PC Tools

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For the Windows Software Suite and software developer, see PC Tools (Windows software suite).

PC Tools was a collection of software utilities from Central Point Software. In June 1994 Central Point was acquired by their top competitor Symantec who ultimately discontinued the product line. PC Tools was the main competitor to Norton Utilities. The original PC Tools package was first developed as a suite of utilities for DOS. With the introduction of version 4.0, the name was changed to PC Tools Deluxe, and the primary interface became a colorful graphical DOS shell (previously the DOS shell looked like PC BOSS and was monochrome.) By version 7.0 of the package in 1991 several Windows programs had been added to it. Though the 7.0 version sold well, it was blasted in computer trade publications for being overly complicated and riddled with bugs. It was widely considered to have been rushed to publication, despite the objections of many of Central Point Software's employees.[citation needed] PC Tools Version 6.x for DOS was last stable release.

Utilities in the package included:

  • PC Shell — a file manager, capable amongst other things of displaying the contents of data files used by various popular database, wordprocessor, and spreadsheet packages
  • PC-Cache — a licensed disk cache of HyperCache from the HyperDisk Speed Kit
  • Central Point AntiVirus — an antivirus program.
  • Central Point Backup — a backup utility for archiving and restoring data to and from disc or tape. In earlier releases, this utility was officially named "PC Backup". Inovative features, at least for the late 80's, included compression during backup and floppy disk spanning, and optional use of the Central Point Option Board for 33% faster disk writing.
  • DiskFix — a utility for repairing on-disc filesystem data structures of a disc volume
  • Unformat — a utility that attempts to reverse the effects of a high-level format of a disc volume
  • Undelete — a utility that attempts to recover a deleted file
  • Mirror — a tool for storing the File Allocation Table to permit recovery of high-level formatted disks in combination with Unformat
  • Compress — a disc volume defragmentation utility
  • FileFix — a utility for repairing corruption to the data files used by various popular database, wordprocessor, and spreadsheet packages
  • Commute — a remote control utility
  • VDefend — a memory-resident computer virus detection utility
  • SysInfo — a system information utility, incorporating diagnostics from 1993 onwards. The diagnostics were licensed from the Eurosoft product Pc-Check
  • Central Point Desktop (CPS) — an alternative MS Windows desktop shell, supporting nested icon groups, powerful file manager, resource monitoring dashboard, virtual desktops, launch menus and many other features.

The Mirror, Undelete, and Unformat utilities were licensed by Central Point to Microsoft for inclusion in MS-DOS version 5.0. Central Point Anti-Virus and VDefend were licensed as Microsoft AntiVirus and VSafe, respectively, in MS-DOS versions 6.0 through 6.22.

[edit] References

  • Tony Roberts (1991). "PC Tools 7.0". Compute! 134 (October): 174. 
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