ENLARGE YOUR DISK WITH STACKER
                                A supplement to
                       HOW TO FINE TUNE YOUR HARD DISK
                                By Mark Minasi

        On the topic of running out of disk space, here's a quick and easy 
way to enlarge your disk: Stacker.  This program works by compressing and 
decompressing files on your disk on the fly.  For years, computer experts 
have used programs like PKZIP, LHARC, and ARC to compress computer files.  
Such programs can be quite effective, converting a file from, say, 100K down 
to 30K.  That converted file cannot be used directly and must be decompressed 
to its original size of 100K.
        The value of file compression is that you can store a lot of little-
used stuff on your disk in compressed format, decompressing it as you need 
it.  But the compression-decompression cycle takes time and is an annoying 
extra step.  That's where Stacker comes in.  It compresses and decompresses 
transparently--you don't even know it's working, save that your disk accesses 
slow down a bit due to the compression-decompression overhead.  And you can 
eliminate that delay by buying the Stacker disk coprocessor board.
        Stacker is available from Stac at 5993 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, 
California 92008; (800)522-7822.  And, by the way, the latest versions come 
with a free file-unfragmenter program.  The experience of my staff when 
installing Stacker indicates that it's best to start with a clean hard disk, 
install Stacker, and then reload your files rather than let the installation 
program install and squeeze all in one step.