Handy Tool Kit for Fixing Up Your PC
Just about everyone who owns a home, rides a bicycle or drives a car has a few tools handy to handle emergency repairs. The same should be true with your computer. You never know when you’ll need to “repair” a damaged disk or restore a file that was accidentally erased.
If you use an Apple Macintosh, I recommend the Norton Utilities for Macintosh from Symantec. The program can be a lifesaver if you’re ever unlucky enough to see a serious error message (sometimes represented as the Macintosh icon with a sad face) when you turn on your machine.
The company makes an equally useful MS-DOS version for IBM-compatible systems.
The newest version of Norton Utilities for the Macintosh (2.0) includes many features from the recently discontinued Symantec Utilities for the Macintosh.
Like the MS-DOS version of Norton Utilities, the Macintosh version can diagnose, and in many cases, repair damaged floppy and hard disks. It can also recover files that have been accidentally deleted or disks that have been erased. Think of it as data insurance for your Macintosh.
The new Macintosh version can also be used to encrypt files so that no one, including yourself, can read, print or edit them without the correct password. There are various levels of protection. If you use the highest security level, even the technicians at Symantec will not be able to bring back your data if you forget your password.
The program provides a number of other useful utilities. Directory Assistance II, for example, enhances the standard file-open and -save dialog boxes. It allows you to locate, view and delete files while you’re opening or saving a file. You can also create new folders or change the order in which you view file names. Another utility, Norton Partition, allows you to partition your hard disk so that it appears as if you have more than one disk. This can improve performance and make it easier for you to organize your programs and data.
The newest version also includes Norton Backup, which allows you to back up your files to floppy disks, external disk drives or network drives. It won’t work with tape backup systems, though. Another utility, Floppier, makes it easier and faster to copy floppy disks.
The most important utility is Norton Disk Doctor. That’s the program that automatically diagnoses and repairs damaged disks and files. It works with both floppy and hard disks and is used for both preventive maintenance and to recover data from damaged disks. I’ve used the IBM version to recover from a hard disk crash. Without it, I would have lost all of my data. This is the program to use if you ever get an error message instead of the usual display when you turn on your machine.
The Macintosh version of Norton Disk Doctor begins by determining whether the disk in question can be “mounted” so that it’s available for use. It then analyzes all the directories to make sure all the files are there. It fixes folders (directories) that won’t open and then looks for files that may be damaged. The program tells you about any problems it finds and, after asking you if it’s OK, proceeds to repair the damage.
My experience is that the program is effective at repairing problems. The Macintosh version also informs you if it finds files that may be infected by a virus. It does not have the capability to remove the virus, however. The company makes another product, Symantec AntiVirus for the Macintosh ($99), which locates, removes and prevents viruses.
The package also comes with a program called Speed Disk that can greatly improve the performance of your hard disk by “defragmenting” your files. Fragmentation occurs when you save files. If the operating system can’t find enough contiguous space for an entire file, it divides the file into little pieces, which it stores in various locations throughout the disk. Because the data is not contiguous, it takes the disk drive longer to locate portions of the file, decreasing overall system performance. Speed Disk automatically rearranges your disk so that all the files are contiguous, making it faster to access your files.
Norton Utilities for the Macintosh has a suggested retail price of $149. The MS-DOS version (6.01) costs $179. You can probably find them for less. Symantec, in Cupertino, Calif., can be reached at (800) 441-7234 or (408) 253-9600.
Computer File welcomes your comments but regrets that the author cannot respond individually to letters. Write to Lawrence J. Magid, P.O. Box 620477, Woodside, Calif. 94062, or contact the L. Magid account on the MCI electronic mail system.
