Many of these programs are copyrighted though I have released some into the public domain. All are available free for private, non-commercial use.

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2000TEST - test your PC for the Year-2000 bug

Are you getting worried your PC may not survive the Year-2000 problem? Software problems are indeed a serious concern, but fortunately hardware problems are easy to test for and often simple to fix, despite the hype in a lot of recent magazines. Yes, some PCs will not correctly rollover from 12-31-1999 to 01-01-2000 when the time comes, but in many cases that is easily fixed. Check yours easily with this utility. Includes source code and explanation of the problem.
2000TEST was highlighted in a 07/97 article in Byte Magazine!
Originally written in 1996, this Oct 98 update adds a leap year check.
Download 2000TEST.ZIP (15KB, Oct 98)

BKBAT - batch file backup program using PKZIP

Batch file automates use of PKZIP as a backup program. Set up predetermined lists of the files you want regularly backed up. Can use multiple list also. (Requires PKZIP.EXE). Includes demo: unzip these files to a disk in drive A:, make sure your copy of PKZIP is available on the path, and run A:\DEMO.
(A companion upload BKLBAT is available for LHA users.)
Download BKBAT.EXE (24KB, Nov 91)

BKLBAT - batch file backup program using LHA

Batch file automates use of LHA as a backup program. Set up predetermined lists of the files you want regularly backed up. Can also use multiple lists. (Requires LHA.EXE version 2.13 -- see LZHSCRUB). Includes demo: for a quick look at this program in action, unpack these files to a disk in drive A:, make sure your copy of LHA.EXE is available on your path, and run A:\DEMO.
(A companion upload BKBAT is available for PKZIP users.)
Download BKLBAT.EXE (10KB, Feb 92)

COMPARE - compare two files with errorlevel return

This program will compare two files and return an errorlevel code based on the results of the comparison, making it ideal for batch file use.
Download COMPARE.ZIP (9KB, Oct 92)

DMGPARK - hard disk head parking TSR

DmgPARK is a memory-resident program that will park your hard disk's heads after a period of hard disk inactivity. Time period can be set from 1 second to 1 hour. This program can automatically find the innermost cylinder on the disk and use it as the "landing zone". If this is not where your disk's landing zone is, you can specify the correct landing zone with a command line parameter (unlike most other parking programs). Version 2.32.
Download DMGPARK.ZIP (6KB, Feb 94)

FINDVDSK - locates a ram drive on your system

Program scans available drives for a ram drive, returning as an errorlevel code the number of the first drive found that it identifies as a ram drive. Ideal for systems that use a ram drive and a removeable hard drive because the drive letter of the ram drive changes depending on whether the hard drive is attached.
Download FINDVDSK.ZIP (2KB, Oct 92)

HD-EFF - examine hard drive cluster storage efficiency

HD-EFF (Hard Drive Efficiency) is a program to analyze the files stored on your hard drive and calculate storage efficiency for different cluster sizes. HD-EFF is my correction of the flawed CHKDRIVE utility published in the June 27, 1995, issue of PC Magazine. (The magazine later reported their error in the Oct 10, 1995, issue). Version 1.2.
Download HD-EFF12.ZIP (14KB, Nov 98)

HIDEDRV - disable/enable access to floppy or hard drives

HIDEDRV.COM is designed to alternately disable/enable access to any disk drive. Entering the command 'HIDEDRV a:' will disable access to drive a:, and entering the command again will re-enable access. Not intended for network or CD-ROM drives.
Download HIDEDRV.ZIP (1KB, May 95)

LZHSCRUB - delete obsolete files from LZH archives

LHA.EXE may be used to backup the files in a source directory, but if a file is later renamed or erased from the source, its copy remains in the LZH archive under the old name. Over time, a LZH archive can accumulate many of these "orphans" - files that used to exist but no longer do. LZHSCRUB's purpose is to purge the orphans from the archive. LZHSCRUB compares the filenames in a LZH archive to the source directory. If files with the same names no longer exist in the source, they are purged from the archive. Version 1.2.
(A companion upload ZIPSCRUB is available for PKZIP users.)
Download LSCRUB12.EXE (84KB, Oct 97 - includes LHA.EXE version 2.13)

NUMLED.FAQ - how to set clone case speed number displays

Information about setting the speed number LED display on typical clone cases.
Download NUMLED.FAQ (5KB, Feb 94)

OKIFIX.HTM - fix Okidata LED page printer paper tray latch problem

Does your Okidata LED page printer have a problem locking its paper tray in the closed position? This HTML document describes the cause of the problem and a remedy.
View the page now or Download OKIFIX.ZIP (69KB, Jan 01) to view later.

OKRAM - diagnose PC/XT memory card switches

OKRAM is a simple utility to help you analyze the effects of the switches on unknown 8088 PC/XT memory cards. If you do not have documentation for the dipswitches, then it becomes difficult to decipher the switch codes. The system's POST (Power-On Self Test) checks ram only up to the amount indicated by the motherboard's Block 2 dipswitches, and quits at the first bad or nonexistent byte. OKRAM checks the entire 640K range regardless of switch settings, and does not stop at the first missing bank.
Download OKRAM.ZIP (3KB, May 93)

PARKING - review comparing hard disk head parking programs

There are significant differences among head parking programs. They don't always do what you expect, or tell you what they are doing. This Apr 94 update includes more test systems and 26 parking programs (including most found on CompuServe, GEnie, and America Online). The complete 49K text report is compressed into this 18K archive file. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR OR USE A THIRD-PARTY HEAD PARKING PROGRAM, THIS IS MUST READING!
Download PARKING.ZIP (18KB, May 94)

SORTPRCM - directory sorter for ProComm v2.4.x
SORTPLUS.ZIP - directory sorter for ProComm Plus v1.x

These programs allow you to easily manually sort a ProComm or ProComm Plus dialing directory in any order you desire. Some other sorting utilities do an automatic sort alphanumerically. That means your directory ends up in alphabetical order, whether you want it or not. Some may also remove blank entries from the directory. Since my programs sort manually, you can sort your directory entries in any order, including moving blank entries into the middle of the directory. I find this ability to pad blanks useful for grouping related entries on different directory "pages". Version 1.21.
Download SORTPRCM.ZIP (18KB, Sep 91)
Download SORTPLUS.ZIP (19KB, Sep 91)

VOLTEST - check disk volume label, return errorlevel

VolTest 1.0 - a utility to check the volume label on a disk and optionally compare it to a requested name. VolTest returns an errorlevel code for batch file use, but can also be used to set an environment variable with the label of the disk in the drive, if necessary. VolTest can read the true label, including any leading, trailing, or embedded spaces, which can confuse other label-matchers.
Download VOLTEST.ZIP (3KB, Oct 92)

ZIPSCRUB - delete obsolete files from ZIP archives

PKZIP may be used to backup the files in a source directory, but if a file is later renamed or erased from the source, its copy remains in the archive under the old name. Over time, a ZIP archive can accumulate many of these "orphans" - files that used to exist but no longer do. ZIPSCRUB's purpose is to purge the orphans from the archive. ZIPSCRUB compares the filenames in a ZIP archive to the source directory. If files with the same names no longer exist in the source, they are purged from the archive. Version 1.2.
(A companion upload LZHSCRUB is available for LHA users.)
Download ZSCRUB12.EXE (53KB, Oct 97)