Read the detailed release news on Real Help. It sounds like a winner.
Quarterdeck Introduces REALHELP, An Instant Cure For PC Headaches
PR Newswire - November 03, 1997 08:09
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A New Generation of Smart Problem-Solving Software
That Prevents Problems Before They Start
REALHELP EXTRA STRENGTH BENEFITS
* Stops crashes and lets users save their work
* Diagnoses and fixes problems before a crash occurs
* Downloads the latest updates and patches for software and hardware
* Powerful anti-virus scan and repair with ViruSweep
* Quickly finds solutions to just about any PC problem
* Continuous system monitoring and problem resolution
* One-Year subscription to www.TuneUp.com online PC service station
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Quarterdeck Corporation
(Nasdaq: QDEK) charged to the forefront of PC problem resolution with the
announcement of REALHELP Extra Strength, a new generation in smart problem
solving software for Windows 95 users. Crashes, application freezes, and the
search for answers to PC problems are now available to stressed out users in a
single, powerful, yet easy to use product.
Unlike lazy products which idly sit by waiting for the user to run a
diagnostic test, REALHELP continuously checks for software conflicts using its
ActiveSystem monitoring to spot potential problems and to automatically fix
the problem, ensuring that the PC is always running at peak performance.
REALHELP also checks for and fixes hardware configuration conflicts. A wide
range of users -- home based, small business, corporate -- continue to
struggle with congested technical support lines, limited help and over-
burdened support departments. All of these users are looking for preventive
solutions that can offer them real help to detect PC conflicts and problems
and fix them on the spot.
According to Joseph Fusco, senior vice president of product and marketing
for Quarterdeck Corporation, "Users want one thing, to keep the PC running so
they can do their work without crashes, freezes, or any of the other
innumerable problems they have come to dread. REALHELP offers users a
solution that detects and fixes most Windows 95 conflicts before they become
serious problems, reducing PC downtime and, more importantly, potentially
preventing disastrous system crashes. Nothing is worse than working for hours
only to see your work disappear in the blink of a crash."
Valuable for both standalone and networked PC's, REALHELP is fast. It
executes diagnostic checks, offers solutions when repairs are needed, and
suggests ways to optimize system performance. Users can also take advantage
of REALHELP's Internet capabilities, including automatic updates in the Extra
Strength version - not just to REALHELP itself, but to many popular software
applications and hardware device drivers. Because viruses can cause many
problems, REALHELP integrates top quality virus detection and removal.
REALHELP Extra Strength also includes a one-year subscription to TuneUp.com,
Quarterdeck's online "service station" dedicated to 24-hour technical support.
"A user can't find a better problem solution value anywhere," said Gary
Ulaner, group product manager for Quarterdeck Corporation. "With its
automated problem resolution and prevention, anti-virus capabilities, industry
leading problem-searching technology, software and hardware driver updating,
and one-year subscription to TuneUp.com, users get an unmatched combination of
features for less than $60."
REALHELP PREVENTS PC PROBLEMS
Crash Prevention
Nothing is more aggravating than losing a document that took hours to
create. When the computer crashes or an application freezes, so does
productivity. REALHELP helps prevent costly downtime and loss of work by
heading-off system problems before they become serious.
Crash Defender
There are two common software problems that continue to frustrate users:
one is an application crash - resulting in the application suddenly shutting
down (infamous GPF's) taking all your work with it; the other is an
application freeze. In a freeze, the application remains on the screen but
won't respond to mouse clicks or keyboard commands. This leaves the user with
only one option - reboot and again lose all your work. REALHELP rescues users
from both of these problems with Crash Defender. Crash Defender saves users'
work by actively looking for 16- and 32-bit exception errors. Crash Defender
can intercept crashes and stabilize the application long enough to save work-
in-progress and normally exit the program. With its UnFreeze feature, Crash
Defender even reactivates those frozen applications that have locked up and
are not responding.
SMART Disk
A component of Service Manager, SMART Disk continuously monitors special
sensors built into the latest hard drives. Using these sensors, SMART Disk
alerts the user of critical problems with the hard drive in plenty of time to
allow a backup of important information and to fix the hard drive.
Hardware Diagnostics
Trouble-shooting hardware problems is easy with REALHELP's hardware
diagnostics. Using its years of hardware diagnostics experience, as
demonstrated in Quarterdeck's award-winning products such as WINProbe 95,
REALHELP identifies hardware glitches, allowing the user to take corrective
measures by protecting the PC against impending hardware failure. The screen
provides icons for all major hardware components, including modem, keyboard,
mouse, CD-ROM and sound. A click on a specific icon will run a check on that
peripheral. If the user wishes to check all hardware, a simple click on "Do
All" will facilitate the check.
