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Options
Basic functions In this menu you can choose the language and the skin of the program interface (GUI). The new settings will be applied without a restart. A password to prevent unauthorized usage and other general settings can be set for the software.
Monitoring
S.M.A.R.T Ashampoo HDD Control 2 reads out the SMART values (go here for details) and warns the user, if marginal values are overstepped. In this menu you can define in which intervals the SMART attributes/values are read out again. Depending on the your needs (or special hardware configurations e.g. monitoring scenarios) the parameter can be configured and interpreted individually. This way, for example, cautions people could adjust the settings in a way that even the smallest change is categorized as critical.
Temperature Similar to the SMART monitoring (see above) the temperature monitoring can be adjusted to your needs. The program default settings are well chosen but maybe your system is a little bit different (e.g. containing special hardware, etc.) so you have to config special values.
Calculation SMART is collecting a lot of data to calculate the results. You can also define different ways how SMART is weighting the values. Using the default calculation, poor values are weighted more heavily which may be the safest way and was most successful in our tests. You can also choose the simple average value or the lowest measured value Ashampoo HDD Control 2 has logged.
Guard
Guard – Options The Guard is a useful extension to Ashampoo HDD Control 2′s other features, because it reports possible problems instantly. When / if the Guard should run and in which it should appear can be adjusted in “Autostart settings” and “Display and Sound”. We recommend to have the Guard start together with your Windows system, to get all warnings immediately.
Guard – Events Similar to the appearance of the Guard its behavior can be adjusted, too. If your hard drive’s status deteriorates, the Guard can act in different ways. From playing a warning sound to adding an entry to the Windows log file, the options to record events and draw attention to them are varied. A special feature is the function to have an e-mail sent to your and / or other addresses with a report. Just enter the necessary data and send a test e-mail, in order to check whether it is working correctly. If you don’t know or are not sure about your SMTP server, please contact your provider.
Drive Cleaner
Drive Cleaner – Folder contents Here you can define more accurately which files the Drive Cleaner should look for. For years these default settings have been improved, on the one hand to make sure no valuable files are deleted and on the other hand to make sure that no redundant files are left on the hard drive. If you want to adjust the settings, just check or uncheck the box in front of an option. The exceptions in the Drive Cleaner are explained below.
Drive Cleaner – Exceptions The list of entries in Exceptions protects valuable data that might otherwise be identified as redundant, because of the same qualities. Critical folders whose contents should be scanned, for example, are excluded from the search. Files included could might have temporary file extensions like *.bak or *.tmp, but have to protected from being deleted. After a while you might want to add your own exceptions in order to exclude personal files and folders from the search. An example are personal *.bak and *.tmp files that you would like to keep. Or you can just use less known software that use less common file extensions for important files.
Drive Cleaner – Options Write-protected or files that are currently in use are usually ignored by the Drive Cleaner. Which usually is appropriate. If you’d like to change that, just check or uncheck the boxes in front of the options. If you’d like to play it safe, you can send deleted files to the recycle bin (then you will have to delete them manually).
Drive Cleaner – Search drives Not on every drive there are redundant files. There a search would be a waste of time. Here you can define which hard drives / partitions are to be searched. On the right-hand side there are further options to narrow down the search and therefore speed it up.
Drive Cleaner – Own file filters This option can only be recommend to advanced users. Here you can define your own file filters. Here you can enter a file name, as well as a filter (in this case: a file format, e.g. *.temp) to find files of a particular type. Just enter the file type and click on Add.
Internet Cleaner
The Internet Cleaner It seeks out and allows you to delete all the temporary or security-compromising data types created on your machine while you are online.To find (and delete) only certain files, the Ashampoo HDD Control 2 offers the possibility to define a special search in which the files can be filtered for browser or file type.
The Internet Cleaner - Secure Cookies Cookies are a special case since they can intrude upon your privacy yet they are helpful for other situations, such as for frequently logging in to a site or for automating certain functions. For this reason, it is worthwhile taking a closer look at which cookies to delete and which ones to define as useful or ‘secure’. Organize your cookies with the Add and Remove buttons.
Defrag
Defragment The most import menu item is probably the option at which degree of fragmentation the software should recommend a defragmentation. The default setting of 15% is appropriate, but of course it can be adjusted with the arrow signs. Proactive Defragmentation: the proactive defragmentation works in the background as soon as your hard drive is idle or not used to its full capacity. Here you can define at what percentage of idling the proactive defragmentation of the hard drive starts. This value can also be adjusted by using the arrow signs.
Defrag – Cluster map Here you can specify how the defrag module is displayed. The cluster map legend shows, which blocks are moved during a defragmentation. You can specify the position of the legend and whether it should be shown at all (might slow down slow PCs).
Boot time defragmentation With the new boot time defragmentation you speed up the Windows boot procedure. The boot time defragmentation also defrags files that usually can’t be accessed after the Windows start, because after the boot procedure they can’t be moved any more. Here you can specify whether the boot time defragmentation should be active or not. You can also set a 4 second wait to allow you the cancellation of the boot defragmentation. Just check the box in front of the particular option.
DiskSpace Explorer
DiskSpace Explorer – File formats Here you can specify which formats are to be taken into account for the report. Use a semicolon to separate the individual file extensions (for example: Audio files MP3; WAV; etc…). You can also define your own groups. Just check the box in front of Show own group, enter a name (for example: Archive files) and file formats (here: RAR; ZIP; etc.) for the new group.
DiskSpace Explorer – Charts Here you can specify the appearance of the chart. You have the following options: pie chart, Torus chart or no chart (only values). Furthermore you can define the maximum number of sectors (the “pie pieces”), in order to make the chart as clear as possible.
File Wiper
File Wiper – Deletion Method Here you can specify the deletion method that should be used to delete files. The more writing iterations, the more difficult (and more fragmented) a possible restoration process will be. Please note that a more extensive deletion method will use take more time. You can choose which security level you need.
Undeleter
Undeleter Here you can individually adjust the settings of the scan. Therefore you can speed up the scan and get a clearer list of results (which can be quite extensive). The default settings are that all found files that are bigger than 0 bytes. The option Do not list files in which the majority of data has been lost does not list the files are hardly restorable. Hide file icons speeds up the search because the file icon is not put in front any more. If you restore a folder, usually the whole file structure will be restored, too. If you don’t want to restore the file structure, select the option Ignore folder structure during undelete.
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