optimizer does is clean out unneeded files like CCleaner and has nothing to do with SSD or affects them see here for more info: http://www.webroot.com/En_US/SecureAnywhere/PC/WSA_PC_Help.htm#C9_SystemOptimizer/CH9c_ChangingSystemOptimizerSettings.htm
 
HTH,
 
Daniel 😉
Yes, but...
 
? (Webroot Admin & Community Manager):
There is currently no need to optimize a SSD drive.
 
and ? (Bronze VIP):
SSD does not need to optimize
 
and ?:
I have an SSD to you do not need to run an Optimizer on it if you do you will shorten the lifespan of the SSD (underlining mine)
 
all of which I reference in my above link.
 
So...???
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True you don't Defrag SSD's but Windows uses TRIM to clear old data so that new data can be used and System Optimizer does nothing to affect SSD's as I have 5 in my Laptop and use System Optimizer as well CCleaner to remove the garbage flies that are not needed! And that Idea Exchange was closed for that reason! You never Defrag SSD's: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/298108-32-defragging-year-never but there are SSD's Tweaking tools such as Tweak SSD: http://www.totalidea.com/products/tweak-ssd/index.php which helps you turn on or off features that SSD's don't need and it also has manual TRIM Commands as well!
 
HTH,
 
Daniel
 

OK but I'd like if possible to also get ?'s point of view on this as he seems to say the opposite. (But that may be because I don't understand what he's saying :()
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True you don't understand but I have been dealing with SSD's for 5 years so I have experience in this field and wouldn't want to damage my SSD's with the lack of knowledge and I do understand SSD's.
 


 

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http://media.webcollage.net/rwvfp/wc/cp/18846021/module/webrootus//_cp/products/1386022962575/tab-aa7326f1-75e4-4897-9c71-9c060b816e75/10eb6fcc-ba18-4d39-bbb5-c3f72f29d517.mp4.mp4full.mp4
 

I was referring to ?'s comment. I know I don't understand SSD's and I would never claim I do lol!!
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Thank you ? for these posts explaining SSD's and Optimizing. I am also new to this and I will take heed to your posts in explaining this to all of us. I have bookmarked for references.Great information....;)
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Really nice read!
 
All I know about SSds is that if they are faster than hard drives and that's... about... it. Haha
 
will definitely bookmark and read again.
 
Thanks! :D
Brad
Userlevel 7
Excellent info ?. Bookmarked. 😉
Since these posts, I've been in PM with TripleHelix and he's patiently tried to explain further but I'm afraid I'm still somewhat confused :$
 
Maybe someone can write a very simple, very basic kind of "SSD Optimisation for Dummies" post to this thread so that (even) blockheads like me can begin to understand this mysterious stuff.
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Userlevel 7
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Thank you Daniel..that video was great?:D
Yes. While not dealing more fully with my specific question, it provided me with an excellent general introduction to SSDs. Thank you. A new piece of information for me: I never knew that, as a general rule, SSDs last about twice as long as old style HDDs. I was so focussed on the memory deterioration issue that everyone talks about that I believed that SDDs lasted about half as long as HDDs.
Userlevel 7
I have actually found that one needs to be very careful with the TRIM Command because in some cases it might look as if it is doing its job but in fact due to the disk drivers there is an issue...particularly in the cae of Marvell drivers.
 
Anyone interested please let me know and I will be pleased to share what I know....by private message of course or by a new thread in the Techie Forum...;)
 
Regards, Baldrick
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@ wrote:
I have actually found that one needs to be very careful with the TRIM Command because in some cases it might look as if it is doing its job but in fact due to the disk drivers there is an issue...particularly in the cae of Marvell drivers.
 
