In a move to simplify hard drive installation, Seagate Technology has introduced a new version of its DiscWizard software, the first software able to install both SCSI and ATA disc drives, and is the first 32-bit installation software provided with new drives.
According to Martin Vine, senior sales manager for SA at Seagate Technology, the latest version of DiscWizard offers a new user interface, 3D colour graphics, an interactive HTML custom installation manual, speedy partitioning and formatting as well as the integration of FileCopy and CD Update features. "Greater program intelligence enables the software to better predict the most appropriate installation for each user," he notes, pointing out that the product is available to Seagate customers at no charge.
John Donovan, vice president at TrendFocus, a market research firm specialising in data storage, describes the software as an innovation that enhances the value of its products to end users. "Over the past few years, Seagate has been alone in bringing features like SeaShield, SeaShell and SeaTools to market. The new DiscWizard, as the industry's first 32-bit drive installation utility for both SCSI and ATA drives, clearly helps users more easily take advantage of today's storage upgrade opportunities."
Named in 1997, 1998 and 1999 by PC World as the best installation software for disc drives, DiscWizard provides PC users with a GUI-driven solution for installing, formatting, and partitioning hard disc drives. "Seagate takes the prize for best software," reported PC World in October, 1999. "Its Windows-based DiscWizard is a pleasure to use, and it's the only one here that analyses your current setup, asks you what you want to install, then tells you exactly what to do next, using helpful graphics and animation. It also produces a step-by-step installation checklist that is customised to your particular setup."
The new DiscWizard helps PC users easily add high-capacity ATA and SCSI disc drives for today's exploding audio/visual and Internet applications. Drive installation is more automated than ever, taking the burden off of the user. Guided by a simple Installation Wizard, the user selects the way in which they want the drive to be set up, and DiscWizard takes care of the rest through an automated process.
The software's increased artificial intelligence now recognises a vast array of hardware configurations, and provides specific feedback to users whose systems may have external storage devices, drives with hidden partitions, missing host adapters and other non-standard situations. Partitioning features intuitively guide the user through a simple graphical program, eliminating the need for BIOS upgrades or complicated documentation. The new BootWizard offers more flexibility in booting and testing new hard drives, in addition to expanded floppy boot protection.
Seagate's exclusive SeaTools diagnostic software is also accessible through the DiscWizard interface. SeaTools lets network administrators, helpdesk technicians and even PC newbies diagnose a disc drive when having issues with a system. A system issue may be caused by a number of factors unrelated to the disc drive, such as operating system problems and corrupted files. By positively identifying whether a drive has failed, SeaTools saves customers from unnecessarily removing the drive, speeding the diagnosis of true system issues. SeaTools is the storage industry's first diagnostic product to support Drive Self-Test (DST) - the industry-standard test firmware now built into virtually every desktop drive. It's also the only diagnostic tool to support both Seagate drives and competitors' drives.
"The new DiscWizard makes drive installation faster and easier than ever," says Vine. "With the availability of sub-$700 systems, the number of novice users has grown dramatically. Our new DiscWizard solution brings system disc drive upgrades to a new level of ease-of-use."
Bundled with all Seagate ATA interface disc drives sold through the distribution channel, the DiscWizard program suite contains the following utilities: DiscWizard Application, DiscWizard Installer/Uninstaller, DiscWizard File Copy (for migrating files between drives), DiscWizard CD-Update (for updating CD-ROM drive letter designations), and Disk Manager(r) (to partition and manage data on single drives in new systems). The new DiscWizard will also be available for download at www.seagate.com.
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