The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Cybermedia First Aid 98 Deluxe
Ash Nallawalla
 ash@melbpc.org.au

First Aid 97 proved a big hit among Melb PC members last year. Over 400 copies were sold at a monthly meeting after the Cybermedia presentation, and that is probably an all-time record. Recently it launched an update, First Aid 98 (FA98), of which the Deluxe version is reviewed here. What does it do? The box says that it "fixes Windows problems automatically".

FA98 fixes all types of problems that can affect your PC, not just Windows problems. Where it cannot fix a problem, such as a hardware problem, it brings it to your attention. Examples of problems include the following:
  • Software conflicts
  • Multimedia problems
  • Internet connection
  • Printer setup
  • Hardware conflicts.
Bottom line

As this is a short review, I'll cut to the chase. I can compare it against certain features of Norton Utilities, notably the CrashGuard tool, which traps crashing software. This is the most important feature to me because my Internet tools deplete various system resources and every other day they tend to crash and lock up the entire PC.

I disabled Norton CrashGuard while testing FA98 and was left with the feeling that FA98 has a slight edge in catching these problems, although both allow some crashes to sneak through and require a power-down and a reboot.

It is particularly thorough in diagnosing problems inside the PC and some accessories such as a scanner, printer and modem. Many thousand possible solutions are stored in its database, which can be updated with a cut-down version of Oil Change, (which can only update FA).

The Deluxe version contains a paper booklet with contact details of Australian offices of most computer companies. It comes with a computer-cleaning kit, anti-virus protection, and trial versions of Oil Change and Uninstaller.

FA98 is not as comprehensive as Norton Utilities, but I would not want to choose between the two. It is still as good as it was a year ago.


Figure 1. FA98 finds a few problems on my PC


Figure 2. A detailed view of one problem and a suggested solution


Figure 3. If an automatic file fix is not possible, a manual alternative is presented


Figure 4. A sample of the topics covered in the Advisor, a compendium of solutions



Reprinted from the August 1998 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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