DO NOT attempt to buy from Macrecraft.com / jv16 Power Tools

So I was evaluating jv16 Power Tools a while back as it was the recommended Registry Cleaner on Kaspersky Forums. I installed the demo and was about to purchase it, but before I enter my paypal details, I stopped, thinking, let me first evaluate it.

I installed the demo and cleaned my registry. It destroyed many things in my computer. Many programs would not work properly, a weird settings changed, I had the Games Folder in my Start Menu set to expand as a menu; after the registry cleaning, it changed to not expand but rather, just became a short cut link. Many weird things I can't remember.

So I quickly uninstalled it and went back to an image I created earlier before installing jv16 Power Tools.

Now, everyday, I receive this email from them, even though I have replied to them to NOT send me anymore emails and have placed them on my junk list in Gmail, but I don't know how are they still sending me this crap everyday!

People beware not to ever deal with this cheap company!!!

PS: Anyone knows how can I report them to authorities for sending me spam? I know there was a site or email that you can report to but I forgot it.

 

I can't believe people at the Kaspersky Forums recommend jv16 Power Tools to clean up the registry after uninstalling Kaspersky Internet Security or Antivirus

From a Global Kaspersky Moderator!

Another Senior Member

 

This is not spam; you have initiated business with that site, and they are sending you individual follow ups. If you ask them to stop contacting you, sooner or later they will probably stop.

As for "registry cleaning" tools; everybody knows that they are not only useless, but also dangerous. Don't use them!

 

This is the point man, I have told them on 3 different occasions that I am no longer interested as their software wrecked my laptop and to stop contacting me but they won't stop

I just filed a complaint against Macecraft and that annoying employee who keeps emailing me with the Federal Trade Comission!

 

I know nothing of the company you're complaining about, but they are not the authors of jv16 Power Tools. It used to be freeware, and has been around for a very long time. In its day, it was a very good program - I myself used it without any problems.

 

Macecraft does indeed own jv16 Power Tools http://www.macecraft.com/
Fred Langa mentions them often. I tried the free version, did not like it and uninstalled (Revo Uninstaller) from my computer.
I now stick strictly to CCleaner slim.

And the freeware version http://www.macecraft.com/powertoolslite2011/

 

I am resuming this old thread as I also had a bad experience with this tool.
Last week I was evaluating a trial version of Kaspersky Internet Security.
I followed their advice of completely removing remnants of previous AV using jv16 Powertools.
After this operation my pc was seriously compromised as I could no more run MS Visual Studio!
Trying to restore thing applying the backup of jv16 Power Tools was useless. Trying to repair or reinstall VS was useless! Some necessary components were not found. :eek
I faced with terror the prospective of having to reinstall the OS and everything else on my pc, as I don’t have an image copy yet.
But I had available a system restore point that I could use. I tried it (with fingers crossed) and fortunately it succeeded, but I was told to reinstall o couple of applications. After this my pc is apparently working again like before.
After restoring my system I created another restore point manually, and I tried cleaning my registry using CCleaner instead. This time cleaning was successful, without apparently any damage.
In spite of this at Kasperky they remain very confident in jv16. They report a positive experience with it, and problems instead with CCleaner. They sustained it was my fault and cancelled from their forum a post of mine reporting this experience!
Well, I have no interest in this, I just want that people be aware of the risk of using these tools. I don't understand the Kasperky policy in regard to this issue.

 

Well, here we are Sept. 19th, 2021 and jv16 Powertools is still at it. Exactly the same as znot in the post above, it has done things to my Windows 10 that I have to either restore or clean install. I have checked the logs to see what it removes, but got tired of looking and trying to figure out what it's removing. I decided it's not worth it.
I ran the default settings regular scan and went back to check DISM and then sfc/ scannow. Both were messed up and sfc/ scannow could not fix the errors because jv16 Powertools erased things that it should not have erased.
Also, the Internet Optimizer program that's suppose to boost your Internet speed works backwards. It cut my speed in half.
So, looks like between 2012 and 2021, things have not changed for this program. They're making it look pretty and all with the new look, but it's the same old crappy program 9 years running.

Don't even bother trying this program out. It's absolutely not good

 

hahaha I laugh because I amost D/L it the otherday -- PHEw

 

Good for you

 

Here it is May 2022 and I have been trying the updated version of this product. It's still messing up my PC. It's erasing reg. files that I need because every time I run it, my PC will not restart and I get errors. JV has gone way downhill since it's beginnings. It is a program not to be trusted at all. STAY VERY FAR AWAY. In the end, I had to reset my Windows.

 

OP @ 2012: "It destroyed many things in my computer".
Idiot @ 2021: "Don't even bother trying this program out. It's absolutely not good".
Same idiot @ 2022: "STAY VERY FAR AWAY. In the end, I had to reset my Windows."!

 

Mecanicogolf, I hope the "tongue sticking out" emoji conveyed that I was just chuckling and being silly. Not saying you are an idiot at all. But if I offended you, I apologize!

 

Not at all. Just giving my opinion on the subject. You give yours. All happy.

