Ease-of-use, Quality Assurance Focus of DiskDupe Upgrade

CUPERTINO, CA - February 1993 - Micro System Designs has released a new
version of its disk copying software, DiskDupe Pro, version 4.0. New
features make the program more intuitive and help produce perfect disks,
benefitting users who simply want to spend less time copying floppy disks
as well as software developers and others who need to push the duplicating
process to its limits.

DiskDupe formats, copies, and compares disks using mouse-driven pull down
menus that make arcane DOS commands obsolete. Version 4.0 automatically
senses the disk type and the configuration of the A: and B: drives.

Users can also set up DiskDupe from the DOS command-line, whether they want
to change several features or specify a complete configuration file. Using
DiskDupe batch files, even computer novices can run complex duplicating
jobs. "We have written batch files, scripts, and macros that incorporate
the command-line switches and have greatly reduced the time, effort, and
errors associated with creating masters and producing product," says
DiskDupe user Dale Quigg of Applied Microsystems Corp.

DiskDupe is as fast as it is easy-to-use, up to six times faster than DOS,
in fact. DiskDupe reads the source disk in a single pass and uses RAM
(including EMS/XMS) and virtual memory to make an unlimited number of
copies without rereading the master disk. Disks that are copied frequently
can be stored on a hard disk as image files to speed duplication further
and save wear-and tear on masters. Image files are read just once and,
stored on a network, make disk distribution simple.

Bad disks that could otherwise cause irrecoverable information loss are
detected by DiskDupe's Verify feature, a rigorous error-checking mechanism
which performs a CRC (Cyclical Redundancy Check). Verify now also performs
a byte-by-byte comparison with the original data as the copy is made to
ensure 100% accuracy.

To detect pitfalls lurking inside the computer, DiskDupe 4.0 has advanced
diagnostics to monitor the disk drive and drive controller for failures
during the copying process and provides a special head cleaning cycle for
floppy drives to remedy what Micro Systems Designs' President Max Dunn
calls "a major undiagnosed cause of bad floppy disks." Disks copied in
dirty drives, according to Dunn, often behave erratically and cannot be
read in some computers.

DiskDupe provides specialized features that allow users to complete in a
single step duplicating tasks they would otherwise deal with in lengthy,
roundabout ways. Laptop users, for example, can quickly convert between
5.25" and 3.5" size disks to fit their laptop's 3.5" drive. And DiskDupe
will copy even Unix, Midi, and high density Mac disks, to name a few.

The Relay feature copies each write-protected master disk to every
non-write protected disk inserted after it, making backups of large
software packages a breeze and allowing shareware distributors to easily
duplicate their libraries. Relay can also be combined with Cascade, which
copies to up to four drives in a cycle before pausing while the user
changes the disks.

Software developers can use DiskDupe to serialize their disks and in
version 4.0 can also print out disk labels complete with the volume name,
serial number, and first line of a file on the disk. DiskDupe interfaces
with copy protection and other programs for complete flexibility.

The Set feature allows users to copy authorized groups of image files in
either set or disk order. And database and information services can use
DiskDupe's special RAM disk to transfer various combinations off
frequently changing files from CD-ROMS and mainframe computers to floppy
disks.

DiskDupe Pro works with the latest technology on the market today,
including 2.8 Mb, double-speed, and SDS (Simultaneous Double-Sided)
drives. It supports up to four drives at a time and enhanced controllers
that work at the 1Mb data rate.

In addition to DiskDupe Pro, Micro System Designs also provides a
streamlined edition, DiskDupe, which provides basic duplicating functions
with the same speed and reliability, and a more advanced edition DiskDupe
Auto Pro, which adds support for autoloaders for hands-free duplication

DiskDupe Pro Works on any IBM PC, PS/2, or compatible running DOS 2.0 or
later and is available direct from Micro System Designs for $179. Upgrade
pricing is also available to registered users.

Micro Systems Designs
10062 Miller Ave, Ste 104, Cupertino, CA 95014
408-446-2066;  fax: 408-446-2095

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