Ontrack Data Advisor 5.0

Data Advisor(TM) 5.0

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This readme file contains important information about Data Advisor. Please read this entire file before using this software.

Welcome to ONTRACK Data Advisor Software!

ONTRACK Data Advisor includes two major components: - DATA ADVISOR DIAGNOSTIC A comprehensive, easy-to-use diagnostic tool that helps you quickly determine what is preventing you from accessing data on your desktop, laptop or notebook computer. - REMOTE DATA RECOVERY After completing the diagnostic process and if all physical tests have passed, Data Advisor offers the option to connect to ONTRACK Remote Data Recovery via a modem. ONTRACK engineers may then provide assistance in recovering your lost data, saving you costly and unnecessary downtime.

Many data loss problems, including those caused by a virus or corrupted file structures can be solved remotely. The communication link used by Data Advisor makes that possible.

Data Advisor system requirements: * IBM-compatible PC with a 386 or greater processor * EGA 640 x 480 or greater graphics capability * 8 megabytes of RAM * 1.44 megabyte floppy disk drive * 9600 or greater baud modem (for Remote Data Recovery option)

Data Advisor is a product of ONTRACK, the world's leading provider of data recovery services and software products. ONTRACK engineers have performed tens of thousands of successful data recoveries. Their expertise and know-how fuels the powerful diagnostic utilities featured in Data Advisor.

Data Advisor is an important part of ONTRACK Remote Data Recovery services, a new technology that allows lost data to be recovered remotely on your desktop by ONTRACK engineers.

Data Advisor software is easy to load and simple to use. The following instructions will help you get the most out of this new software tool. If you have questions about this or any other ONTRACK software or service products, please contact ONTRACK at 1-800-872-2599 or 1-612-937-5161, or use the international numbers below.

Check http://www.ontrack.com often for new and updated versions of Data Advisor software as well as an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) list. ONTRACK will continue to add new features, functions and capabilities to this software.

Using Data Advisor:

Do not remove the Data Advisor diskette while the tests are running. Information from the diskette is used throughout the testing process.

[Run Data Advisor]

1. Shut down Windows. Insert the Data Advisor diskette in your A: drive and reboot or power on your computer. The ONTRACK Operating System starts up. If your system fails to boot from the diskette, see the Troubleshooting section later in this file.

2. The Welcome dialog provides an overview of Data Advisor. Press (ENTER) to continue to the Data Advisor menu.

[Menu]

The menu provides you with the following options: * Data Advisor Diagnostic * View Diagnostic Report File * Remote Data Recovery * View README * View License Agreement * Exit Data Advisor

To select from this list, highlight the option desired and press (ENTER). To scroll to the option, use the Page-Up, Page-Down, Up-Arrow and Down-Arrow keys. NOTE: The same keys may be used throughout Data Advisor to scroll when there is more text than will display on the screen.

[Data Advisor Diagnostic]

1. To diagnose your system, select "Data Advisor Diagnostic" from the menu. NOTE: Remote Data Recovery cannot be selected until the diagnostic has been completed.

2. Data Advisor displays the hard disk drives detected. If the information is correct, select (Y)es and continue. If not correct, select (N)o and a screen will explain possible reasons why your drives were not detected. To test the drives that WERE detected, press (ENTER) to continue.

3. Data Advisor performs a Quick Functional Test of each hard disk drive looking for a head crash or other serious malfunction. The test results will be returned as "PASSED", passed with "MINOR ERROR", or "FAILED". If the test "FAILED", the program ends.

4. Data Advisor tests the SMART status of each hard disk drive. SMART, Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology, a built-in failure prediction method reports an "ALERT" if a problem has occurred. It reports "PASSED" if no problems are found and "UNSUPPORTED" if the hard disk drive does not support SMART.

5. A Complete Surface Scan of each hard disk drive runs, returning a status of "PASSED", passed with "MINOR ERROR", or "FAILED". The scan typically takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on the size and speed of your hard disk drive. If the test "FAILED", the program ends.

6. Data Advisor tests each logical FAT partition (DOS, Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2) on your system. Each partition test returns "PASSED", passed with "MINOR ERROR", or "FAILED".

7. Data Advisor tests your system memory. The test may take several minutes. Data Advisor returns a "PASSED" or "FAILED" result.

8. When the testing is completed, a summary of the testing is provided. The recommendations provide steps to take for your particular situation. Press (ENTER) to return to the menu.

[View Diagnostic Report File]

1. To view the "advlog.txt" report file, select "View Diagnostic Report File" from the menu.

2. After viewing, press (ENTER) to return to the Data Advisor menu.

[Remote Data Recovery]

NOTE: Only select this option if you have lost data!

