An in-depth look at First Aid 97, its new features, and its innovative control panel.

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--CyberMedia Inc. (NASDAQ/NMS:CYBR) is bringing two noteworthy contributions to the computer universe with the introduction of its new First Aid 97 software for Windows.

This new product is remarkable both for the extent to which it protects users from system problems and for its unique new way of presenting information and control options in a stunningly innovative user interface.

The new user interface -- developed in-house by CyberMedia programmers -- is a continuation of the "soft rubber" look and feel that CyberMedia debuted with its new Oil Change automated-update software for Windows.

Its domed-look control buttons appear to compress like soft rubber when clicked by a pointing device. Menu selections glide into place across a mid-window banner bar. Overall, there's a mix of words and pictures that communicate clearly to both sides of the brain, organized in a way that never seems complex or cluttered.

Like many "pretty faces," First Aid 97 has enormous power and intelligence lurking under its skin. The simplicity of their presentation is a testament to a design philosophy that shields users from tedious chores that programming could and should be able to accomplish on its own.

This powerful arsenal of protection, problem prevention and performance improvement features embraces areas of functionality that might each justify its own product. "Our customer philosophy is very much like our user interface philosophy," said CyberMedia President Unni Warrier.

"If we can avoid confusing things by putting a little more under the hood, that works in everybody's interests. It gives our customers an easier choice than the myriad of subset solutions available from competitors."

A Mission and a New Ally (Now Antivirus Too)

First Aid 97 expands upon the mission of its progenitor. It does an even more thorough job of watching for trouble, a more comprehensive job of preventing trouble, and a more complete job of responding to those inevitable troubles that occur regardless.

In its vigil against the evils that can befall a system, CyberMedia is sending an ally along inside the First Aid 97 box: Dr. Solomon's Find Virus antivirus software is now included with First Aid 97, and appears on its menu.

The menu selection brings up this popular antivirus utility on command for those circumstances that suggest a virus may have come into play, or even better, for those cautious users who want to make sure it won't.

"Checkup," a One-Button Physical

To prevent trouble, the new First Aid 97 Check-Up button conducts a thorough system "physical" exam. In minutes, it checks vital system components, identifies the sources of current or potential problems and almost always offers to fix them for you.

The Check-Up process seamlessly integrates First Aid 97's unique facilities with diagnostic functions that are built into Windows 95. For example, First Aid 97 itself examines the integrity of the Windows Registry, but launches and runs Windows' own Scandisk utility for hard drive tests, and calls on the Windows system conflict resolver when that makes sense.

However, most operations use First Aid 97's advanced knowledge base to make meticulous comparisons of system settings versus system realities.

When Check-Up finds things upon which it can improve, it explains them simply and presents the power of its Auto-Fix button. For the few difficulties for which there is no AutoFix, there are brief, easy-to-follow instructions on what to do to fix it yourself.

Check-Up runs through a roster of duties; advanced users can easily configure First Aid 97 to select which of these are included in the Check-Up procedure, and how rigorous the tests should be.

These "clinical" routines examine local drives, look for hardware conflicts, inspect Windows system and Registry settings, survey installed applications, probe multimedia accessories, investigate modem and Internet settings, scrutinize network connections and peruse a panoply of performance parameters.

Guardian -- Part EKG, Part Paramedic 

The First Aid 97 Guardian is a constant monitor against new trouble, running unobtrusively from the Windows 95 System Tray. Like an EKG, it sounds no alarm unless the system's "vital signs" fall into a danger zone. Low memory, impending crashes, hardware conflicts, data corruption, imminent hard drive failure and performance bottlenecks will all command its attention.

When an application freezes up, a unique new feature in the Windows Guardian offers a welcome alternative. It gives you the opportunity to reactivate the application, which at least means a chance to save its current document or data. Unlike any competitor, First Aid 97 can even respond to lock-ups in 16-bit Windows 3.1 applications running under Windows 95.

The original First Aid 95 offered the category's first "air bag" crash protection for Windows, popping up to prevent "injury" (to programs, data and the user's convenience) under those circumstances that would otherwise have been irrevocable crashes.

First Aid 97 extends this tradition in Guardian with an even smarter crash protector that can identify, resolve and often automatically repair the conditions that led to the would-be crash.

Triage, "CPR" and Much Softer Crashes

New First Aid 97 adds "Emergency Care" to disaster-proof a PC. It works like triage to bring PCs back to life when something (like installing a new piece of hardware or software) kills them. It offers to make an emergency startup disk as a last-resort safeguard if other rescue attempts fail.

