Disk Technician Gold Help File
Last edited 07/24/91 11:10 by SL
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.! Chapter One --- Tests Menu
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.! Chapter Two --- Options Menu
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.! Chapter Three - Reports Menu
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.! Chapter Four -- Quit Menu
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.! Chapter Five -- System Integrity Test
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.! Chapter Six --- Media Certification
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.! Chapter Seven - Low Level Format
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.! Chapter Eight - Defragmentation
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.! Chapter Twenty - Modify Screen Attributes
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.! Chapter Twentyone - Change Pop-up Screen Indicator
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.! Chapter Twentytwo - Reset Databank
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.! Chapter Twentythree - Virus detector parameters
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.! Chapter Twentyfour - Specify Hot Keys
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.! That's All
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.!============================================================================
.! "Tests" Menu Help Screens
.!============================================================================
.1
"Tests" Help Screen
 How To Use The Test Menu:

   *  Use the arrow keys  or your mouse to highlight your
      selection, then press the Enter key ÄÙ or click on
      your mouse.

   *  Or, simply type the first letter of the test you want
      to select.

   *  Press the Escape (Esc) key to go back to the previous
      screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 There Are Four Operations To Choose From:

   SYSTEM INTEGRITY TEST

      *  Verifies that Disk Technician Gold's programs and
         files are readable and virus free.

      *  Checks the major components of your computer's
         hard disk subsystem to make certain they are
         working properly.

      *  Checks the file structure of DOS and performs
         several critical CHKDSK-type operations.

      *  Repairs any new errors recorded in the Databank.

      *  Globally scans the Databank for error patterns
         indicating hardware failure.

   See chapters 4 and 6 for complete details.

   HARD DISK MEDIA CERTIFICATION

      *  Certifies your hard disk media for data storage
         reliability by globally testing the drive(s) for
         soft and hard errors.

      *  Initializes Disk Technician Gold's Databank by
         providing a global test baseline.

   See chapters 4 and 7 for complete details.

   INTERLEAVE TEST/LOW-LEVEL FORMAT

      *  Tests your hard disk's low-level interleave and
         displays the optimal setting in order to yield the
         maximum data throughput speed.

      *  Performs a nondestructive low-level format, during
         which you have the option to reset the interleave.

   See chapter 8 for complete details.

   DEFRAGMENT

      *  Gathers the scattered sectors which comprise each
         of the files on your hard disk and arranges them in
         sequential order.

      *  Various defragmenting options can also reorganize
         all of your hard disk's files according to a
         specified order.

   See chapter 9 for complete details.
.2
"System Integrity Test" Help Screen
 What Is The System Integrity Test?

   *  Verifies that Disk Technician Gold's programs and
      files are readable and virus free.

   *  Checks the major components of your computer's hard
      disk subsystem to make certain they are working
      properly.

   *  Checks the file structure of DOS and performs several
      critical CHKDSK-type operations.

   *  Repairs any new errors recorded in the Databank.

   *  Globally scans the Databank for error patterns
      indicating hardware failure.

 When Should You Run The System Integrity Test?

   Once you have installed and setup Disk Technician Gold,
   there is really no need to run the System Integrity Test
   again.

   This is because most of the test routines done during the
   System Integrity Test are included in the Bootup System
   Check, which is automatically done every time you boot
   your computer.

   For your own purposes, however, you may want to run
   the System Integrity Test, which includes these four
   additional setup-type test routines not performed
   during the Bootup System Check:

      *  DOS partition
      *  10K available
      *  Quick seek test
      *  Read/Write

 How To Run The System Integrity Test:

   *  Highlight "System integrity test" in the "Tests" menu,
      then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or
      type the letter "S".

   *  When the System Integrity Test screen appears, press
      any key to begin testing.

   *  Once the System Integrity Test is underway, it will
      continue automatically until all sub-routines have
      been completed.

   *  If the System Integrity Test detects any problem,
      testing will be interrupted with an error message.
      If this happens, see chapter 13 for instructions.

 Quitting The System Integrity Test:

*     You can abort testing and return to the Main Menu by
      pressing the Escape (Esc) key, or quit and return to
      the DOS prompt by pressing the F10 key. It may take a
      few moments to safely abort.

   Once all tests have been completed:

   *  Press any key to return to the Main Menu.

   *  Or, press the F10 key to return to the DOS prompt.

 See chapters 4 and 6 for complete details.
.3
"Hard Disk Media Certification" Help Screen
 What Is Hard Disk Media Certification?

   *  Certifies your hard disk media for data storage
      reliability by testing the drive(s) globally for soft
      and hard errors.

   *  During setup, initializes Disk Technician Gold's
      Databank by providing a global test baseline.

   *  Any additional Media Certification tests you run will
      simply refine or add to the information already
      contained in the Databank.

 When Should You Run Hard Disk Media Certification?

   *  If you did not run it as part of setup when you
      installed Disk Technician Gold.

   *  If you have installed a new hard disk or controller in
      your computer.

   *  If you moved the hard disk to another machine (this is
      the same as changing controllers).

   *  If your computer has been subjected to heavy abuse
      (jarred, dropped, etc.).

