PC tools

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PC tools

PC Tools 1.10.png
Screenshot PC Tools 1.10
Basic data

developer Central Point software
Current  version NT Tools 1.0
(1996)
operating system PC DOS , MS-DOS & compatibles , Windows 3.x & NT
category Utility
License proprietary
German speaking Yes

The PC Tools were a compilation of programs from Central Point Software originally for DOS . The functionality included, among other things, the detection and correction of errors in the file system , the recovery of deleted files as well as means for system optimization and system backup.

scope

The collection added functions that were not included with the DOS operating system . With MS-DOS 6.0 / PC DOS 6.1, Microsoft and IBM have licensed parts of the PC Tools and integrated them into the operating system.

The last version available for DOS was PC Tools Pro 9.0. There was also a version of PC Tools for Windows which, in addition to the corresponding Windows variants of the programs known from the DOS version, also contained an improved file manager and a replacement for the Windows 3.1 program manager . The replacement of the program manager was revolutionary. Long before Windows 95 , the PC Tools desktop manager offered many features that were later introduced with Windows 95, such as: B. the possibility to create folders in folders, manage different desktops, different display modes for different folders (list, details, small icons etc.).

history

PC tools for DOS

version publication Remarks
1.0 1985
1.1 1985
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
5.1
5.5
6.0 PC Shell as an alternative to ViewMAX & DOS Shell with fax module (timer, and mail merge ) dBASE III compatible database, PC cache with write cache, Diskfix
7.0 05/1991 PC shell modularized, Windows support; Global SAA compatible surface , commute, network utilities, system info, virus scanner , context-sensitive graphical help, DM, disk light, COMPRESS
7.01 06/09/1991 bugfix
7.1 03/10/1992 Bug fixes, Windows support for PC cache
8.0 Windows programs removed, drag and drop , full Windows support for PC cache, e-mail module in the fax program, full CPAV version, task switching in PC shell, RAMBoost, PC shell renamed and expanded in PC Tools Desktop, extensive network Support, DriveMap, creation of an emergency disk
8.0a Adjustments to MS-DOS 6.0 / PC DOS 6.1, RAMBoost also works with Helix Netroom
9.0 PRO View extended, ...
More PC Tools Mixed version of DOS and Windows version - already completed parts of V 10

PC Tools for Windows

version publication Remarks
1.0 first version for Windows - CP Backup and CPAV were already available in Windows versions and were integrated
2.0
More PC Tools Mixed version of DOS & Windows version (already completed parts of V 3)
NT Tools 1.0 Version for Windows NT (already from Symantec )

Integration in DOS

With MS-DOS 6.0 ( Microsoft ) or PC DOS 6.1 ( IBM ), some programs were licensed by the manufacturer of PC Tools, Central Point Software , and integrated into the operating system themselves.

NT tools

PC Tools have not made the leap into the 32-bit age. The company Central Point Software was established in June 1994 - a few months before the release of Windows 95 from their biggest competitor - Symantec bought up. Symantec is best known for its Norton Utilities . In a revised form, Symantec (essentially: extended to include FTP, various renaming, * .Pak writing removed, new version of Sfx ) the file manager and the crashguard renamed Systemdoktor to Windows NT and together with the Norton program system information as Norton NT Tools (for Windows NT 3.51) sold. There was no further development and so the programs of the NT tools no longer work completely under Windows 2000 (NT 5.0).

Modules

DOS

  • PC shell - alternative to ViewMAX or DOS shell with file viewer, task switching , lap link support & DOS command line, user interface with multi-level menus, 43/50 line display, better support for hotkeys and extended dialog boxes, scientific calculator ( HP- 16C emulation), renamed to PC Tools Desktop with V 8.0 .
  • Mirror - command line tool that u. a. a backup of the file allocation table applies in conjunction with Unformat the chances of recovery increases - part of MS-DOS and PC DOS version 5.0
  • RAMBoost - automatic optimization of the conventional memory (supports EMM386.EXE , 386MAX , QEMM386 & Netroom , no load high and device high instructions or load addresses in CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT , since information is saved in RAMBOOST.INI). Emergency floppy disk can be created - part of PC DOS version 6.1 or higher without an emergency floppy disk
  • PC cache
  • CPAV - antivirus
  • Commute - remote control program
  • DiskEdit - Hex Editor
  • Unformat - utility for undoing accidental formatting
  • Compress - defragmentation
  • DiskLight - mimics a hard disk LED on the screen
  • FileFix - repairs files from database , word processing & spreadsheet programs popular in the USA
  • SysInfo - system information utility with diagnostics
  • Desktop - dBase III compatible improved database, fax module with e-mail function & mail merge function, graphical user interface
  • FileFind - for conveniently finding files

DOS & Windows

  • CP Backup (before V 7.0 PC backup) - Backup utility with support for floppy disks, hard drives, & streamers ( QIC & SCSI ) & compression
  • DiskFix - extended CHKDSK with GUI
  • Undelete - recovery of deleted files (Windows from V 2.0 integrated in the file manager)

Windows

  • Central Point Desktop (CPS) - alternative Windows desktop shell
  • File manager ( Xtree )
  • System info - system information utility with diagnostics & repair options for Windows problems

Others

In 2004 the Australian company WinGuides Network renamed itself PC Tools Pty Limited and offered various system and security programs for Windows. But these have nothing in common with the original PC tools from Central Point. In August 2008, the takeover by Symantec was announced. In addition to the previous products (Norton), Symantec now also offers products under the name PC Tools (e.g. PC Tools Internet Security).