Specifications and Requirements ------------------------------- Software Title: InfoSpy (System Spy) Version 2.40 Author or Company: Dean Software Design P.O. Box 13032 Mill Creek, WA 98082 E-Mail: 75240.65@COMPUSERVE.COM Registration Fee: $19.99 Availabilty: Windows Forum Software Library (AOL) Filename: ISPY240.ZIP Filesize (ZIPped): 792,599 bytes Filesize (unZIPped): 962,834 bytes Keywords: Dean, Design, Capture, Debug, Memory, Tasks, Duplicate, DLL, CMOS, Boot, Monitor, Top Pick, PK204, Win 3.1 Requirements: 386 or better, 4 megs RAM, Windows 3.1 (or Windows 95) Rating (1-10): 9 Date of Review: 6/7/95 Installation ------------ Installation Rating: 9 Description of Installation Process: You need to extract (unZIP) the downloaded ISPY240.ZIP file into a temporary directory. Next, run the SETUP.EXE file. You will be prompted for the source (where the unZIPped files are) and target (where you want the program files installed) directories (if you wish to change these from the defaults click on the "Customize" button). InfoSpy's Setup will then copy its files into the designated directory and create a Program Manager group and icons. Once installation is complete the InfoSpy program launches for you. (Don't forget to delete the unZIPped setup files which are in the temporary directory once InfoSpy is installed. They are no longer needed and take up quite a bit of disk space.) Features -------- InfoSpy examines and gives detailed reports on your systems Global Heaps, active windows, windows tasks, loaded modules, open files, memory information, DOS information, Windows messages, serial communications, and a whole lot more. You can print out or save these system examinations for future reference. It eliminates guessing what is loaded and running under Windows. Now you will know instantly, easily and in great detail. InfoSpy allows you to open multiple, adjustable windows so you can have access to all the information you need at a glance. Its toolbar is also fully configurable to your needs. It monitors Resources and Memory, DDE Activity, Windows Messages to a Task or All Windows Messages, File Activity, Keyboard Activity, Communications Port(s) Activity and VM Messages. It "spies" on Active Windows, Active Window Class Types, Windows Tasks, Loaded Modules, Open Files and File Handles, Global Atom List, and Memory Usage by Task. InfoSpy can also compact global memory, lock your terminal (to prevent unwanted usage while your away from your computer), place a task on top of all others, terminate an application, unload a module, Dump Stack for a Task, Dump CMOS vaules, exit/restart Windows, warm/cold boot your system and save/restore CMOS settings to a file. It displays detailed information on Multimedia Devices installed, System Parameter Blocks, Memory Control Blocks, DOS Device Drivers, the Master and Current Environments, the Newest Command.Com Environment, Memory, your system's Timer, VXD's and VM's, Heap Blocks, and Heap Block usage below 1 Megabyte. InfoSpy also allows you to sort the Heap by address, handle, size, type or module. It can perform the following Stress Tests on other Windows programs: Grab Global Heap, Grab GDI Heap, Grab User Heap, Grab File Handles, Grab Disk Space, Grab Timers, Grab Printer and Communications Ports, and perform continuous disk input/output. InfoSpy allows you to conduct searches for all the Icons on all drives or a particular drive. When a search is performed InfoSpy displays a list of all the Icons it found. It shows the icon, the program it is attached to and the path to the program/icon. You can then select icons to be copied to the clipboard, saved as .BMP's (bitmap files) or deleted. You can also search for DLL files on all drives or a particular drive. InfoSpy will display a list showing loaded, referenced, not-referenced and duplicate DLL files. You can print a list of these files and/or either unload or delete selected DLL files. InfoSpy has a System Sentry which allows you to: Disable CTRL-ALT-DEL to prevent a system reboot; require a password to modify System Sentry's configuration; require a Password to close InfoSpy; require a password to maximize InfoSpy from its Icon; require a password to exit Windows. (This option works with any program that has the ability to shut down Windows); not allow user to Exit Windows; restrict access to files/programs; keep a list of all files accessed in an access log; and more. These are excellent features for anyone who has to share their computer with other users (especially in a public environment). All of these features are also accessible through InfoSpy's System Sentry sub-program without having to launch InfoSpy (Just click on the System Sentry icon in the InfoSpy Program Manager group and all the security measures you have setup in InfoSpy will be activated). It has a Task Scheduler which allows you to set times you want InfoSpy to perform certain functions or run external programs. InfoSpy has its own seperate, fast/efficient File Manager that lets you move, copy, delete and rename files; format disks; set volume labels; sort files by name, size or date; select files with a specific extension; create/remove directories; search for files (InfoSpy has full file searching capabilities. Just enter the name (or extension) of the file you are looking for (InfoSpy's File Manager lets you use all the normal search wildcards) and it will search whatever drive(s) you tell it for those files) or search for words or characters in files (Enter the word(s) and/or character(s) you want to find and what drive(s) you want searched and InfoSpy will generate a report listing all the files containing what you are looking for). InfoSpy's File Manager also allows you to make "clones" of diskettes without having to go through the hassle of repeatedly switching disks. Plus, the cloning process copies the Boot Sector, FAT Table, Volume ID and Serial # to the destination diskette (unlike DISKCOPY). Help Documentation Rating: 9 InfoSpy comes with comprehensive Windows format Help files which should answer most questions about the program and its operation. It even has a list of known problems and conflicts with the program (none of which I encountered during my evaluation). This is not a common thing to find. My hat is off to Dean Software Design! Summary ------- Among the thousands of "zircon" Shareware files out there, InfoSpy (System Spy) Version 2.40 is an authentic diamond. This Windows utility program thoroughly monitors your system (in real-time) and gives you comprehensive reports of its findings. This program contains so many features I was not able to list them all. And with a registration price of only $19.99 it should definitely be on every computer users list of "must have" utilities (its File Manager or System Sentry alone is worth the registration fee). Dean Software Design will even customize the program for corporate customers. Plus, they are currently working on a 32 bit version of InfoSpy which will be released after Windows 95 hits the streets (hopefully this coming August). This one gets my full recommendation. Download and register this one right away!!! Problems and Suggestions ------------------------ Problems found: There were no conflicts, General Protection Faults (GPF's) or program errors encountered during my evaluation of this software. (InfoSpy's Help File does list some confilcts, and problems that may occur under certain circumstances, however, none of these listed occurred during my review of the software.) Suggestions for Improvement: I cannot really think of anything that would greatly improve this great product. Technical Support ----------------- Technical Support Rating: 9.5 Technical Support Description: Inquires I made about the program were answered in less than 24 hours (via E-Mail) with intelligent and helpful responses. What do you get when you register? ---------------------------------- You receive a registered copy of the latest version of InfoSpy and technical support for the program. Disclaimer ---------- (DISCLAIMER: This review is provided for information/entertainment purposes only. The author will not be held responsible or liable for any problems which may occur in the use of any of the reviewed software. The author will also not be held responsible if the program reviewed does not operate, in the way stated. With there being so many system configurations possible confilcts/problems can arise which may prevent the reviewed software from operating in the way indicated. This is not the responsibility of the reviewer.)