 Time Required:

   About 1-5 minutes per megabyte, depending on the size and
   speed of the drive(s), computer, and in some cases, the
   type and quantity of problems encountered.

 How To Run Hard Disk Media Certification:

   *  Highlight "Hard disk media certification" in the
      "Tests" menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on
      your mouse, or type the letter "H".

 Interrupt/Resume Feature:

   You can interrupt Media Certification at any time by
   pressing the Esc (Escape) key. You will be returned to
   the Main Menu. You can then quit Disk Technician Gold
   and go to another program. Whenever you return to
   Media Certification, you will be asked if you want to
   continue where you left off.

 Quitting:

   When Media Certification has completed, press any key to
   return to the Main Menu.

 See chapters 4 and 7 for complete details.
.4
"Interleave Test/Low Level Format" Help Screen
 What Is The "Interleave Test/Low-Level Format" Operation?

   *  Tests your hard disk's low-level interleave, and
      displays the value that will give you the maximum data
      throughput speed.

   *  Performs a nondestructive low-level format, during
      which you have the option to reset the interleave.

      Setting the interleave is part of the low-level
      formatting process.

 Is Your Drive Eligible For Interleave Testing And
 Low-Level Formatting?

   *  PROBABLY: Most drives using the ST506/412 and ESDI
      interfaces (typically with MFM and RLL-type
      controllers) allow low-level formatting. However,
      some do not (such as most Plus Development Hardcards).

   *  PROBABLY NOT: Most drives using the SCSI interface,
      IDE and embedded AT drives, and drives with
      controllers set in translation mode (such as those
      used in many laptops) do not allow low-level
      formatting.

      Do not be concerned if your drive does not allow
      low-level formatting and testing/resetting of the
      interleave. If this is the case, your drive has
      already been low-level formatted with interleave set
      to the optimal value by the manufacturer. Neither
      operation needs to be repeated -- once is enough.

      For more details, please read the following in
      chapter 8:

      *  When Should You Test And Reset Interleave?

      *  What Is Low-Level Formatting?

      *  When Should You Do A Nondestructive Low-Level
         Format?

   *  IF YOU ARE NOT SURE: Try running the test. If your
      drive allows low-level formatting, the test will
      proceed. If your drive is ineligible, you will get an
      error message and the test will not run.

 When Should You Test And Reset Interleave?

   *  If you have never done it on your system.

   *  If you have installed a new hard disk or controller in
      your computer.

   *  If you moved the hard disk to another machine (this is
      the same as changing controllers).

 When Should You Do A Nondestructive Low-Level Format?

   *  To reset the interleave.

      Low-level formatting is required only once: to
      initialize a new drive. Like any other data recorded
      on your hard disk, it is virtually permanent (1,000 -
      10,000 years) in nature. Further: unlike data sectors,
      DOS and your programs never write to the special areas
      created during a low-level format.

      Periodic low-level formatting and/or wholesale
      rerecording of hard disk data serves no useful purpose
      whatsoever. On the contrary, this practice can mask
      developing problems.

      However, if testing indicates that the interleave
      factor was set incorrectly when the drive was
      initialized, it will be necessary to nondestructively
      low-level format the drive, at the same time resetting
      the interleave to the optimal value.

    Time Required:

   *  Testing interleave usually takes just a few seconds.

   *  Nondestructive low-level formatting and/or resetting
      interleave usually takes about 1 minute per megabyte,
      depending on the speed of the hard drive(s) and
      computer.

 How To Test And Reset Interleave/Low-Level Format:

   *  Highlight "Interleave test/low-level format" in the
      "Tests" menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on
      your mouse, or type the letter "I".

   *  You will see a message warning you to back-up your
      data before proceeding. Please read it carefully and
      follow the instructions.

   *  Select "Continue with program" in the Warning Message
      screen, to proceed to the "Interleave test/low-level
      format" opening screen.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the drive(s)
      selected and continue.

      Or, use the arrow keys   to highlight an individual
      drive, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept your
      selection and continue.

 See chapter 8 for complete details.
.5
"Defragment" Help Screen
 What Is Defragmenting?

   *  Defragmenting gathers the scattered sectors which
      comprise each of your hard disk's files and puts them
      end-to-end in sequential order. It can also reorganize
      all of the hard disk files according to a specified
      order.

   *  Since the read/write heads no longer need to search
      all over the disk to find the scattered pieces of
      these files, the result is faster information access.

 Is A Fragmented Hard Disk Dangerous To Data?

   *  No. Fragmentation is not a reliability issue, it is a
      speed issue.

   *  There is no causal relationship between fragmentation
      and bad spots on hard disks. Fragmentation does not
      cause errors. Likewise, defragmentation cannot prevent
      them.

   *  Any additional mechanical wear-and-tear on the hard
      disk caused by the read/write heads making extra seeks
      on a fragmented disk is insignificant over the life of
      a modern PC hard drive.

 When Should You Defragment Your Hard Disk?

   *  When a large number of files have increased in size.

   *  Before and/or after intensive disk Input/Output tasks.
      Including:

      *  Database sorts.

      *  Virtually all graphics and CAD/CAM programs.

      *  Windows applications.

      *  Accounting.

   *  Even if you do not perform any of the above tasks
      regularly, you should still defragment your disk
      occasionally because file fragmentation is
      continuous in a normal PC hard disk environment.

