Rosenthal Engineering P.O.Box 1650, San Luis Obispo CA USA 93406 U.S. Patent No. 5,359,659, Copyright 1994 all rights reserved. Rosenthal Un_Dup (tm) (FREE BONUS!) "Rosenthal Un_Dup" is provided ABSOLUTELY FREE with paid registration or upgrade of the highly acclaimed program "Rosenthal UnInstall (tm)". Duplicate files waste valuable disk space, so "Rosenthal Un_Dup" finds any files that are redundant and may be removed. The path statement is optimized and directed to the remaining identical files. Files must be identical in name, size and contents to be considered duplicates. If the duplicate executable file (.COM, .EXE and .BAT) which is exempted by Rosenthal Un_Dup from removal is not in the path, the new directory will be added to the path statement of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The decision of which duplicate file to exempt from removal is based on the most direct and efficient path. Additional, the user may use the E - Exempt function to keep files by selectively removing them from the deletion list. The path statement sequence order is reorganized based on the actual directory structure of the disks to optimize access times with the most efficient search for all drives from C: through the last one in the path. All files are displayed for user confirmation before being deleted. The current original AUTOEXEC.BAT file and new the proposed modifications may be displayed for confirmation. A report file shows the files that are exempted and will not be deleted and may be reviewed. (R - Report file UN_DUP.DAT display). When the P - Purge option is employed, a backup copy of the original AUTOEXEC.BAT is saved as AUTOEXEC.OLD. The report file UN_DUP.DAT is then available and will show the files that were exempted by the user and automatically exempted by Un_Dup as well as the files that were deleted. Selecting the P - Purge option will delete the duplicate files displayed and make the modifications to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file that include the new optimized path statement. A warning will alert the user to read only and/or hidden duplicate files for confirmation. The P - Purge option shares data with "Rosenthal UnInstall" which must be installed first. A registration serial number for "Rosenthal UnInstall" is required for these programs to fully support each other. (See ORDER.FRM) Confirmation by the user will always be required ("Are you sure? y/N") prior to deleting duplicate files or making changes. How to use Rosenthal Un_Dup Execute "UNINSTAL.EXE" before adding each new software package. After you've installed and evaluated the new software, you can elect to keep it by selecting the "U - Update" function. The map is then updated and the current time and date are recorded. Both "Rosenthal UnInstall" and "Rosenthal Un_Dup" may be used without a registered serial number for an evaluation period. Copy the files from your distribution diskette, CD-ROM or archive to your hard disk. For example: COPY A:*.* C: Execute "UN_DUP.EXE" and review the files and the proposed changes to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Changes made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file go into effect when the system is started. Duplicate files that may be removed will be displayed with their full path names. It is not enough that a file has an identical name to be considered a duplicate. For example files named READ.ME are quite common and almost always different. Files with both the same name and size may not be identical either. For example FILE_ID.DIZ files are often the same length. Un_Dup will only consider a file to be a duplicate if it has the same name and is byte for byte identical. File date stamps are ignored because if a file is otherwise identical, it is functionally a duplicate. Option "N" displays proposed changes to the AUTOEXEC.BAT path statement. Option "C" displays the current AUTOEXEC.BAT file for review. It's a good idea to examine it as well before committing to purge anything. Changes made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, are saved as AUTOEXEC.OLD. To view the report file use the "R" option. A plain text report file is maintained as UN_DUP.DAT and will shows exempted and deleted files. In addition to the files automatically exempted from deletion by Un_Dup, files may selectively exempted from the removal list using the "E" option. The "PATH" command statement lines in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file sets the system to search through the listed directories for executable files (.COM, .EXE and .BAT). The search starts in the current directory and continues through the extended directories in the sequence they appear in the path statement. The path can span several disks and the order is rarely in the optimum sequence to minimize access time. "Rosenthal Un_Dup" organizes the path sequence so it is sorted in the order that directories are found on the actual disk. This can result in a significant improvement in disk access times. Disk drives are mechanical devices, so the less distance the heads must travel when searching for a file, the faster. There will also be an improvement when disk caching is employed, because more of the disk information can be buffered by the cache in memory. Many installation programs modify the path statement and over time some of the directories listed become obsolete or redundant. This is especially true of MS-Windows users. When a directory is listed in the path, but no longer resides on the disk, the path command forces the operating system to still search for it through each directory every time without success. This wastes time and degrades performance. Often an installation program will list a directory in the path more than once which forces the system to waste time searching that directory again even though the file wasn't found the first time. Each application program will have its' own requirements for where it expects to find the files it needs. Many only require the program to reside somewhere in the path. Some programs have their own path statements and MS-Windows programs often have their own separate .INI files. Programs that need to be directed to the files they use may need to be adjusted. Unfortunately each will have its' own unique way of implementing that, so refer to the producer of the program directly for help. Occasionally, a program needs one of the duplicate files that was deleted to be in a particular directory and is unable to locate it. If a program is unable to find the deleted file even though directed to it by the new path statement, it can still be recovered. Use your ASCII text viewer to review the report file (UN_DUP.DAT) generated by UN_DUP. Locate the file and copy it to the directory. One copy of a duplicate file is always exempted from deletion and executable files will be in the new path. Often it is possible to move an exempted file from one directory to another so a duplicate copy is not always necessary. "Rosenthal