It offers an even more vigilant and facile version of the "air bag" crash-interceptor to soften the blow and give your work a chance for survival when crashes do come. And if installing hardware or software changes settings and trips up a system, a "Backtrack" feature reverts the settings to where they were before the system got into trouble.

"CPR" (for "Computer Program Reactivator") reactivates a PC when programs lock up or stop responding. It's even effective with frozen Windows 3.1 (16-bit) applications.

The "Doctor" and "Nurse" Get "Med School" Refreshers; Whither Expertise

If the metaphorical "Doctor" in First Aid 97 is its ability to diagnose and counter problems, then "Advisor" is its nurse, with help and advice and knowledge and even, via the Internet, connections.

If any attribute of a system's performance becomes curious or annoying, the Advisor offers wonderful ways to track the problem down. They begin with a picture map of a system on a desktop (or a companion pick-list) that lets users start to home in on the symptoms. With a few more questions, there's usually a ready answer -- like replacing the wires when a speaker sounds scratchy.

When the answer isn't on hand, First Aid 97 can go onto the Internet to seek out the latest solutions, tips and answers relevant to the problem.

Right out of the box, First Aid 97 has the built-in know-how to identify and deal with more than tens of thousands of possible computer problems. That number can grow with time as its "Update" button connects to the Internet for the latest additions and improvements to this expertise.

The expert system inside First Aid 97 marks the first appearance in a retail software package of both case-based reasoning from the Inference Corp. CasePoint expert system engine and the wealth of experiential information in a knowledge base provided by ServiceWare Inc., the help desk online knowledge base experts.

Omniscience via Internet

When First Aid 97 can't resolve a problem at a user's desktop itself, it tries for solutions as close to there as it's possible to get.

When the problem isn't something an AutoFix can handle, First Aid 97 recommends simple actions a user can take. If a problem escapes its purview (as might be the case with a distorted video display, for example), it offers the built-in knowledge base of the Advisor.

If the answer isn't there, it can search the Internet for a solution. And if the answer isn't on the Internet, there's a built-in electronic edition of the Tech Support Yellow Pages, with technical support contact information for thousands of computer industry companies.

The new Internet support features are available transparently, not requiring any "surfing skills" of users.

There are three ways that First Aid 97 takes advantage of Internet connections: through the "Update" button, the Crash Protector and the Advisor.

The Update button connects First Aid 97 to the CyberMedia Help Central server on the Internet, where it can update itself, including recent improvements to its knowledge base.

The Advisor can scan the Internet for the latest solutions, tips and answers relevant to a specific situation.

The Crash Protector looks to the Internet for patches, updates or other fixes to the software or drivers that may have contributed to the crash.

Beyond Problems, Into Opportunities with "AutoFix"

Problems are only one of three areas that new First Aid 97 addresses. It also identifies opportunities to improve a system's performance, as well as opportunities to incorporate updates and bug fixes (using a subset of CyberMedia's Oil Change software technology). All three areas provide users with a one-button AutoFix option whenever possible.

AutoFix is a single button that can assume many functions, depending on the task at hand. For example, if the problem is a missing DLL, it will search anywhere or everywhere on a system to find another copy. If the problem is a misplaced DLL, it will move it; it can even tell you which of an application's installation disks to insert to get a missing DLL restored to your system.

AutoFix can also rewrite INI file settings or Registry values to resolve driver conflicts. While the AutoFix button always leads to an appropriate approach, the programming behind it will always adapt its response to the button to adapt it to the mission it must perform.

Most of those times when AutoFix can't work involve the hardware complement of a system. First Aid 97 may recommend adding memory, for example, or replacing a failed component.

The product's philosophy throughout is to do what it can to resolve problems, but when it can't, to offer a clear understanding of the problem and a direct path to its resolution.

CyberMedia Inc., founded in 1991, develops and markets software products that help Windows PC users fix or avoid problems on their own, reducing their dependency on vendor hot lines or help desk technical support. Its First Aid 95 product family has consistently been on top-10 Windows 95 business software best-seller lists since November 1995, and has sold more than 1 million copies.

Its newer Oil Change software updates Windows software automatically over the Internet.

For additional information, contact CyberMedia Inc., 3000 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, Calif. 90405; phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; World Wide Web URL: http://www.cybermedia.com -0-

NOTE: First Aid is a registered trademark and Oil Change is a

trademark of CyberMedia Inc. All other trademarks are the

property of their owners.

CONTACT: CyberMedia Inc., Santa Monica

Giselle Bisson, 310/581-4700