 How To Continue The Defragmenting Operation:

   *  Highlight "Defragment" in the "Tests" menu, then press
      the Enter key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or type the
      letter "D".

   *  To go back to the Main Menu now, press the Esc
      (Escape) key. Or, if you want to quit and return
      to the DOS prompt, press the F10 key.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the drive(s)
      selected and continue.

      Or, use the arrow keys   to highlight an
      individual drive, then press the Enter key
      ÄÙ to accept your selection and continue.

   *  For help in choosing the "Pack", "Sort by",
      "Sort order" and "Programs 1st" options, press
      the F1 key when the selection window is at the
      particular option.

  See chapter 9 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.!
.!============================================================================
.6
"Options" Help Screen
 How To Use The Options Menu:

   *  Use the arrow keys  or click on your mouse to
      highlight your selection, then press the Enter key ÄÙ
      or click on your mouse.

   *  Or, simply type the first letter of the option you
      want to select.

   *  Press the Esc (Escape) key to go back to the previous
      screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 There Are Five Options To Choose From:

   *  MODIFY SCREEN ATTRIBUTES: Changes background and
      character color attributes of Disk Technician Gold's
      display screens.

   *  CHANGE POP-UP SCREEN INDICATOR: Move, or turn the
      Error Detector's pop-up screen indicator on and off.

   *  ERASE DATABANK TEST HISTORY: Reset (erase) any or all
      of Disk Technician Gold's Databank files.

   *  REGISTER VIRUS DETECTOR FILES: Add, change or delete
      file extensions for virus protection.

   *  SPECIFY HOT KEYS: Change the Error Detector and/or
      Virus Detector screen symbol hot key assignments to
      your own choices.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.7
"Modify Screen Attributes" Help Screen
 What Is The "Modify Screen Attributes" Option?

   Use this option to change colors, characters and other
   attributes of Disk Technician Gold's various menus,
   screens and windows.

 How To Continue "Modify Screen Attributes:"

   *  Highlight "Modify screen attributes" in the "Options"
      menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on your
      mouse, or type the letter "M".

   *  Press the Esc (Escape) key to go back to the previous
      screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.8 
"Change Pop-up Indicator" Help Screen
 What Is The "Change Pop-Up Screen Indicator" Option?

   *  Use it to reposition the on-screen indicator which
      appears when the Error Detector is working in the
      background of your other programs.

   *  You can also turn the pop-up indicator off and on.

   *  If the pop-up indicator appears and then refuses to
      disappear, it does not mean that anything is wrong
      with either your program or the Error Detector. It
      is simply the way the particular program you are
      working in was designed.

      If this situation bothers you, simply turn the
      Error Detector's pop-up indicator off. Doing so
      will not affect Error Detector operations.

   *  The pop-up screen indicator will not appear
      in graphical environments such as Windows, GEM,
      etc. However, the Error Detector will still be
      working in the background.

 How To Continue With The "Change Pop-Up Screen
 Indicator" Option:

   *  Highlight "Change pop-up screen indicator" in the
      "Options" menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on
      your mouse, or type the letter "C".

   *  Press the Esc (Escape) key to go back to the previous
      screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.9
"Erase Databank Test History" Help Screen
 What Is The "Erase Databank Test History" Option?

   *  Use it to delete the test history information
      contained in the Databank for any or all drives.

   *  Disk Technician Gold keeps a historical record of
      errors it detects in its Databank. The information is
      used to identify data-threatening repeating errors and
      patterns which indicate imminent hardware failure.

 When Should You Erase The Databank?

   *  Normally? Never. The Databank contains the entire test
      history of your hard disk, refined over the entire
      time you have been running Disk Technician Gold.

      Thus, the older your Databank is, the more valuable it
      is to the expert system in making smarter decisions,
      predictions, etc.

      However, the Databank information is always specific
      to an individual system. For example, you would not
      want error information from old drive "A" to apply to
      new drive "B."

      Therefore, whenever a major component of the hard disk
      system is changed, you should erase the Databank.
      There are three situations where this applies:

      *  If you have replaced your hard disk. (Assuming that
         you have backed-up the data from the old hard disk,
         including Disk Technician Gold programs and files,
         and then restored this data to the new hard disk.)

         It is NOT necessary to erase the Databank when
         adding an additional drive to your system.

      *  If you change controllers.

      *  If you move the hard disk to another machine (this
         is, in effect, the same as changing controllers).

 How To Continue "Erase Databank Test History:"

   *  Highlight "Erase databank test history" in the
      "Options" menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on
      your mouse, or type the letter "E".

   *  Press the Escape (Esc) key to go back to the previous
      screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.10
"Register Virus Detector Files" Help Screen
 What Is The "Register Virus Detector Files" Option?

   *  Use it to register up to 20 file types (extensions)
      with Disk Technician Gold's Virus Detector device
      driver for automatic protection against virus
      contamination.

   *  We have preselected the following 5 file extensions,
      because they are the types most commonly attacked by
      viruses attempting to gain access to your system:

      *  .EXE
      *  .COM
      *  .SYS
      *  .PRG
      *  .GEN

 How To Continue "Register Virus Detector Files:"

   *  Highlight "Register virus detector files" in the
      "Options" menu, then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on
      your mouse, or type the letter "R".