1. If you need to recover data from your hard disk drive AND both the Quick Functional Test and the Complete Surface Scan passed, Remote Data Recovery is an option you may wish to use. If you would like ONTRACK to recover the data on your computer directly by modem, select "Remote Data Recovery" from the menu.

2. Data Advisor checks your system for a modem. If your modem is identified, the process continues automatically. If it is not specifically identified, follow the steps provided.

3. Enter company name, your name, street address, city, state or province, postal code, phone number, and your e-mail address.

4. Data Advisor requests information about special dialing codes to disable "Call Waiting" or if you need to dial a number for an outside line.

5. Enter the ONTRACK Job Number and press (ENTER).

6. Data Advisor reconnects to ONTRACK and the remote data recovery begins.

7. Communication between you and ONTRACK depends on your unique data recovery. The ONTRACK engineer informs you when the recovery is complete.

8. Remove the diskette from the A: drive and reboot or turn off your system.

[View README]

1. To view the readme file, select "View README" from the menu.

2. After viewing, press (ENTER) to return to the Data Advisor menu.

[View License Agreement]

1. To view the license agreement, select "View License Agreement" from the menu.

2. After viewing, press (ENTER) to return to the Data Advisor menu.

[Exit Data Advisor]

1. To exit, select "Exit Data Advisor" from the menu.

2. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot, or power off your system.

* * * * Contacting ONTRACK: * * * *

U.S.A: Phone 1-800-872-2599 or 1-612-937-5161 FAX 1-612-937-5750

London, England: Phone 00 800 10 12 13 14 or +44 (0)1372 741999 FAX +44 (0)1372 741441

Stuttgart, Germany: Phone 00 800 10 12 13 14 or +49 (0)7031/644-150 FAX +49 (0)7031/644-100

Paris, France: Phone 00 800 10 12 13 14 or +33 (0)1 49 19 22 63 FAX +33 (0)1 49 19 22 37

Tokyo, Japan: Phone 0120-413-374 or +81 (0)429 32-6365 FAX +81 (0)429 32-6370

Internet: WWW http://www.ontrack.com or http://www.dataadvisor.com FTP ftp://ftp.ontrack.com E-mail dataadvisor@ontrack.com or sales@ontrack.com

U.S. Mail to: ONTRACK Data International, Inc. 9023 Columbine Road Eden Prairie, MN 55347

* * * * Troubleshooting * * * *

If you insert the Data Advisor diskette in the A: drive, power on the computer and it does not load Data Advisor, the "boot sequence" may be set to boot to the hard disk drive first.

To change the boot sequence, you must enter the "Setup" or "CMOS Setup" of your computer and change the sequence to boot from floppy first. There are several ways to enter the setup depending on your computer make and model. Usually on the initial power up there will be a message stating "Press DEL to enter Setup" or something similar. It may be necessary to press the key quickly as the boot sequence may continue on momentarily.

The most common keys or key sequences to enter setup are: - Delete - F1 - F2 - CTRL-ALT-S - CTRL-ALT-ESC - CTRL-ALT-Enter

NOTE: Some computers that use the "CTRL-ALT-___" sequences must be at a prompt before pressing the keys. If unsure how to enter the setup, see the owner's manual for your computer or seek assistance from the manufacturer or where you purchased the computer.

DISKETTE READ ERRORS:

- If an error message says Data Advisor could not read strings from the diskette, make sure the diskette is still in the floppy drive. If the message persists there may be an error on the diskette. Create a new Data Advisor diskette and run the tests again.

DISKETTE WRITE ERRORS:

- The diskette may have a bad sector and cannot be written to. If this is the case, create a new Data Advisor diskette and run the tests again. NOTE: You may continue the Diagnostic with this condition, however no report file will be generated.

In an effort to continually improve Data Advisor, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Please use the e-mail address below:

dataadvisor@ontrack.com

If you are reporting problems, we would appreciate as much information as possible. If you can, please provide the following details:

When does the problem occur?

On bootup of the ONTRACK Standalone Operating System? During the Device Configurator PCMCIA/PnP detection? During the hard disk drive tests? After exiting Data Advisor?

Can you recreate the problem? If so please outline the steps needed to recreate it.

If you had any modem problems, we would appreciate as much information about your modem as possible:

Make, model and speed Default and current initialization string Command to enable hardware flow control

List the details about your system as tested.

Make, model, processor and system memory Hard disk drives (internal and external) connected to the system, including make, model, size, and type Make and model of hard disk drive controllers Make and model of the video adapter Additional adapter cards, including sound and multi-media Peripherals attached, (mouse, tape backup, printer, etc..)

THANK YOU

www.ontrack.com

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