                                Central Point 
                          PC Tools for Windows 1.0
                              by W. Seth Carus

     One of the oldest utility programs around is PC Tools, a product of
     Central Point Software.  The DOS version of PC Tools, now available
     in version 8, has long been praised for its rich variety of features,
     including disk caching, high quality disk backup, an anti-virus 
     program, and data recovery tools.

     In the previous version of PC Tools, Central Point included a number
     of Windows applications (dropped from the version 8), which heralded
     the eventual release of PC Tools for Windows, the most recent member
     of the family.

     As a long-time user of PC Tools, and a recent convert to Windows,
     it was inevitable that I would purchase the new Windows version of
     the program.  However, I must admit to certain doubts about loading
     it on to my hard disk.  Central Point has been responsible on 
     occasion for releasing programs before they were ready to go out the 
     door (the original edition of Version 7 was notoriously bad).  Given 
     how easily Windows can be screwed up by programs that make changes 
     to INI files,  I was more than a little skeptical about this new 
     release.  Fortunately, my concerns have been allayed by the high 
     quality of this product, which is a major and extremely useful 
     addition to my array of Windows programs.

     PC Tools for Windows duplicates most of the functions of the DOS 
     version, but with several major exceptions.  Three utility programs 
     are omitted: PC-Cache, a disk caching program; Commute, a program 
     that allows you to control computers accessible through a modem; and 
     RAMBOOST, a program that efficiently manages memory.  This follows 
     the unfortunate example set by Symantec with its Norton Desktop for 
     Windows, which left out some of the key features of Norton Utilities.  
     In addition, the program lacks many of the Desktop applications 
     included in the DOS version of the program, which includes a data 
     base, communications program, appointment scheduler, and calculators.

     The program does come equipped with one of the best arrays of 
     Windows utilities now available, including hard disk backup, 
     anti-virus protection, file viewers, recovery of deleted files, a 
     DISKFIX program to repair some hard disk problems, an icon editor, 
     a scripting program for automating tasks under Windows, and about a 
     dozen other programs of various kinds. In addition, two disks filled 
     with DOS utilities are provided to permit restoration of a system 
     when Windows is not functioning.  To aid in this process, Central 
     Point makes it extremely easy to create an Emergency Recovery disk.

     All of the utilities appear to be of high quality, although I have
     not had a chance to extensively work with more than a few.  The 
     Backup program is improved over the one in Version 7 of PC Tools.  
     It incorporates a few new features, including an integrated file 
     viewer that makes it possible to look at a file before deciding 
     whether or not to include it in a save set.  The major improvements, 
     however, appear to be performance enhancements.  The program works 
     incredibly smoothly and quickly, and is a real winner.

     Some of the programs appear to be significantly better than anything
     else available.  For example, the disk compression program will work
     within Windows, and does not have to exit to DOS like most other 
     similar utilities.  It is smart enough to recognize open files, and 
     will not move them.

     The "System Consultant" included in the package looks to be far
     better than the comparable feature included in Norton Desktop for
     Windows.  The System Consultant not only provides detailed 
     information about your system, but also gives useful advice on 
     improving its configuration. For example, it noticed that my system 
     did not have a TEMP subdirectory for Windows, even though I had a 
     SET command in my AUTOEXEC.BAT for it.

     There is also a file synchronization utility, which automatically
     makes sure that all the files contained in an origination directory
     are also found in the target directory.  At the same time, older 
     versions of files are updated by the latest version, making the 
     program a useful way of backing up particular directories.

     An example of the depth of the program is the file deletion utility,
     which includes three different methods of deleting files.  Safe 
     Delete saves the contents of a deleted file, so that it can be 
     recovered later by using the undelete program.  Wipe Delete 
     writes zeros over the file, so that it cannot be recovered.  And, 
     DOD Delete provides secure erasure by writing over a deleted file 
     three times with hexadecimal FF and 00 characters, and then 
     concludes by writing over everything with hexadecimal F6s.

     The most obvious new feature incorporated into the package is its
     Desktop.  Like Norton Desktop for Windows, the PC Tools for Windows
     Desktop is considerably more flexible than the one included in the
     Windows Program Manager.  Central Point,however, has gone far beyond
     the Norton product by making it possible to create multiple desktops,
     all of which can be loaded into memory at the same time.  Each 
     Desktop can have its own complement of folders and program icons, 
     making it possible to define Desktops devoted to particular 
     activities.

     Included in Desktop is a utility, called Multidesk, which shows 
     thumbnail sketches of the different desktops available (this program 
     can be deactivated if it becomes too intrusive).  What is remarkable 
     about these thumbnail sketches is the extent to which they monitor 
     what is going on with the computer.  If you have a particular 
     application up and running and it is occupying a spot on the desktop, 
     the thumbnail sketch will accurately reflect its position.  If you 
     move the mouse cursor over the sketch, it will identify the 
     application and the names of any icons or open windows that it 
     passes over.

     Whether or not you find the Desktop of value will depend on how you
     use Windows.  I found almost immediately that it made it much easier
     to access programs without creating a lot of clutter.  Some of my
     fondness may result from the ease of switching from one Desktop to
     another.  A click on the thumbnail sketch of the desktop will move
     you to that Desktop. There is also a drop-down menu above the menu
     bar at the top of the screen.  It lists all the available desktops,
     and allows easy movement from one to another.  In addition, there
     are at least four other ways of moving to another desktop, 
     reflecting the flexibility built into the program.

     This new Windows version of PC Tools is a real winner.  Anyone using
     Windows should take a serious look at it.