twb@hoqax.UUCP (T.W. Beattie) (02/05/89)
I found this on MFTBBS, Metuchen N.J. - (201) 494-8306
I hadn't seen it posted yet so here it is.
Tom.
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From: Peter Norton
To: All Norton Utilities 4.5 Users
This responds to all our users who have indicated they have
problems with the latest Version 4.5 of the Norton
Utilities. Most of the complaints have concentrated on the
Norton Disk Doctor, specifically, those involved with
running the Disk Doctor with partitioning schemes other than
straight vanilla DOS.
First, let us say that the initial release of the Disk
Doctor had a problem with third party partitioning software
when combined with specific hardware configurations. This
resulted in false reports of problems with a disk, with the
subsequent results many of you reported to us.
The 1/3/89 version corrected these problems. We have tested
this version with every known partitioning scheme,
including Golden Bow's Vfeature Deluxe, On-Track's Disk
Manager, Storage Dimension's SpeedStor, and Priam's
Partition Software. And while the Disk Doctor always gave
appropriate warnings and asked for user permission before
changing anything on the disk, we have added extra safety
precautions that make it doubly sure that a user will not
inadvertently press "Yes" when a "No" was the appropriate
answer.
It is important to note that NDD does not "erase" or
"destroy" data. Under certain partitioning schemes and
configurations, the Disk Doctor mistakenly changed those
bookkeeping records needed to access the data, NOT the data
itself.
Most users who have contacted us were walked
through the steps needed to put the appropriate bookkeeping
information (Partition Table or Boot Record) back into
place, hence allowing all data to be accessed again.
Other bugs corrected in the 1/3/89 version include:
1. LD /T
- Gave incorrect size results.
2. NDD
- Didn't work correctly with some third party
partioning software.
- Reported that the drive type was wrong when using
some third party cache software or partitioning
software.
3. NCC
- Would not allow the saving of the setup file if
one already existed.
- Would not work properly on some EGA display
adapters which did not allow the cursor emulation
to function correctly.
- Setting the Time/Date on some AT-class machines
would not function correctly.
4. INSTALL
- Didn't allow installation in the root directory of
the hard disk.
- If the PATH command was the first command in the
AUTOEXEC. BAT file, then INSTALL would not be able
to find it and would try to add another PATH
statement.
5. NI
- On some EGA adapters, a few of the programs would
not run or would hang the system.
6. SI
- Did not recognize IBM PS/2 Model 70 correctly.
- On some '286 computers, the Computing Index was
higher than on previous versions of the Norton
Utilities.
We have read all of your complaints about getting through to
tech support. Due to PNCI's explosive growth, we are
currently shortstaffed. PNCI is actively hiring more tech
support personnel and if you are interested, please let us
know. As for parties, please rest assured we do not go to
parties when there is work to be done. And yes, we do have
office parties--that's part of how we keep our morale and
team spirit so high.
If you have a technical question, please call (213) 319-
2020. Our customer service department has a list of all
people who have called requesting the maintenance release;
they began shipping January 13, 1989. If you have called
and haven't received your copy or know of anybody else who
needs an updated version, you can get them free by calling
(213) 319-2010. Please specify if you need 5 1/4 or 3 1/2
inch disks.
We would like to close by apologizing to all the users who
have had trouble with the DISK DOCTOR. Like everyone else,
sometimes we're in top form, sometimes we're not. This
particular piece of software is really quite revolutionary,
as it is the first ever program that not only diagnoses disk
problems, but reports them AND fixes them. Like any brand
new software, there were some bugs. We have now corrected
all problems reported to us. And if any new problems come
up we want you to let us know about them right away. We
appreciate your input--help us make our programs just as
good as they can be.
Peter Norton