REALHELP FINDS AND FIXES PC PROBLEMS
Full System Check
REALHELP is so intuitive and easy, novices can immediately use its
prevention capabilities. If the user has a problem and does not know which
feature to use, a simple mouse click on Full System Check will run a system
check for any known software conflicts, hardware configuration issues, Windows
95 configuration file problems, invalid shortcuts, missing files, incomplete
or entangled installations, virus checks and hard disk checks. REALHELP works
24-hours a day, automatically.
Conflict Detector
Conflict Detector profiles the PC and records a complete list of all
hardware and software. Utilizing REALHELP's comprehensive knowledge base of
more than 1,400 applications, Conflict Detector looks for conflicts between
Windows 95 and the systems' applications and hardware. It also looks for
missing files (static and dynamic DLL's) and incomplete installations. When
Conflict Detector encounters a conflict it will then provide an explanation of
the problem and offer solutions that can be implemented automatically or
manually. It can also be pre-set to scan at scheduled frequencies to help
ensure the system continues to be conflict free.
Vendor List - Technical Support Links
Vendor List, integrated with Conflict Detector, gives users easy access to
a database that provides information on software and hardware vendors that
offers technical support. Vendor List will provide the company's address,
phone number and URL. If the user would like to go to the manufacturer's home
page, a simple click on the URL will link to the site.
Problem Preventer
Problem Preventer runs a check on the computer and automatically fixes
problems that cause conflicts, including invalid shortcuts and erroneous
entries in the Windows 95 Registry and system files. It automatically fixes
the problems it finds.
PreInstall Inspector
Another important aspect to REALHELP is PreInstall Inspector, a feature
that analyzes everything on the PC before additional software is installed to
help ensure trouble-free performance, saving time and lessening user
frustration.
ViruSweep Scan
Heavy use of the Internet increases the chance that a user's PC will
become infected with a dangerous virus. REALHELP features ViruSweep, which
provides constant protection against viruses for Windows 95 users by scanning
the PC and automatically repairing infected files. It can also be pre-set to
scan at scheduled frequencies to ensure the system continues to be virus free.
Virus definition updates can be automatically downloaded every month via
Update-It (REALHELP Regular), or TuneUp (REALHELP Extra Strength)
functionality.
Find-A-Fix
With Find-A-Fix, REALHELP can quickly find solutions to many PC problems.
The user quickly locates the symptom the PC is experiencing and Find-A-Fix
does the rest. It searches a local knowledge base for solutions and can also
search the Internet for the right solution to the PC's problem. The feature
incorporates key search technology from Quarterdeck's award-winning product,
WebCompass to present the user with solutions to their PC problems. REALHELP
Extra Strength includes expert advice on Microsoft Office 95.
REALHELP PROVIDES PC SAFETY MEASURES
Change Capture and Change Remover
Change Capture watches for changes to the computer introduced by new
applications and hardware installations or system file modifications. If an
installation does not complete or causes problems, Change Remover can
completely remove files, drivers, etc., that might cause system conflicts. It
even stores overwritten files so the system can be completely returned to its
previous state.
Emergency Recovery
REALHELP prompts users to create an Emergency Recovery bootable disk that
can be used in case the PC won't start. It stores vital information needed
not only to restart the PC, but also to access important data stored on
devices like ZIP drives. If needed, users can simply use the Emergency
Recovery disk to reboot their PCs, preventing a loss of data and resulting in
less downtime. It can restore vital Windows files back to the hard disk,
allowing the hard disk to reboot.
REALHELP DOES AUTOMATIC UPDATING
You just installed a new game and your sound card doesn't work with it; or
your new graphics application doesn't look just right on your screen. Many
times the solution to these and other problems is a new driver for that sound
card, or video card, or an update to your software application. To minimize
these type occurrences and the chances of conflicts arising on a system, it is
important that applications, hardware drivers and Windows 95 are as up-to-date
as possible. Software and hardware vendors are constantly providing updates
via the Internet. The problem is that users might not know where to locate
these updates, or have the time to surf the Internet for them.