   *  Press the Escape (Esc) key to go back to the
      previous screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.11
"Specify Hot Keys" Help Screen
 What Is The "Specify Hot Keys" Option?

   *  Use it to specify key combinations you want to use to
      invoke the Error Detector and Virus Detector screen
      symbols and their corresponding audio signals.

 How To Continue With The "Specify Hot Keys" Option:

   *  Highlight "Specify hot keys" in the "Options" menu,
      then press the Enter key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or
      type the letter "S".

   *  Press the Escape (Esc) key to go back to the
      previous screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.!	"Reports" Menu Help Screens
.!============================================================================
.12
"Reports" Help Screen
 Use this menu to view or print Disk Technician Gold's
 test and status reports:

   *  BAD TRACK REPORT:

      This report is similar to the "bad track table" or
      "microdefect map" affixed to many drives, although
      more detailed because of the additional types of
      errors detected by Disk Technician Gold's expert
      system and dynamic testing.

      It shows you the location and number of bad sectors on
      your drive, as well as the reason why they have been
      marked out.

      A bad sector is one which cannot store your data
      reliably. These are blocked from use by marking them
      as "bad" in the File Allocation Table (FAT).

   *  MONITORED/SOFT ERROR REPORT:

      This report shows you the areas (sectors) on your hard
      disk which have produced multiple soft errors during
      testing. These sectors are monitored during subsequent
      tests in order to determine whether the error
      occurrences are random or are part of a repeating
      error pattern indicating an unsafe area.

      If subsequent testing determines the sector to be
      unreliable, it will automatically be blocked from use
      by marking it as "bad" in the FAT. Then, test
      information for this sector will be deleted from this
      "Monitored/Soft Error Report" and added to the "Bad
      Track Report."

 To Continue With Viewing Or Printing A Report:

   *  Highlight "Bad track report" or "Monitored/soft error
      report" in the "Reports" menu, then press the Enter
      key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or type the letter "B"
      or "M".

 See chapter 10 for complete details.
.13
"Bad Cluster Report" Help Screen
 What Is The Bad Track Report?

 This report is similar to the "bad track table" or
 "microdefect map" affixed to many drives, although more
 detailed because of the additional types of errors detected
 by Disk Technician Gold's expert system and dynamic testing.

 It shows you the location and number of bad sectors on your
 drive, as well as the reason why they have been marked out.

 A bad sector is one which cannot store your data reliably.
 These are blocked from use by marking them as "bad" in the
 File Allocation Table (FAT).

 Terms Used In The Report:

   *  Logical drives. This lists all of the accessible DOS
      drive letters (or partitions) on which Disk Technician
      Gold is operating.

   *  Drive/Cyl./Head/Sector. The location of the reported
      error.

   *  Type of error. Disk Technician Gold categorizes
      errors as follows:

         *  Hard error. The sector was completely
            unreadable.

         *  Excessive soft errors. Throughout testing, the
            soft error rate remained in excess of hard drive
            manufacturers' standards for media reliability.

         *  Expert system determined error. Either:

               *  The individual sector exhibited an
                  escalating trend of soft error activity.

               *  The sector exhibited soft error activity
                  with adjacent tracks and/or sectors also
                  exhibiting soft error activity or already
                  marked-out as bad.

         *  Intermittent error. The sector exhibited a
            history of intermittently occurring but
            repairable soft error activity, at some point
            leading the expert system to rule that the
            sector was fundamentally unreliable.

 To Continue With Viewing Or Printing A Report:

   *  Highlight "Bad track report" or "Monitored/soft error
      report" in the "Reports" menu, then press the Enter
      key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or type the letter "B"
      or "M".

 How To Scroll Through The Report:

   *  Use the "Page Up" and "Page Down" or  keys, or click
      and drag with your mouse on the box located in the
      shaded sidebar.

 How To Print A Report:

   *  Be sure your printer is connected and properly
      setup before proceeding.

   *  Press the letter "P".

 How To Quit:

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return to the
      Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 10 for complete details.
.14
"Monitored/Soft Error Report" Help Screen
 What Is The Monitored/Soft Error Report?

 This report shows you the areas (sectors) on your hard disk
 which have produced multiple soft errors during testing.
 These sectors are monitored during subsequent tests in
 order to determine whether the error occurrences are
 isolated or are part of a repeating error pattern
 indicating an unsafe area.

 If subsequent testing determines the sector to be
 unreliable, it will automatically be blocked from use by
 marking it as "bad" in the FAT. Then, test information for
 this sector will be deleted from the "Monitored/Soft Error
 Report" and added to the "Bad Track Report."
 
 Terms Used In The Report:

   *  Logical drives. This lists all of the accessible DOS
      drive letters (or partitions) on which Disk Technician
      Gold is operating.

   *  Total monitored sectors/Bytes per sector/Total
      monitored bytes. A tally of all monitoring activity.

   *  Drive/Cyl./Head/Sector. The location of the reported
      error.

   *  Soft errors. The total of all single occurrences of
      the controller's failure to read an individual sector
      on the first attempt.

