PC-Kwik Corporation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Press Contacts:

PC-Kwik Corp.                        JP Davis & Co.
Bruce Schafer                        John P. Davis
503-644-5644                         503-226-0624
MCI Mail: 302-1060                   MCI Mail: 609-2177

Program Reveals Source of Data Corruption in DOS

BEAVERTON, Oregon -- August 13, 1993 -- PC-Kwik Corporation, the
developers of the disk cache program Super PC-Kwik(R), announced today
availability of a test program that reveals periods of data jeopardy
created by SMARTDrive, the cache that ships with DOS 6.0 and
Microsoft Windows(TM).

The jeopardy detection program can be run on any DOS-based system
currently running either the SMARTDrive disk cache from Microsoft or
other disk cache programs like Symantec's NCache and PC Tools' PC
Cache.  Jeopardy Detector monitors DOS, looking for situations where
the File Allocation Table (FAT) and directory entries do not agree.  
Any disk cache that reorders the timing of disk writes can create
jeopardy periods of up to several seconds.  If an application program
crashes or the computer is rebooted during this period, crosslinked
files and data loss will likely occur if the computer continues to be
used.  This jeopardy condition can happen when many advanced disk
caches reorder data being written to a disk.  These files are often
not recoverable.

According to Bruce Schafer, president of PC-Kwik, "We have designed
caching technology that minimizes the risk of data loss ever since we
first implemented the concept of advanced disk writes in Super PC-Kwik
in 1986.  Our cache can actually reduce the possibility of data loss
compared to a non-cached system because it can get data stored to a
disk more quickly.  By default our cache processes writes on a
first-in-first-out basis.  Any disk cache that reorders the writing of
disk sectors can create significant windows of jeopardy which is very
dangerous to the uninformed user."  Mr. Schafer goes on to state, "We
aren't sure that SMARTDrive is dangerous to all systems, but users
need to understand first that there is a disk cache running in their
systems using risky techniques, and second that these periods of
jeopardy exist and must be respected.  I think this is an area most
suited to an advanced computer user."

A file named JPRDY.ZIP containing the Jeopardy Detection program, two
white papers on advanced cache writing techniques, and PC-Kwik product
information will be available by August 16 on CompuServe from LIB 14
of PCVENA.  Users unable to download the file can order a diskette
from PC-Kwik for a $6.50 shipping and handling fee by calling
503-644-5644 or by faxing a request to 503-646-8267.

PC-Kwik Corporation (formerly Multisoft Corp.) is the leading
developer of performance enhancement software products for DOS and
Windows environments.  Its retail products are known by their trade
names: Super PC-Kwik, PC-Kwik Power Pak(R), and WinMaster(TM).  All
three products are available through their distributors, Ingram Micro
and Merisel.  PC-Kwik headquarters are located at 15100 SW Koll
Parkway, Beaverton, OR, 97006-6026, telephone 800-759-5945 or
503-644-5644.

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PC-Kwik and Power Pak are a registered trademarks of PC-Kwik
Corporation.  Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a
trademark of Microsoft Corporation.