As a car repair professional, you know how crucial diagnostic tools are for pinpointing issues and getting vehicles back on the road. Modern car repair heavily relies on electronic scanners to interface with a car’s computer system. However, sometimes, unexpected software conflicts can throw a wrench into your diagnostic process. One such culprit that can interfere with your car scanner is a program called Advanced System Care.
You might be wondering, “What does PC optimization software have to do with my car scanner?” It turns out that Advanced System Care, developed by IObit, while marketed as a system optimizer, can sometimes act as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). These types of programs can make unwanted changes to your system, and in some cases, these alterations can prevent your scanner from functioning correctly. This can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to diagnose a vehicle issue quickly and efficiently.
The problem isn’t necessarily with your scanner itself, or even your car. It’s often the overzealous “optimization” features of programs like Advanced System Care that can disrupt other software and hardware interactions on your Windows PC. They can modify system settings, interfere with drivers, and generally create conflicts that you wouldn’t expect.
If you’re experiencing issues with your car scanner and have Advanced System Care installed, there’s a good chance it’s the source of the problem. The good news is that you can resolve this by completely uninstalling Advanced System Care and cleaning up any leftover traces. Here’s a step-by-step guide based on recommendations to ensure a clean removal and get your scanner back online:
Step 1: Stop the Active Processes
Before you even try to uninstall, you need to stop Advanced System Care from running in the background. This prevents it from interfering with the uninstallation process.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously to open the Task Manager.
- Navigate to the Details tab.
- Look for a process named diskdefrag.exe. This is a common component of Advanced System Care.
- Right-click on diskdefrag.exe and select End Task. This will force the process to stop.
Step 2: Uninstall Advanced System Care Through Windows
Now, you’ll use the standard Windows uninstallation process to remove the main program.
- Click on the Windows Start Menu and type “Uninstall” in the search bar.
- Select Add or remove programs (or Apps and features depending on your Windows version) from the list.
- In the list of installed applications, find “Advanced SystemCare”.
- Click on Advanced SystemCare and then click the Uninstall button.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation. Confirm when asked to proceed with the uninstall.
Step 3: Thoroughly Scan for Remaining Files and Traces
Even after uninstalling, Advanced System Care can leave behind residual files and registry entries. These leftovers can still cause problems. Using a reputable malware scanner is crucial for a complete cleanup. While the original advice suggested Malwarebytes, Panda Cloud Cleaner is another excellent on-demand scanner known for its thoroughness.
- Download and run Panda Cloud Cleaner (available from https://www.pandasecurity.com/en/homeusers/cloud-cleaner/).
- Click the Scan Now button in Panda Cloud Cleaner.
- Allow Panda Cloud Cleaner to thoroughly scan your entire system for any remnants of Advanced System Care and other potential threats.
- Once the scan is complete, review the list of detected threats. Make sure that anything related to “Advanced System Care” or “IObit” is selected for removal.
- Click the Clean button to remove the selected threats from your computer.
Step 4: Remove Secondary IObit Programs
During the installation of Advanced System Care, IObit often bundles other programs like “IObit Uninstaller” and “Surfing Protection.” These should also be removed to ensure a clean system.
- Open the Control Panel in Windows.
- Go to Programs and Features (or Uninstall a program).
- Look for “IObit Uninstaller” and “Surfing Protection” in the list of installed programs.
- If you find them, uninstall each of these programs individually, following the on-screen instructions.
Step 5: Reset Browser Settings if Necessary
Advanced System Care is known to sometimes alter browser settings, often installing extensions like “Start Page 2.0.” If you notice unusual browser behavior after uninstalling Advanced System Care, you may need to manually reset your browser settings.
- Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.).
- Go to your browser’s extensions page (usually found in the browser menu under “Extensions” or “Add-ons”).
- Look for an extension called “Start Page 2.0” or anything else suspicious related to IObit. Disable or remove it.
- Clear your browser’s cookies and cache. This option is usually found in your browser’s settings under “Privacy” or “History.”
Windows Defender: Your Reliable Built-in Security
For everyday protection on Windows 10 and 11, Windows Defender (now Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is often more than sufficient. It’s built into Windows, regularly updated, and generally runs smoothly in the background without causing conflicts. Uninstalling third-party optimizers and relying on Windows Defender can lead to a more stable and predictable system for running your car diagnostic tools.
By following these steps, you should be able to completely remove Advanced System Care and resolve any conflicts it was causing with your car scanner. Keeping your diagnostic PC clean and free of unnecessary software is key to ensuring smooth and efficient car repairs. Remember, a clean system is a reliable system, especially when it comes to critical tools like your car scanner.