   *  Occurrences (also called "hits"). Each occurrence of
      soft errors at a particular location, regardless of
      the soft error count on that occurrence.

 To Continue With Viewing Or Printing A Report:

   *  Highlight "Bad track report" or "Monitored/soft error
      report" in the "Reports" menu, then press the Enter
      key ÄÙ, click on your mouse, or type the letter "B"
      or "M".

 How To Scroll Through The Report:

   *  Use the "Page Up" and "Page Down" or  keys, or click
      and drag with your mouse on the box located in the
      shaded sidebar.

 How To Print A Report:

   *  Be sure your printer is connected and properly
      setup before proceeding.

   *  Press the letter "P".

 How To Quit:

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return to the
      Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return to the DOS
      prompt.

  See chapter 10 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.!	"Quit" Menu Help Screens
.!============================================================================
.15
"Quit" Help Screen
 Use this menu to quit the Main Menu and exit to the
 DOS prompt.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ or "Q" to continue.

   *  To quit now, press the F10 key.

   *  To cancel and go back to the previous screen,
      press the Esc (Escape) key.
.16
"Continue" Help Screen
   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ or "C" to continue.

   *  You can also use your mouse by clicking on the
      highlighted word "Continue."

   *  You can also go back to the previous screen by
      pressing the Esc (Escape) key.
.17
"Quit and Exit to DOS" Help Screen
   *  Press ÄÙ or "Q" to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

   *  Press the Esc (Escape) key or "C" to continue.
.!============================================================================
.! Media Certification
.!============================================================================
.18
No Title
   *  Use the arrow keys   to select the Speed or Safe
      testing mode, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to begin
      testing.

   *  Or, press the Esc (Escape) key to cancel Hard Disk
      Media Certification and return to the previous screen.
      You can also press the F10 key to quit and return to
      the DOS prompt.

 What Is The Speed Mode?

   We've named it the "Speed" mode because it is about 2-5
   times as fast as the "Safe" mode (also called "failsafe
   architecture").

   During Speed Mode operations, any data located in the
   hard disk area(s) to be tested is first stored in Random
   Access Memory (RAM). After testing has been completed,
   the data is written back to the hard disk.

   If the power to your computer fails while the data is in
   RAM, that data (up to one track's worth) will be lost. In
   such an event, you would need to restore the affected
   file(s) from backup.

   We have made the Speed Mode our default selection
   because:

   *  Chances of a power failure are statistically VERY
      slight and the amount of data that would be affected
      is minimal.

   *  Virtually none of the other programs you use have any
      form of protection in the event of power failure.

      If you are in an area subject to power failure,
      brownouts, etc., you should get an Uninterruptible
      Power Supply (UPS).

   *  The Speed Mode is 2-5 times faster than the Safe Mode.

 What Is The Safe Mode?

   If you need the ultimate assurance against data loss
   during Hard Disk Media Certification, we recommend you
   use the Safe Mode (also called "failsafe architecture").

   During Safe Mode operations, any data located in the hard
   disk area(s) to be tested is first written to a second
   location on the hard disk. After testing is completed,
   the data is written back to the original location (if the
   areas test good; otherwise, the data is written to a good
   location and the bad locations are removed from service).

   Thus, the data is never at risk in the event of a power
   failure, even if the power fails while the File
   Allocation Table (FAT) or directory is being updated.

   Please remember, though, that the Safe Mode takes 2-5
   times longer than the Speed Mode.

 See chapter 7 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! LLF Help Screens
.!============================================================================
.19
LLF_HELP1
   *  Use the arrow keys   to select the Speed or Safe
      testing mode, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to begin
      testing.

   *  Or, press the Esc (Escape) key to cancel this
      operation and return to the previous selection
      field. You can also press the F10 key to quit
      and return to the DOS prompt.

 What Is The Speed Mode?

   We've named it the "Speed" mode because it is about 2-5
   times as fast as the "Safe" mode (also called "failsafe
   architecture").

   During Speed Mode operations, any data located in the
   hard disk area(s) to be tested is first stored in Random
   Access Memory (RAM). After testing has been completed,
   the data is written back to the hard disk.

   If the power to your computer fails while the data is in
   RAM, that data (up to one track's worth) will be lost. In
   such an event, you would need to restore the affected
   file(s) from backup.

   We have made the Speed Mode our default selection
   because:

   *  Chances of a power failure are statistically VERY
      slight and the amount of data that would be affected
      is minimal.

   *  Virtually none of the other programs you use have any
      form of protection in the event of power failure.

      If you are in an area subject to power failure,
      brownouts, etc., you should get an Uninterruptible
      Power Supply (UPS).

   *  The Speed Mode is 2-5 times faster than the Safe Mode.

 What Is The Safe Mode?

   If you need the ultimate assurance against data loss
   during Hard Disk Media Certification, we recommend you
   use the Safe Mode (also called "failsafe architecture").

   During Safe Mode operations, any data located in the hard
   disk area(s) to be tested is first written to a second
   location on the hard disk. After testing is completed,
   the data is written back to the original location (if the
   areas test good; otherwise, the data is written to a good
   location and the bad locations are removed from service).

   Thus, the data is never at risk in the event of a power
   failure, even if the power fails while the File
   Allocation Table (FAT) or directory is being updated.

