11/18/98----------------------------------------------------------------------
Disk Tools : Version 0.1 (early beta version - but works) (Shareware version)
   Company : TechSpecs
       WWW : www.techspecs.com (always check here for latest version)
     Email : support@alpha.techspecs.com

             --> send bug reports here. Please fill out BUG.TXT and email
                 so that future copies can be fixed. Thanks.

     Legal : Copyright, 1998. TechSpecs.

  Contents : DOS-based WIPE, sector BACKUP and sector RESTORE utilities.
                WIPE : WIPE_0P1.EXE
              BACKUP : BKUP_0P1.EXE
             RESTORE : RSTR_0P1.EXE
              README : THIS FILE
                 BUG : BUG REPORT FORM
                 REG : REGISTRATION FORM.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer : TechSpecs will not be held responsible for any use or misuse of
             these programs. The user understands that this software is for
             advanced users only and that considerable skill is required to
             utilize the software. Under NO circumstances WHATSOEVER will
             TechSpecs be held liable for any use of this software. Period.


Purpose : DOS Wipe, backup and restore utilities. Will operate on HDDs which
          are reported using EBIOS. This includes IDE and SCSI although other
          configurations may be possible. Only systems (>1995) which utilize
          EBIOS functions will work. Even then, differences may exist. The
          software has been tested on multiple systems from different vendors
          and currently works. However, as with any beta software, bugs may
          exist. Please carefully report any bug via email so that future
          versions can up updated. Use the BUG.TXT form to complete error
          reporting.

          These tools use sector values which are used as input. Currently,
          the use of another program is required to figure out current
          sector boundries among partitions. In addition, this software does
          not create or modify parition information. Future versions of the
          software will utilize parition information. In the meantime, the
          program GDISK, from Symantec, can be used to report parition sector
          information. Look at the Symantec WWW at www.symantec.com and search
          for GDISK. This program is currently free from Symantec. Sample
          uses of that program are :

          1. GDISK + return      - Reports all drives
          2. GDISK <disk #>      - More specific information on a particular
                                   drive.
          3. GDISK <disk #> /LBA - Reports sector boundries which are used as
                                   the input to this (Disk Tools) software.




  To do list : 1. Include partition information. This is to report current
                  sector location boundries. Currently, GDISK or some
                  other partition reporting utility must be used in
                  conjunction with this software.

               2. Create a WIN95/WIN98 hosted backup utility. Current
                  version only works in DOS.

               3. Add CD-ROM burning capability. (SCSI first then IDE)
  
               4. Add tape support (SCSI first then IDE)

               5. ??? (please offer suggestions)





#   File Names    Description
-  ------------   -------------------------------------------------------------
0. DTOOL0P1.ZIP   Contains all files.

1. README.TXT     This file.

2. BUG.TXT        File to email for bug reports.

3. REG.TXT        Registration form. Entitles registered users to support
                  feedback and free/reduced cost upgrades.

4. WIPE_0P1.EXE - This tool wipes a portion of a HDD, one sector at a time. A
                  value of 0 is placed in each memory location in the sector.

                  WIPE_0P1 <destination>
                  where
                  destination = 1,2,... (1=$80h, 2=$81h, ...)

                  Program will continue to ask beginning sector and ending
                  sector. After which, wiping of that portion of the disk
                  will start.

                  One purpose of this program is to zero out the disk so that
                  subsequent compression tools will perform better on sectors
                  which are unused by the operating system.

                  *** THIS TOOL IS DESTRUCTIVE ***

                  Remember to back-up all important files before using this
                  program.


5. BKUP_0P1.EXE - This tool backes up a portion of a HDD, one sector at a
                  time. Performs a sector level backup only.

                  BKUP_0P1 <source> <destination>
                  where
                  source      = 1,2,... (1=$80h, 2=$81h, ...)
                  destination = alternate drive and/or partition.