REALHELP makes this a one-step process with TuneUp, part of the one-year
subscription to www.TuneUp.com, included with REALHELP Extra Strength. TuneUp
performs a profile of the PC, building a hardware and software inventory, then
accesses the TuneUp server based at www.TuneUp.com and compares the inventory
list against a list of updates, patches and drivers on the server. If there
are updates available, the list is sent to the user, who selects what to
automatically download and install. Using Change Remover, the user can undo
any update.
For REALHELP Regular Strength users, REALHELP can protect their purchase
by keeping itself up-to-date automatically over the Internet. REALHELP
Regular Strength can update its own files and information databases so users
have the latest solutions to their PC problems.
One-Year Subscription to www.TuneUp.com
In addition to providing updates, the one-year subscription to TuneUp.com,
Quarterdeck's online service station provided with REALHELP Extra Strength,
offers users unparalleled help with access to thousands of frequently asked
questions (FAQ's), forums, tips and tricks, BugNet alerts, as well as advice
and information to help avoid future PC breakdowns.
Update-It
By clicking on Update-It users can schedule regular, automatic updates of
REALHELP's knowledge databases (and other Quarterdeck products) to ensure that
the user always has the latest solutions.
REALHELP IMPROVES PC SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
Performance Optimizer
While REALHELP is fighting viruses and resolving conflicts, it is also
always on the watch for opportunities to speed up the system. Just click on
Performance Optimizer and it will automatically check system hardware settings
to ensure they are configured for optimal performance. These settings
include, file system performance and hard disk optimization, advanced graphics
settings, virtual memory settings, and CD-ROM performance settings.
REALHELP MONITORS THE PC
Service Manager
Service Manager is a user-friendly, one-stop interface that resides in the
background and, using its ActiveSystem continuous monitoring, automatically
alerts the user when new problems arise. Users can schedule regular
maintenance checks for their PC, including software and hardware conflicts,
anti-virus scans, hard disk problems, defragmentation analysis, backups,
REALHELP updates and more. Service Manager monitors memory, Windows
resources, CPU utilization and hard disk space and alerts the user when these
resources reach a critical stage that might cause a freeze or crash.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
REALHELP Extra Strength will be available for an estimated street price of
$59.95; REALHELP Regular Strength will be available for an estimated street
price of $39.95. Both versions of REALHELP, scheduled to begin shipping later
this month, will be available at major computer software retailers, including
CompUSA, Best Buy, Computer City and Fry's Electronics as well as through
Quarterdeck's online store at www.quarterdeck.com.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
REALHELP minimum requirements include an Intel based PC, 486/33 or better,
or 100 percent compatible clone running Windows 95, 30MB of free hard disk
space, 8MB of RAM (16MB of RAM recommended), a CD-ROM drive (4X recommended),
Internet connection, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or later, and Netscape
Navigator 3.0 or later.
ABOUT QUARTERDECK
Quarterdeck Corporation develops, markets and supports software that
enhances the performance, user productivity and cost effectiveness of personal
computing in both stand-alone and networked environments. Current products
address anti-virus protection, diagnosis and resolution of software and
hardware conflicts, PC-based communications and Internet connectivity, storage
and hard disk management, system performance and Internet/intranet information
search and content management. The Company provides its software solutions
worldwide to individual, business, and government/education users through
retail distribution, resellers, direct marketing operations and Internet
downloads.
Founded in 1983 and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol QDEK, Quarterdeck's
worldwide headquarters are in Marina del Rey, Calif., with Dublin, Ireland,
serving as its European headquarters. Further information on the Company and
its products may be obtained by calling 800-683-6696 toll free, or 813-523-
9700, accessing Quarterdeck's Web site at quarterdeck.com or by
sending an email request to info@quarterdeck.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like more information on Quarterdeck
Corporation and its products, please view the Quarterdeck Press Center at
quarterdeck.com.
Quarterdeck is a registered trademark of Quarterdeck Corporation or its
subsidiaries. REALHELP, TuneUp.com, WebCompass, ViruSweep and WINProbe 95 are
trademarks of Quarterdeck Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other brands
and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective holders.
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions
reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying
such statements.
These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of
products and technologies, and other factors described in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that
the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements
due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligations to
revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or
circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.
SOURCE Quarterdeck Corporation
/CONTACT: Ana Thorne, Quarterdeck Corporation, 310-309-3767,
athorne@quarterdeck.com; Dan Gugler, The Bohle Company, 310-785-0515 ext. 208,
gug@bohle.com/
/Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or fax, 800-758-5804,
ext. 728475/
/Web site: quarterdeck.com
(QDEK)
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