   Please remember, though, that the Safe Mode takes 2-5
   times longer than the Speed Mode.

 See chapter 8 for complete details.
.20
LLF_HELP2
   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to test the interleave.
      Testing will begin immediately. If you do not want to
      test interleave (for example, you may only wish to
      perform a nondestructive low-level format), type "N"
      or use the arrow keys   to highlight "N," then press
      the Enter key ÄÙ to continue.

   *  If your drive does not allow low-level formatting
      operations including testing interleave, you will get
      an error message telling you that your drive is not
      eligible.

      This does NOT mean anything is wrong with your drive.
      On the contrary, most SCSI, IDE and embedded AT
      drives, drives equipped with controllers set in
      translation mode (typically found in laptops), as well
      as most Plus Development Hardcards, do not allow
      low-level formatting.

         *  Low-level formatting only needs to be done once
            for the purpose of initializing a new drive.
            Your hard drive's manufacturer has already done
            this for you at the factory.

         *  Interleaving for your drive was preset by the
            manufacturer for optimal performance.

 As Disk Technician Gold completes testing at each
 interleave factor, it displays the information onscreen.
 After all interleave factors have been tested, the optimal
 interleave value will be highlighted on the chart, and
 will appear on the "Optimal interleave" statistic line.

 If the current interleave is not the optimal value, the
 "Instructions" box will suggest that you perform a
 nondestructive low-level format of your drive and reset the
 interleave to the optimal value.

 See chapter 8 for complete details.
.21
LLF_HELP3
 If You Select "Yes":

   The drives(s) you selected will be nondestructively
   low-level formatted. At the same time, the interleave
   will be set (or reset) to:

      *  The value shown to the right of "Current
         interleave:" if you did not test interleave.

      *  The value shown to the right of "Optimal
         interleave:" if you tested the interleave.

 If You Select "No":

   You will cancel the Low-Level Format operation.

      *  If you wish to reset the interleave, you MUST
         allow nondestructive low-level formatting.

         Setting or resetting interleave is an inseparable
         part of the low-level formatting process. You
         cannot do one without the other.

 To Continue:

   *  Once you have selected "Yes" or "No", press the Enter
      key ÄÙ. You will now see the selected interleave
      value displayed to the right of "Set interleave to:"

      You may type in any interleave value between 1-12.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to begin the nondestructive
      low-level format operation.

      Once low-level formatting is underway, it will
      continue until completed. The Escape (Esc) and F10
      keys will have no effect.

 After Low-Level Formatting Has Been Completed:

   *  To quit and return to the Main Menu, press any key.

   *  Or, to quit and return to the DOS prompt, press the
      F10 key.

 See chapter 8 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Defragmentor
.!============================================================================
.25
DEFRAG_HELP1
 What Is The "Pack" Option?

   *  All files on the drive(s) will be packed towards the
      front of the disk. New files will be less likely to
      become fragmented because DOS has no unoccupied space
      to fill in the packed area and all free space towards
      the end of the disk is contiguous.

   *  We have selected "N" for "No" as the default setting
      because the "Pack" option adds significant time to the
      defragmenting operation.

 How To Continue With The Defragmenting Operation:

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to reject the "Pack" option as
      part of the defragmenting operation.

      Or, use the arrow keys   or your mouse to highlight
      "Y" to pack or "N" not to pack the files on the drive,
      then press the Enter key ÄÙ. 

 See chapter 9 for complete details.
.26
DEFRAG_HELP2
 What Is The "Sort By" Option?

   *  This option sets the criterion used by Disk Technician
      Gold to order files during defragmenting. There are
      five options:

      *  If you choose "Name," files are sorted by name,
         alphabetically. This is the default selection.

      *  If you choose "Date & Time," files are sorted
         according to the date and time (based on your
         system's DOS clock) they were created or last
         modified.

      *  If you choose "Size," files are sorted according to
         the number of bytes they contain.

      *  If you choose "Extension," files are sorted
         according to their three letter file extensions
         (for example, .BAT).

 How To Continue With The Defragmenting Operation:

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the "Sort by
      Name" default selection and continue.

      Or, use the arrow keys   or your mouse to
      select "Date & Time," "Size" or "Extension." When
      you have made your choice, press the Enter key
      ÄÙ to continue.

 See chapter 9 for complete details.
.27
DEFRAG_HELP3
 What Is The "Sort Order" Option?

   *  This option sets the order in which the defragmented
      files will be arranged on the drive. This function
      will vary according to the "Sort by" criterion you
      select. There are two modes:

      *  If you choose "Ascending" (the default selection),
         files are arranged:

         *  In ASCII order for "Name" and "Extension" sorts.
            (The ASCII Character Set includes numerals and
            other symbols in addition to the alphabet. For
            example, a file named "12345" would come before
            a file named "ABCDE.")

         *  Chronologically, from earliest to latest, for
            "Date & Time" sorts.

         *  From smallest to largest for "Size" sorts.

      *  If you choose "Descending," files are arranged:

         *  In reverse ASCII order for "Name" and
            "Extension" sorts.

         *  Chronologically, from latest to earliest, for
            "Date & Time" sorts.

         *  From largest to smallest for "Size" sorts.