Un_Dup" will optimize the order of the directories to match the structure found on the actual disk drive. Directories that are listed in the path but no longer found on the disk are removed. Only a single copy of each directory is listed in the new, more efficient path statement. A well maintained system will have a minimum of duplicate and extra files wasting valuable disk space. The best way to prevent the system from becoming cluttered with extra files is to clean out the unused files on a regular basis. Using "Rosenthal UnInstall" each time a new application is installed will help a tremendous amount, and it also checks for duplicate files as they are installed. When "Rosenthal UnInstall" and "Rosenthal Un_Dup" are used on a regular basis, it is much easier to keep the system free of extraneous junk files and running efficiently. If a system has not been keep up to date, it becomes increasingly more difficult to remove extra files and may even seem to be an overwhelming task. It's best to not let things reach this level, but here's how it can still be done. Don't ever try to do too much at one time. If several applications report duplicate files, break the task of deleting them into smaller portions. Do one application at a time by deleting the files manually one at a time. Print out the UN_DUP.DAT text file and refer to it if that will help. Always test each application after duplicate files are deleted from it to make sure it can still find the one copy remaining that have been exempted. Make any corrections as you go along before deleting more files or moving on to different programs. Don't just use the purge option when there are a large number of changes to be made. Systems that have been keep free of extraneous files can take advantage of this option, but it's best to clean things up and test them one at a time to begin with. It's always easier to keep the system maintained when only minor changes are made at each session. Managing a computer need not be difficult or time consuming when done on a regular schedule. Make backups of files, use a deframenter for the hard disk. Test for viruses. Use "Rosenthal Cleaner" (see TRY_THIS) to maintain the floppy diskette drives. Always use "Rosenthal UnInstall" when adding new software and to remove unwanted software. Use "Rosenthal Un_Dup" to manage duplicate files and an efficient AUTOEXEC.BAT path statement. Registered users of "Rosenthal UnInstall" will receive the latest version of this program the and the very useful BONUS utility "Rosenthal History (tm)" FREE with their paid registration or upgrade. Also the unregistered software to evaluate listed in the TRY_THIS.DOC will be included. See the ORDER.FRM file for details. Rosenthal UnInstall (tm) Automatically remove unwanted Windows and DOS programs, files, directories and restore the system's AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI and disk boot sector system tracks. Quickly and easily! You'll wonder how you ever did without it!. Run "Rosenthal UnInstall" before you add anything new to your system. New programs can then be added and, at your option, kept, or deleted, and the system completely returned to normal. Single systems, as well as networks with multiple and even removable drives are supported. Safeguards provide display of all directories and files (including hidden and duplicate ones) for review and confirmation. Accept additions, or safely delete them. "Rosenthal UnInstall" maintains a map of your disk drives and records the appearance of each new installation. When you execute "UNINSTAL.EXE" before adding new software to your system, "Rosenthal UnInstall" can automatically remove it at some latter date. The best way to determine if any program will satisfy your needs is to try it for yourself. "Rosenthal UnInstall" makes trying new software more attractive by eliminating the aggravation normally associated with removing unwanted software and restoring the system. Unwanted software is removed and the system restored safely and automatically. All modifications, additions and deletions made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI can be restored. At your option, any of the added files and subdirectories may be kept or safely deleted, including hidden and read-only files. Even the disk boot sectors are handled. Rosenthal History (tm) (FREE BONUS!) The path changes made by "Rosenthal Un_Dup" to the AUTOXEC.BAT file will be recorded by "Rosenthal History (tm)". The bonus utility "Rosenthal History (tm)" is included ABSOLUTELY FREE with paid registration or upgrade. It maintains a running timeline of changes, additions and deletions made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files. An easy to understand, plain text file (RE_HIST.DAT) history report can be referred to when uninstalling software or to resolve conflicts. Add "Rosenthal History" and begin recording the timeline as soon as possible. Read the RE_HIST.DOC file for a complete description of this very highly acclaimed, must have utility. Orders Outside the U.S All international orders are sent by air-mail. See the order form (ORDER.FRM) for shipping and handling rates. Please be sure to make your payment in "US Dollars" either by (US) cash, international money order or check drawn on a US member bank. Otherwise banks want a fifty dollar processing fee to cash a twenty five dollar check. Sorry, euro-checks and credit cards can not be processed. Software License agreement You are encouraged to copy and distribute this software provided it remains unmodified, complete in its original form, and no fee (other than a nominal copy charge) is required. This software is provided "as is" without warranty either expressed or implied. You may not make any changes or modifications to the software, and you may not decompile, disassemble or in anyway reverse engineer the software. This software is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. Responsibility rests entirely with the user to determine its fitness for a particular purpose. ROSENTHAL ENGINEERING SHALL NOT IN ANY CASE BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHER SIMILAR DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY USE OF THIS SOFTWARE. Some states may not allow these limits on warranties, so they may not apply to you. In no case shall Rosenthal Engineering's liability exceed the license fees paid by you to Rosenthal Engineering for the right to use the Licensed Software. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government of the computer software and documentation in this package shall be subject to the restricted rights applicable to commercial computer software as set forth in subdivision (b) (3) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013). The Contractor/manufacturer is Doren Rosenthal, Rosenthal Engineering, P.O.Box 1650, San Luis Obispo, California 93406. This constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding whether oral or written and may only be modified in writing.