The Ashampoo WinOptimizer 25 offered here is the last recommended version of this program. Although I also have version 26, I went back to version 25 very quickly.

Instead of improving its products, Ashampoo has been messing them up more and more for years. Up to and including version 25, Ashampoo WinOptimizer was software that was superior to other programs of this type in that it did not also delete files that were still needed. From version 26 that was over. Which brain acrobat at Ashampoo is responsible for deleting all saved execute commands in Windows with every maintenance? No user wished for such nonsense! There is also no setting that can prevent this damage at every service.

The recovery of deleted files is also faulty. After deleting 315 files, Ashampoo WinOptimizer 26 refused to restore them on the grounds that one file cannot be recovered. Doesn't anyone at Ashampoo's brain acrobats think that the other 314 files should then be restored? It's hard to believe: Because only one file cannot be restored, the restoration of all other 314 files is also rejected.

Of course, one can also wonder why Ashampoo WinOptimizer 26 deletes files that it cannot recover. The idiotically built program does not check this at all before deleting.

In recent years, Ashampoo has preferred to invest programmers' time in the development of chicanes rather than in product improvements. Some programs, such as Ashampoo Money, can only be installed if you allow the additional installation of Ashampoo connect. Even that is a mess. But it gets much worse. With all newer program-versions you can with the already purchased programs no longer start the setup without first purchasing a license key again. The setup ignores the fact that the already purchased license is stored on the computer. If someone has a license for 5 activations on 5 computers, then 1 license will be deducted without justification every time the key is used again on a computer on which the software has already been activated before. The following happened to me:

I had already updated Ashampoo WinOptimizer from version 26.00.11 to version 26.00.12 on one of my computers. I then wanted to run the update on my other computer as well. There, however, I received the false message from the botched software that there was no newer version than 26.00.11. If the botch doesn't do this update anymore, then it probably won't do it for future updates either. With reputable software, you would now simply run the setup of the latest version and everything would be fine. Ashampoo would then, without justification, deduct 1 activation from the 5 purchased. I couldn't start the setup without first entering the license key again.

With the recent botch from Ashampoo, not only a simple update of the Ashampoo WinOptimizer 26 no longer works in every case. On top of that, the user is harassed if he wants to repair the software he has already bought, so that the computer can also receive updates again, on which only the lying message appears that there are no updates.

I paid good money for this program and am happy I own it. This should be a really good find for anyone wanting a free shot at tuning their system. I have found it easy, safe and effective (sounds like a commercial, I know.) Glad to see GOTD offering it.

My installed version of "26" is 26.00.22. What version is this? Thanks.