 How To Continue With The Defragmenting Operation:

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the "Sort order:
      Ascending" default selection and continue.

      Or, use the arrow keys   or your mouse to select
      "Ascending" or "Descending."  When you have made your
      choice, press the Enter key ÄÙ to continue.

 See chapter 9 for complete details.
.28
DEFRAG_HELP4
 What Is The "Programs 1st" Option?

   *  This option places all files with .COM, .EXE and .BAT
      extensions in front of other files -- that is, nearest
      to track 0 -- on your hard disk. These files are
      typically used to execute programs, so there may be an
      advantage to placing them first.

 Should You Use The "Programs 1st" Option?

   *  Yes, if you tend to work with several different
      applications during a typical work session.

   *  No, If you tend to work primarily with a single
      application.

 How To Continue With The Defragmenting Operation:

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the "Programs 1st:
      Yes" default selection and continue.

      Or, use the arrow keys   or your mouse to select
      "Yes" or "No."  When you have made your choice, press
      the Enter key ÄÙ to continue.

 See chapter 9 for complete details.
.29
DEFRAG_HELP5
   *  Use the arrow keys   to select the Speed or Safe
      testing mode, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to begin
      Defragmenting.

 What Is The Speed Mode?

   *  We've named it the "Speed" mode because it is about
      2-5 times faster than the "Safe" mode (also called
      "failsafe architecture").

   *  During Speed Mode operations, the file (or portion of
      the file) in the area being defragmented is written to
      unoccupied disk space, then the FAT and directory are
      updated with the new location.

   *  This process continues until all of the files on the
      hard disk have been rearranged in the order you
      specified.

   The risk in using the Speed mode is that if a power
   failure were to occur when the FAT and/or directory were
   being updated, the affected file's new location would be
   lost. Worst case? The FAT or directory itself could be
   corrupted and you would lose all data on the drive.

 So Why Is "Speed" The Default Mode?

   We have made the Speed Mode our default selection
   because:

   *  Chances of a power failure are statistically VERY
      slight and the amount of data that would be affected
      is minimal.

   *  Virtually none of the other programs you use have any
      form of protection in the event of power failure.

      If you are in an area subject to power failure,
      brownouts, etc., you should get an Uninterruptible
      Power Supply (UPS).

   *  The Speed Mode is 2-5 times faster than the Safe Mode.

 What Is The Safe Mode?

   If you need the ultimate assurance against data loss
   during Defragmenting, we recommend that you use the Safe
   Mode (also called "failsafe architecture.")

   *  Before Disk Technician Gold relocates a file, it first
      saves a copy of the current FAT and root directory.

   *  In the event of a power failure (and while your system
      is rebooting), Disk Technician Gold sees the corrupted
      FAT or directory and repairs it.

   *  Thus, the data is never at risk in the event of a
      power failure, even if the power fails while the
      File Allocation Table (FAT) or directory is being
      updated.

   *  Please remember, though, that the Safe Mode takes
      2-5 times longer than the Speed Mode.

 See chapter 9 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Modify Screen Attributes
.!============================================================================
.50
Title 70
 Use this menu to change the colors and other attributes of
 Disk Technician Gold's screens, menus and windows.

   *  Use the arrow keys  to select the screen or window
      you wish to modify, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to
      continue. Another pull-down menu will appear with an
      index of the changes available for the selected screen
      or window.

   *  Press the Esc (Escape) key to go back to the
      previous screen.

   *  Press the F10 key to quit and return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.51
Title 71
 This menu is an index of the customizable attributes for
 the menu, screen or window you have selected.

   *  Use the arrow keys  to select the attribute you wish
      to modify, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to continue.
      The selected attribute will appear in a window at the
      right of the screen. Each attribute has a predefined
      number of variations.

   *  Use the arrow keys   to browse through the
      attribute variations until the attribute displayed in
      the sample window meets with your approval. Then press
      the Enter key ÄÙ to accept your change.

   *  If you wish to cancel your changes, pressing the
      F2 key will restore ALL attributes to the original
      factory default selections.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return
      to the Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return
      to the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Change Pop-up Screen Indicator
.!============================================================================
.55
Title 82
   *  Use this selection to reposition the pop-up screen
      indicator which appears when the Error Detector has
      been triggered by the hard disk activity of your other
      programs.

   *  The pop-up screen indicator will not appear in
      graphical environments such as Windows, GEM, etc.
      However, the Error Detector will continue to operate
      in the background.

      *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ or "M" to go to the "Move
         Location" screen. Or, press the Esc (Escape) key to
         go back to the previous screen, or the F10 key to
         return to the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.56
Title 83
 The screen is displaying where the Error Detector pop-up
 screen indicator was last located (usually in the upper
 right-hand corner, the factory-default setting).

   *  Use the arrow keys  to move the indicator to the
      screen location of your choice, then press the Enter
      key ÄÙ to accept the change.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return to the
      Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.57

   *  Use this selection to turn the Error Detector's pop-up
      screen indicator ON or OFF.

   *  If the pop-up indicator appears and then refuses to
      disappear, it does not mean that anything is wrong
      with your program or the Error Detector. It is simply
      the way the particular program you are working in
      was designed.

      If this situation bothers you, simply turn the Error
      Detector's pop-up indicator off. Doing so will not
      affect Error Detector operations.

