Diagnostics
Unlike disk
scanners and defraggers, diagnostics utilities aren't essential--and that's
a relief, because the programs we tested all failed to find, much less fix,
problems with our computer. We looked at the diagnostic abilities of Norton
Utilities and Nuts & Bolts, as well as two programs (BCM Diagnostics and
CheckIt 5.0) that check only hardware, and two (First Aid 98 and RealHelp
Extra Strength) that integrate hardware and software diagnostics. None did
well enough to merit Best Buy status.
To evaluate hardware diagnostics,
we came up with two entirely plausible problems. First we plugged in two conflicting
sound cards. Then we installed a floppy drive with bent connector pins. During
testing, we discovered an inadvertent third problem--our PC incorrectly thought
a Zip drive was installed. To test each program's software-diagnosing skills,
we created two Windows Registry errors: We hid an .exe file that Windows uses
at start-up, and we botched the Registry entry for 1-2-3's map templates.
| SUMMARY |  |
|
BCM
Diagnostics
PRO: Quick, simple, inexpensive.
CON: Tends to crash, caught no problems.
BCM Advanced Research
800/753-0526
www.bcmgvc.com
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This shareware Control Panel look-alike
is fast, cheap (the registration fee is $25), and easy to use; but it's also
limited. It froze when confronted with the two conflicting sound cards, and
it deemed our damaged floppy drive simply 'not ready.' The same thing could
be said of BCM Diagnostics.
| SUMMARY | |
|
CheckIt 5.0
PRO: Found one problem that most other programs missed.
CON: Failed to identify any of our test problems, confusing
interface.
TouchStone Software
714/969-7746
www.touchstonesoftware.com
|
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When you launch CheckIt 5.0, you'll probably see the
message 'You Have a Problem.' Sadly, one problem is that you're using CheckIt.
The $50 utility couldn't handle the sound-card conflict. And like every other
program here, it saw the damaged A: drive as empty. To be fair, CheckIt found
the missing Zip drive, but its recommendation wasn't very helpful.
| SUMMARY | |
|
Discover Pro/Registry Wizard (Nuts & Bolts)
PRO: Less expensive than Norton Utilities.
CON: Missed every problem we tested.
Network Associates
408/988-3832
www.nai.com
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In many areas, such as
file handling, Nuts & Bolts beats Norton Utilities. But Nuts & Bolts'
diagnostics tool, Discover Pro, is as inept as Norton Diagnostics at detecting
hardware glitches. We also tried the package's Registry Wizard to see if it
could find either software problem (both in the Registry); it found 79 "orphans"
(Registry references to files, folders, and programs that aren't there), but
none we had planted. If you need hard-core diagnostics, skip the $40 Nuts &
Bolts.
| SUMMARY | |
|
First Aid 98 Deluxe
PRO: Hardware and Windows diagnostics in one.
CON:
Didn't find any of the test problems.
CyberMedia
800/721-7824
www.cybermedia.com
|
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For $40, First Aid 98 Deluxe combines hardware
and Windows diagnostics in one program with one Check-Up button. Too bad it
missed all of our test problems. Like CheckIt, it did find the unintended
Zip drive problem; unlike CheckIt, it suggested fixes. It doesn't test floppy
drives but does discuss them in its hard-to-find knowledge base. Finally,
it noted neither Registry error.
| SUMMARY | |
|
Norton Diagnostics/WinDoctor (Norton Utilities)
PRO: Found and fixed one Registry orphan.
CON: Very weak hardware diagnostics.
Symantec Corp.
800/441-7234
www.symantec.com
|
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Norton Utilities includes
separate hardware and software diagnostics tools. Norton Diagnostics (the
hardware part) is a complete clunker; WinDoctor (software) is the best of
a sorry lot. Norton Diagnostics failed to see our sound-card conflict and
concluded that the misinstalled drive was empty. WinDoctor found and fixed
the hidden .exe file but didn't notice our other Registry flaw. If you already
own the package, stick with it, but don't pay $79 for its diagnostics alone.
| SUMMARY | |
|
RealHelp Extra Strength 1.0
PRO: Diagnoses hardware and Windows.
CON: Failed
most of the tests.
Quarterdeck
800/683-6696
www.quarterdeck.com
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Like First Aid, the $60 RealHelp Extra Strength 1.0
integrates hardware and Windows diagnostics. Unlike First Aid, RealHelp noted
our sound-card and floppy problems. But it didn't offer workable solutions:
It reported the damaged floppy drive as empty, and its Find-A-Fix knowledge
base had nothing helpful to offer. It failed to see the missing Zip drive.
Like Norton's WinDoctor, it fixed our hidden .exe file but missed the orphaned
1-2-3 folder.