 

I do use JV16 power tools but like many other programs it is slowly becoming bloatware by adding unneeded tools.
I too have had problems with Windows failing to boot after running the tool or programs not working. I, however can use my Macrium image to roll back Windows, I then report the problem via their forum. Saying that though the devs usually seem disinterested & it takes quite a number of posts before they’re willing to fix things.

 

It was a good free tool, then this happen "Support Macecraft Software by financing its initiative to release jv16 PowerTools 2014 as free, Open Source software for both personal and commercial use."
They wanted $100,000 to open source it.

 

Well, way back then, it had really good reviews and they have too busy making it look good (GUI) and all, but if you use the tools that come with it, you are going to have to reinstall Windows. It removes reg. keys that should not be removed and that's why I am tired of using it. I know it was good back then and I wish they would either fix it or take it off the market.

 

That's good that you do that. I mean reporting it to them. I'm sure it helps. But I can see using it and then reinstalling Windows every time you run the program. That's ridiculous. Aren't you better off using other programs that are more reliable? I recommend Kerish Doctor. It's the best I've come across and integrates well into the Windows system. Takes care of everything and it's all automatic. Better than Advanced System Care and all the rest.

 

Thanks. It’s extremely rare these days for there to be a problem after running JV16. When it does happen it’s usually after an update to the software where an undiscovered bug is found.
I had problems in the early days of using it.

Using an image only take a few minutes to roll back.

I’ll check that software out.

 

What software do you use for the image backup? I'm in the market for doing the same as you and not sure what program to use.

 

I've been using Macrium Reflect (free version) since Win 7 and it has been consistently reliable.

 

Macrium Reflect. I have the paid version but the free version is enough for most people.
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

+1 for Macrium Reflect. I've used the free version for years and recently upgraded to paid. Totally reliable.

 

OK, great. Thanks everyone for the info. I'll give it a try.

 

Not good. Gave her a try. Terrible! Messed up my reg. files and had to reinstall Windows AGAIN! I give up. Don't need the pain. I've got enough with other programs on my PC.

 

The MR software has a massive following, justifiably, but it isn't the only good imaging system. You could take a look at

• Clonezilla. ...
• EaseUS Todo Backup. ...
• AOMEI Backupper...

but whichever, you really do need to persist. The thought of having to reinstall time and again when an image can be reinstalled in a few minutes

 

Tried again................I give up.

 

Tried the new update. Gee. I'm a gluten for punishment.

 

Curious, can you share your set up and what went wrong?

 

Well, I'm running Win 11 on a HP ENVY laptop. Some of the programs I run are fine, but when I run the registry cleaner, it must erase something that should not be erased. I haven't sat down to figure it out just as of yet, but every time I run it I have to reset or restore my PC. It will not restart without an error. It's very frustrating sine I have tried over the past two yeears on every updated version hoping it will be fixed. I have a lifetime license and would like to take advantage of it.

 

@mecanicogolf Are you using disk imaging software? If not then I would recommend starting to as it would be quicker than a Windows reset or restore.

 

No I am not and I do not need it if I quit using jv16 Power Tools,

 

OK.

 

Perhaps the issue isn't Macrium Reflect but your registry cleaner?? And curious, which registry cleaner are you using?

 

What? We are talking about jv16 Power Tools here, not Macrium Reflect. What's that? Never used it before.

jv16 Power Tools "IS" my registry cleaner. It's what's messing up my PC.

 

I was following what I thought was the same stream of conversation about imaging with Macrium Reflect, from post #22-29. Maybe you switched focus on 26/27 without indicating so?? Anyway, my bad.

This day and age, with way faster computers and drives as well as more efficient Windows OS... registries even when bloated with dead entries are supposedly not the speed drag that they used to be. I've read that most reg cleaners today no longer make much of a speed difference anymore - but can wreck havoc - as you are experiencing right now.

 

It's a known fact that registry cleaners are not necessary. Everything that's needed to perfectly maintain your PC is included with the Windows OS. Defrag, disk cleanup, etc. As the raven said in Edgar Allan Poe's writings: "Nothing more"

 

Stop using it.
It's crap.

 

You haven't read this post, have you? That's exactly what I'm saying.

 

And you have not read the first post. 10 years ago...

 

Go away

 

I started this post right after he did. I am expressing my problems with jv16 Power Tools and I hate it just as you stated you do. We're both saying the same thing so just drop it.

 

I just downloaded the new version. Still messes up my PC. Oh well. Maybe one of these days.

 

You'd think this a critical piece of software that mecanicogolf absolutely needs? Nope. Apparently just another unnecessary registry cleaner is all:

Poor mecanicogolf... Sigh...

 

I'm a gluten for punishment. Poor me.

 

If you will indulge me just one more time... it's glutton.

[Edit: To make this post somewhat useful] I've had pretty good experience with Ccleaner. If you are really after a registry cleaner, have you tried it? I know it's been getting a bad rap (since purchased by Avast, I believe) - but it's good at multiple tasks - keeping the stuff you want to keep (e.g. specific cookies) while deleting the stuff you don't. Haven't ever crashed anything.

 

Oh. Good advice. I'll try it.Thanks!!!
And I'm going back to school to learn how to spell.

 

Still messes up my PC.