      Turning the pop-up screen indicator OFF will not
      affect the operation of the audio signal (a short
      beep) which sounds when the Error Detector hot key
      is pressed.

   *  The pop-up screen indicator will not appear in
      graphical environments such as Windows, GEM, etc.
      However, the Error Detector will continue to operate
      in the background.

 How To Turn The Pop-Up Screen Indicator ON or OFF:

   *  Use the arrow keys   to reverse the ON or OFF
      setting, then press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept
      your change.

   *  To cancel this operation, press the Esc (Escape)
      key to go back to the previous screen.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return
      to the Main Menu, or press the F10 key to quit
      and return to the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Erase Databank
.!============================================================================
.60
Title 87
 The window displays all the drives in your system that Disk
 Technician Gold has previously tested, and for which a
 Databank test history exists.

 Because the Databank information is so important, you will
 be asked to make a deliberate "Yes" or "No" decision to
 erase the test history for each drive you highlight.

   *  Use the arrow keys  or click on your mouse to
      highlight individual drives.

   *  For each drive you highlight, press "Y" if you want to
      erase that drive's Databank information, or "N" if you
      do not.

      WARNING! If you erase the Databank test history, all
      data from previous Disk Technician Gold tests will be
      permanently deleted for each drive selected. Please be
      sure it is really necessary before proceeding.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept your selections.

   *  To cancel this operation, press the Esc (Escape) key.
      You may also press the F10 key to quit and return to
      the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.61

 Selecting "No" to the prompt "Erase test history Databank
 selected" cancels the operation and returns you to the
 previous screen.

   *  If you are SURE you want to erase the test history
      for each selected drive, press "Y" or use the arrow
      keys   to highlight "Yes," then press the Enter
      key ÄÙ.

   *  To quit and return to the Main Menu, press the Esc
      (Escape) key, or press the F10 key to quit and return
      to the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.62

 WARNING! If you erase the Databank, all data from previous
 Disk Technician Gold tests will be permanently deleted.
 Please be sure it is really necessary before proceeding.

 When Should You Erase The Databank?

   *  Normally? Never. The Databank contains the entire test
      history of your hard disk, refined over the entire
      time you have been running Disk Technician Gold.

      Thus, the older your Databank is, the more valuable it
      is to the expert system in making smarter decisions,
      predictions, etc.

      However, the Databank information is always specific
      to an individual system. For example, you would not
      want error information from old drive "A" to apply to
      new drive "B."

      Therefore, whenever a major component of the hard disk
      system is changed, you should erase the Databank.
      There are three situations that apply:

      *  If you have replaced your hard disk. (Assuming you
         have backed-up the data from the old hard disk,
         including Disk Technician Gold programs and files,
         and then restored this data to the new hard disk.)

         NOTE: It is NOT necessary to erase the Databank
         when adding an additional drive to your system.

      *  If you change controllers.

      *  If you move the hard disk to another machine.
         (This is, in effect, the same as changing
         controllers).

 To Erase The Databank Information From The Drive(s) You
 Have Selected:

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ. If you wish to cancel this
      operation, press the Esc (Escape) key.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return
      to the Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return
      to the DOS prompt.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Virus detector parameters
.!============================================================================
.65
Title 89
 The window is displaying up to 20 file types (extensions)
 registered with Disk Technician Gold's Virus Detector.

 How To Change, Add Or Delete File Types (Extensions):

   *  Use the arrow keys  or click on your mouse to
      highlight any occupied or unoccupied Extension space.

   *  Type in any three letter file extension (for example,
      BAT). If the space already contains a file extension,
      it will be overwritten by your new entry. You can also
      use the Delete (Del) key to edit entries.

   *  Repeat the process until all the file extensions you
      wish to register have been entered.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return to the
      Main Menu, or press the F10 key to return to the DOS
      prompt.

 See chapters 5 and 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! Specify Hot Keys
.!============================================================================
.70
Title 91
   *  The default hot key combination for the Error
      Detector screen symbol is the "Alt" and "A" keys.

   *  The default hot key combination for the Virus
      Detector screen symbol is the "Alt" and "B" keys.

 When you press either of these hot key combinations
 simultaneously, you will hear a short beep and see the
 corresponding symbol displayed in the upper righthand
 corner of your screen -- unless you are in a graphics mode,
 in which case the symbol will not appear.

 You may change hot key combinations, provided you follow
 these three rules:

   *  The first key in the combination must be either the
      "Alt" or "Ctrl" key.

   *  The second key in the combination can be any "A"
      through "Z" key you wish.

   *  The hot key combinations must be different for the
      Error Detector and Virus Detector screen symbols.

 To Change Hot Key Combinations:

   *  Use the arrow keys   to highlight the hot key
      combination you wish to change.

   *  Press and hold down the "Alt" or "Ctrl" key as the
      first key in the combination.

   *  While continuing to hold down the "Alt" or "Ctl" key,
      press any A-Z key as the second key in the
      combination. Then release both keys.

   *  Press the Enter key ÄÙ to accept the changes.

   *  When you have finished, press any key to return to the
      Main Menu.

 See chapter 11 for complete details.
.!============================================================================
.! That's All!
.!============================================================================
.End
