What optimizer apps actually do
Lewis's breakdown is that most optimizers boil down to four jobs:
- Repair: wrapping the SFC and DISM commands.
- Clean up: deleting the same temporary files that Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup remove.
- Optimize startup: disabling the same startup entries visible in Task Manager.
- Debloat: running PowerShell commands that remove apps or services, or edit the registry.
He treats "RAM boosters", registry cleaners and "internet speed" tweaks as extras that rarely help. That is his opinion and experience. No measured data backs it, and neither does his claim that built-in tools solve "at least 90%" of performance problems. Treat both as the author's assertions. The same goes for the claim that most optimizers are just wrappers around Windows tools. Microsoft's documentation shows what the built-in tools do. It says nothing about how any third-party product behaves.
The sensible takeaway is to match the tool to the symptom. Don't run a broad tweak you can't explain.
Tool 1: Startup apps (Settings and Task Manager)
Microsoft documents two places to manage startup apps. Both tools don't appear in my search results, so here is the Microsoft Support guidance as submitted:
- Settings route: Start > Settings > Apps > Startup, then switch an app's toggle Off.
- Task Manager route: right-click Start, open Task Manager, choose the Startup apps tab, then select an app and click Disable.
Task Manager adds a startup impact rating. Microsoft defines the ratings as follows:
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Low | Under 300 ms of CPU and under 292 KB of disk |
| Medium | Under 1 second of CPU or under 3 MB of disk, above the low thresholds |
| High | Over 1 second of CPU or over 3 MB of disk |
These ratings measure startup activity. They don't guarantee that disabling an app will make the PC faster overall.
There are two caveats:
- Microsoft says these lists only cover apps registered with Windows as startup tasks. Other apps can launch from the
shell:startupandshell:common startupfolders. An app missing from the list isn't necessarily absent from startup. - Lewis suggests stubborn apps, especially those with auto-updaters, may start through scheduled tasks. That is plausible, but Microsoft's material doesn't establish how common it is. Disabling a task you don't understand can break app maintenance, so research it first.
Tool 2: DISM and SFC
For crashes or odd behavior you can't pin down, Lewis recommends:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannowMicrosoft's DISM documentation says an online image can repair itself. The repair source follows Group Policy settings, and by default Windows Update can supply replacement files. Two options change that:
/Sourcepoints DISM to another known-good location./LimitAccessstops DISM from using Windows Update.
Microsoft also documents a gentler sequence for checking the image first. /ScanHealth scans for corruption and /CheckHealth reports whether the image is healthy, repairable or non-repairable. /RestoreHealth then repairs a repairable image.
The two tools work on different layers. DISM repairs the component store, which is the Windows image. SFC checks and restores protected system files. Microsoft's own guidance lists sfc /scannow as the quick check and DISM /Cleanup-Image as the more extensive one. Running DISM before SFC is a common troubleshooting order. Neither tool is a speed boost. A clean result doesn't rule out drivers, startup load, hardware or application problems.
Run both from an elevated Command Prompt or Terminal. DISM can take a while, so be patient.
Tool 3: Storage settings, Cleanup recommendations and Storage Sense
Lewis's path, "Cleanup recommends > See advanced options", doesn't match what Microsoft documents. Microsoft's current route is Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. The categories to review include Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, and Unused apps. Windows suggests files and shows how much space you'll save.
Review each category before you delete anything. "Files synced to the cloud" and "Unused apps" aren't junk in the way a temp file is.
Storage Sense is the automated option. Microsoft says its defaults are:
- It runs when the device is low on disk space.
- It cleans unnecessary temporary files.
- It deletes Recycle Bin content after some time.
- It leaves Downloads and OneDrive content alone unless you configure it otherwise.
It only works on the system drive, usually C:. For other drives, use Advanced storage settings. Microsoft also notes that OneDrive content set to become online-only isn't permanently deleted, and files marked "Always keep on this device" are exempt.
For Windows.old or previous installations, Microsoft's route is Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Tick "Previous Windows Installation(s)" and select Remove files.
The classic Disk Cleanup tool is still available. Microsoft says to use it if your system doesn't have Storage Sense.
Cleanup also doesn't repair corruption. Its main benefit is reclaiming space on a nearly full drive. Microsoft notes that low disk space can hurt performance and make updates harder to install.
Tool 4: Reset this PC
Lewis says Reset with "Keep my files" fixes everything short of a hardware problem. That overstates it. Microsoft's description is more careful:
- Keep my files reinstalls Windows and preserves personal files, but removes apps and settings.
- Remove everything wipes files, apps and settings.
- Cloud download fetches a fresh copy of Windows.
- Local reinstall uses files already on the PC. It is faster on a slow connection but may not include the latest updates.
Microsoft's advice before you start:
- Back up important files.
- If the device is encrypted, have your BitLocker recovery key ready.
- Don't restart manually if the screen stays black. Microsoft says it can go black for up to about 15 minutes, and interrupting the process can make the reset fail.
In Windows 11, the Settings path is System > Recovery > Reset PC. Treat reset as a last resort, because it removes your installed software.
A practical order of operations
- Identify the symptom. Check Task Manager's Processes and Performance tabs for high CPU, memory or disk use.
- Slow sign-in or boot: trim Startup apps and review impact ratings.
- Low free space or failed updates: use Cleanup recommendations or Storage Sense, and review what you select.
- Unexplained crashes or suspected system-file damage: run DISM, then SFC.
- Persistent trouble after all that: back up, then consider a reset.
When built-in tools aren't enough
Lewis names a few third-party tools that do things Windows can't. They are Sysinternals Autoruns and Process Explorer, WizTree or WinDirStat for disk-usage maps, and HWiNFO for temperatures. I haven't independently verified their current capabilities, and none is needed for the core advice. His closing point is sound. If the native tools don't help, look at hardware: too little RAM, a slow mechanical drive, or thermal throttling from a dust-clogged fan. Microsoft's own storage guidance agrees that HDD-based devices are typically slower than SSD or eMMC ones.
Bottom line
The article's core advice holds up: Windows 11 has first-party tools for startup control, image and file repair, storage cleanup and recovery. Its sweeping numbers and its "reset fixes everything" claim don't. Use each tool for the problem it was built for. Back up before anything drastic, and be wary of apps that promise a one-click fix.