Regards, Baldrick
Can you explain more please? http://www.marvell.com/storage/ssd/sata-controllers/

 
http://www.marvell.com/storage/assets/Marvell_88SS9187-001.pdf
 
https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/samsung-850-pro-ssd-review,3.html
 

Userlevel 7
Certainly, Daniel
 
Have been a long time user of HD Sentinel, and when I move over to using an SSD (Samsung EVO 850 500GB) I was delighted to that HDS handles SSDs. However, when checking the diagnostics/status of my drives I noted, in relation to the SSD, that HDS was showing...for the SSD...the following diagnosis:

The status of the solid state disk is PERFECT. Problematic or weak sectors were not found. 
The TRIM feature of the SSD is supported but disabled. It is recommended to upgrade the operating system, the disk controller or its driver to improve performance.

And giving the drive a performance rating of 80%.  Now I can categorically say that the drive was running at SATA 3 and AHCI was enabled for that drive.  And finally opening a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges (Run as administrator) and entering the following command:
    
    fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

I got a result = '0' which as I understood to mean that TRIM was enabled for the drive.

So I questioned the developer (who responded very quickly indeed) and he advised as follows:
 
1. Confirm that currently over 1700+ SSD models are supported by Hard Disk Sentinel. 2.  Confirm that there is no bug / misinterpretation Hard Disk Sentinel and advised (taken under advisement ;)) that it the ONLY software which can properly detect and represent the TRIM status. 3. Asked me to check www.hdsentinel.com/faq.php#trim for the details, it describes exactly this situation and shows how fsutil can't be used to determine if TRIM is really active. Apparently, a result = 0 means that Windows uses the TRIM command in general - for all drives. But it shows nothing about if the TRIM command actually "reaches" the SSD or not. Apparently, fsutil always show 0 (unless you manually disable it in Windows) even if there is no SSD in the system. So simply checking that result, we can't say anything about any of the drives. 4. He latched on to the fact that  I was running as the current controller driver, a Marvell SATA 6G controller?, and that I should change it to the Standard AHCI controller, and as a result then TRIM would work properly for my SSD. I followed the advice provided by the link in 3. above et voila...TRIM working correctly again...as far as I know. But to date I have yet to find anyone else to corroborate...but then again, the guy makes his living designing, producing & selling drive maintenance software. Hope that helps? Regards, Baldrick 
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Well IMO I wouldn't use it persoanally and all you have to do is the TRIM check Command to make sure it's on and it must be running on AHCI mode in the BIOS. Tweek-SSD doesn't run all the time only when you open it.
 
Daniel
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AHCI mode from the BIOS: https://www.google.ca/search?q=ahci+mode+youtube&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=usP-VunIJMmHjwTp8ZGYDQ#q=ahci+mode+bios
 
 
Userlevel 7
HDS is actually a very good piece of software and provides comprehensive information about ones drives...by far the best that I have found, and from the testing I did both before and after replacing the Marvell controller driver, the drive certainly seemed more performant after when compared to before.
 
But I suppose it is a case of you pays your monies and you take your chances...eh? ;)
Userlevel 7
@ wrote:
AHCI mode from the BIOS: https://www.google.ca/search?q=ahci+mode+youtube&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=usP-VunIJMmHjwTp8ZGYDQ#q=ahci+mode+bios
 
 
Sorry, Daniel, I don't follow what you are alluding to re. this. WOuld yo ube able to clarify as I must be missing something important here. 

 
Cheers, Baldrick
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@ wrote:
@ wrote:
AHCI mode from the BIOS: https://www.google.ca/search?q=ahci+mode+youtube&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=usP-VunIJMmHjwTp8ZGYDQ#q=ahci+mode+bios
 
 
Sorry, Daniel, I don't follow what you are alluding to re. this. WOuld yo ube able to clarify as I must be missing something important here. 

 
Cheers, Baldrick
Your system came with an HDD did you change in the BIOS from SATA to AHCI when you installed the SSD?
 
This is from 2012 but all newer have AHCI mode in the BIOS.
 
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/314467-30-bios-setting-ahci-mode
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Indeedy doody! ;)
 

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Then TRIM is active but I don't have details when it runs it's clean up routine also Samsung Drives and all newer ones have self cleaning built in the the drive as well. http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/ssd850pro/specifications.html
 
Daniel ;)
 
 
Userlevel 7
Interesting...thanks, Daniel, I will have to take a good look at that article. ;)

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