                  Program will continue to ask beginning sector and ending
                  sector. After which, backing up of that portion of the
                  disk will start.

                  If backing up only 1 partition, it is permissible to
                  put the results in a different partition on the same
                  disk. However, if backing up an entire drive, putting
                  the result back into a different partition on the same
                  drive makes no sense. No error checking is performed for
                  this in the current revision.


6. RSTR_0P1.EXE - This tool restores a portion of a HDD, one sector at a
                  time. Performs a sector level restore only.

                  RSTR_0P1 <source> <destination>
                  where

                  source      = alternate drive or partition.

                  destination = 1,2,... (1=$80h, 2=$81h, ...)

                  Program will continue to ask beginning sector and ending
                  sector. After which, restoring of that portion of the
                  disk will start.



Hints :
-------

1. Speed : Back-up 1 drive to another drive on either a different IDE
           channel or to a SCSI disk. Backing up to a different disk on the
           same channel is the next fastest option. Backing up to the
           same disk but a different parition is the slowest option since
           the heads are constantly in motion.


2. Boot Sector : BKUP_0P1 can be used to save the boot sector (or any other
                 sector) of a HDD and put it into a binary DOS file.

3. Backing up WIN95/WIN98 : The primary purpose of these tools is to provide
                            a fast and convenient alternative to restoring
                            WIN95/WIN98 after a crash. Although, as written,
                            the software also operates as a generic backup/
                            restore combination. The best approach to use
                            this software is as follows :

                            0.0 Backup all critical files.

                            0.5. Run the WIPE_0P1 utility to zero out the
                                 partition/disk in question. Again, this will
                                 cause the compression utility to perform
                                 better during backup. At this point, the
                                 partition and/or drive is useless and must
                                 be paritioned using appropriate partitioning
                                 software.

                            1. Create a 956 MB (1MB=1,048,576) partition to
                               put WIN95/WIN98. This size is chosen because,
                               when compressed, the resulting file will nor-
                               mally fit onto a CD-ROM. (~35% compresion)

                            2. Use the rest of the drive as a secondary
                               partition.

                            3. Load only critical system software onto the
                               primary partition. Include tape backup soft-
                               ware in this partition.

                            4. Load all other software to the secondary par-
                               tition (e.g. D:\Program Files\..\..\..)

                            5. Once all software is loaded and running to
                               your satisfaction, use your regular backup
                               software to backup all non-critical partitions
                               and drives. Do not include the registry or
                               anything on the WIN95/98 drive/parition.

                            6. Use the BKUP_0P1 utility to backup the part-
                               ition or drive to another partition/drive.

                            7. Use a compression program, like gzip, to
                               compress the file. GZIP124.EXE can be found
                               at www.prep.ai.mit.edu. If using gzip, the
                               best syntax to use is :

                               gzip386 -c2v <file> > <compressed file>

                               Again, try to use a different IDE channel or
                               drive to speed up the process.

                            8. Use a software CD burner to put the resulting
                               file onto CD. Alternatively, use a DOS tape
                               program and store the file there.

                               --- STOP AT THIS POINT UNTIL RESTORE IS NEEDED

                            9. When needed, recopy compressed file to a
                               safe location with adequate disk space
                               available.

                           10. Uncompress using appropriate flags. If using
                               gzip as in above; use the following settings :

                               gzip386 -cdv <compressed file> > <file>

                               Again, try to use a different IDE channel or
                               drive to speed up the process.

                           11. Use the RSTR_0P1 utility to restore the part-
                               ition or drive to another partition/drive.

                           12. After step 11, you will have an identical clone
                               of the original set-up. Happy hunting...



If you like this software, please pay for it. This software is not freeware,
but shareware. Please fill out the REG.TXT form and enclose a check for
$20.00, payable to TechSpecs, and send to the following address :

Chris Haidinyak
115 Felix St., #14
Santa Cruz, CA 95060


Good luck.

