Norton Utilities: Ready for Windows 95
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1995. First
published in Our Computer Player July 1995
Windows 95 isn't on sale in stores yet, but it already
has almost half
a million registered users-- 50,000 beta testers, and 400,000 people
who
paid Microsoft $30 each for the priviledge to try out a Preview
version.
And since both sorts of users can legally try out the software on
several
machines, there are easily a million machines using this operating
system,
before it's even been officially released.
Win95 carries on a tradition, started by Microsoft
with DOS 5, of including
a number of vital disk-safety utilities. The System Tools menu includes
updated versions of the Defragmenter and ScanDisk utilities that have
been
included in recent versions of MS DOS. These new versions do a good
job,
and as 32-bit Win32 programs, work quite happily in the background. As
well, the Recycle Bin lets users easily recover files deleted from
Win95's
Explorer.
Still, like the utilities included in earlier versions
of DOS, these
provide fewer features than are typically available in commercial
utilities
packages... for example, the Recycle Bin isn't aware of files that are
deleted in DOS or by other Windows applications.
While packages like the Norton Utilities or PC Tools
provide users with
much more power, the currently available versions of these utilities
shouldn't
be used with Win95; they're not aware of Win95's long file names, and
can
cause damage to these.
Shortly after Microsoft began distributing the 400,000
Preview copies
of Windows 95, Symantec, the company that now produces both the Norton
Utilities and PC Tools, announced a similar program. For $30 (US),
Win95
users can get a fully functional Norton Utilities Preview. This sets up
the interesting situation of running a beta-copy of this application on
a beta-copy of the operating system... certainly a situation with the
potential
for real problems.
Despite this potential, the Norton Utilities Preview
seems both full-featured
and solid. It makes use of the Windows 95 Control Panel's 'Add/Remove
New
Software' feature-- doing so lets Win95 keep track of the installation,
making it a one-button uninstall possible. A full install requires 13
megs,
divided between DOS and Windows 95 versions of the key utilities. As
well,
two emergency disks are provided, in case of problems that prevent
access
to the hard disk.
Symantec suggests running an included pre-installation
TuneUp program,
before installing either Windows 95 or the Norton utilities... this
runs
DOS-versions of Norton Disk Doctor, Norton Diagnostics, and Speed Disk,
and a new Space Wizard program to clean up your system before
installation.
With Windows 95 being touted as a DOS-less operating
system, users may
wonder why 4 megs of DOS-based utilities are installed. Symantec
suggests
that these can be used in case of problems where the computer can be
booted
to a DOS prompt, but not to the Windows 95 user interface; thus
utilities
such as Disk Doctor, and Rescue Disk Recover are included. As well, a
few
of the utilities, such as the classic Disk Editor and Norton
Diagnostics
only exist in DOS versions... if you attempt to run them from the Win95
interface, you're told that your computer must be run in Single Session
MS-DOS mode. When you quit the programs, you are automatically returned
to Win95.
The new Windows versions of the classic Norton
Utilities, Norton Disk
Doctor and SpeedDisk, resemble the previous version, but now they
support
Win95's long file names. As well, they do a better job working in the
background,
and as 32-bit programs, seem to run a bit faster.
System Information uses a new interface similar to
Win95's Registry
to show a tremedous amount of information about your hardware, as well
as providing benchmarking, comparing your system to several standards,
ranging from a 386SX16 to a Pentium-90. My 486-66, for example, tested
as half as powerful as the Pentium-90, but about 11 times as powerful
as
the 386SX... I think I prefer the old DOS version, which rated it as
110
times as powerful as an original IBM-PC!
As well, there are several new utilities. System
Doctor gives a small
panel, resembling Dashboard. A set of dials report on your computer:
disk
and CPU usage, disk integrity, and so forth-- it's easily customized to
show the information you want to see. If it detects a problem, it can
alert
you, or be preset to try to fix it automatically, using other Norton
tools.
Space Wizard looks for unneeded files: temporary or
duplicate files,
or files that haven't been accessed for a user-determined period of
time.
It provides a list, suggesting these be deleted, compressed, or
archived.
Info Desk uses the enhanced Win95 Help system to
provide ondisk information
about the utilities... with the Preview, it's virtually the only
documentation
provided, though I suspect Symantec will include more comprehensive
manuals
with the release version.
As well, these utilities enhance the Win95 Recycle
Bin, with two tools,
the Norton Protected Recycle Bin, and an UnErase Wizard. Together,
these
can be set up to provide several features missing in the standard
Recycle
Bin. For example, now files deleted at the DOS prompt, or by other
Windows
programs can now be recovered. As well, users can choose to have the
enhanced
Recycle Bin automatically purge files after a set number of days.
In addition, there are several more minor utilities
(at least until
you need them!)-- Image saves extra copies of your drives' FAT tables,
making it easier to repair problems. Rescue Disk creates a bootable
disk
with backup copies of critical files... this disk can be used to
restore
these files in an emergency. In both cases, Norton System Doctor will
warn
you if the Image or Rescue Disks need to be updated.
Many computer users have been relying on either the
Norton Utilities
or PC Tools for years; both programs have grown from limited DOS
origins.
With both packages now owned by Syamantec, I suspect that only a single
package will be released for Win95; the Norton Utilities. PC Tools fans
will find, however, that it has more influence over an upcoming
replacement
for both the Norton Desktop and Central Point Desktop... a separate
package,
to enhance Win95's desktop interface.
As well, while PC Tools has always had a reputation
for including virtually
every imaginable utility in a single package, the Norton peopel have
tended
to prefer to market several separate programs. You won't find any
anti-virus
software here... a big lack, since none is provided by Microsoft,
either.
Symantec is currently beginning beta-testing of a Win95 version of the
Norton Anti-Virus... a separate program. Similarly, there is no
replacement
for the Windows 95 Backup.
Even in its Preview version, the Norton Utilities work
well, and provide
enhancements that many Windows 95 users will welcome. These users will
welcome the added security against disk disasters, and will be pleased
that they can migrate to Windows 95 without losing the protection of
the
Norton Utilities.
However, the System Tools accessories built into
Windows 95 have also
matured... and other users will feel like these 'free' tools provide
ample-enough
protection.
But if you're one of those people who like the
confidence provided by
wearing both belt and suspenders, if you get Windows 95, you'll find
the
new Norton Utilities a must-get.
The Norton Utilities Preview Edition for the Windows
95 Preview Program
is available for $30 through June 30, 1995 by calling 1-800-453-1190,
extension
NU95.