Future Systems Solutions Releases Drivespan 1.5; New Features Enhance Unique Product That Let's You Expand An Existing Drive By Simply Adding An Additional Hard Disk.

FT. WAYNE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1999-- -0-

                        DriveSpan 1.5 Benefits


       Windows 95/98 Plug and Play Installation for Hard Drives
    and Patent Pending Spanning Allows Safe and Easy Expansion of
           Existing Drives by adding Additional Hard Disks.

NEW IN VERSION 1.5

--   S.M.A.R.T. Disk Monitoring alerts users to impending hard disk
     failure
--   Advanced Recovery Mode helps users recover data from remaining
     disks if a spanned drive fails
--   Disk Allocation allows new disk to be split between existing
     drives

OTHER FEATURES

--   New drives automatically detected when installed just like other
     plug and play hardware
--   New drives set up for user by DriveSpan Wizard
--   Instant expansion of existing drive when installing a second,
     third, etc. hard disk
--   No cloning, file moving or program reinstallation to get benefits
     of additional hard disk
--   Patent pending approach ensures file safety across all spanned
     disks

Future Systems Solutions (FSS) today announced DriveSpan version 1.5. DriveSpan 1.5 adds SMART disk monitoring, Advanced Recovery Mode, and Disk Allocation to the program which already makes installing new hard disk and adding its space to an existing drive fast and simple.

SMART DISK MONITORING - New in Version 1.5

DriveSpan 1.5 adds SMART disk monitoring. SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology), a technology included on most hard disks, predicts when a hard disk will physically fail. DriveSpan monitors the disks' SMART status and warns the user in advance of a pending disk failure allowing the user to protect their data before the failure.

ADVANCED RECOVERY MODE - New in Version 1.5

DriveSpan 1.5 adds Advanced Recovery Mode, which assists users in accessing data on hard disks in the event one in a series of spanned disks fails. "If you have spanned two or more disks and one fails," said Jim Streater, President of Future Systems Solutions "we put the system in a mode that allows you to recover data from the remaining disks." "Spanning is actually a safety advantage," he added. "If you have a single large disk and it fails you would lose all of your data, but if you have a large drive created from multiple disks and one fails, you still have good disks and an opportunity to recover your remaining data."

DISK ALLOCATION - New in Version 1.5

DriveSpan 1.5 allows users to allocate part of a new disk to expand one or more existing drives. This gives users flexibility in determining how to use their new hard disk.

STILL THE EASIEST WAY TO ADD SPACE TO YOUR EXISTING DRIVE

DriveSpan's plug and play installation for hard drives AND hard disk spanning for PCs takes the time and tedium out of reinstalling programs, moving data files, or going through the complex process of cloning an existing drive to a new one just to get a bigger C: drive. Using its unique patent pending Media Expansion Partition (MEP) technology, DriveSpan can combine multiple hard disks into a single large drive. This means users instantly see their existing drive expand upon installation of an additional second, third, etc. hard disk.

DRIVESPAN WIZARD MAKES NEW DRIVE INSTALLATION A SNAP

Users simply install their new drive, which -- through DriveSpan technology -- is detected at Windows startup like other new hardware devices. The DriveSpan Wizard then quickly and simply prepares the new drive and, if selected by the user, combines its space with the existing drive. New programs and data install easily and safely as all combined drives act as one. DriveSpan allows the user to combine any number of drives up to a total of 2 terabytes (One Terabyte equals 1000 Gigabytes).

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

DriveSpan 1.5 for Windows 95/98 is available immediately at $39.95 direct from Future Systems Solutions at WWW.FSSDEV.COM or by calling 800/272-5457 or online at popular download stores including CompUsa.com, Shopping.com, pcZone.com, Outpost.com and others. DriveSpan 1.0 users may download the 1.5 upgrade FREE at WWW.FSSDEV.COM.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

DriveSpan requires an Intel-based PC or compatible (486/66 or higher, Pentium recommended); Windows 98 or Windows 95 version 4.00.950b (OSR2) or later; 3.5" floppy disk drive; 5MB free disk space; 8MB RAM; and FAT 32 (if necessary, DriveSpan automatically converts the system from FAT 16 to FAT 32 during set up).

ABOUT FUTURE SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS

Future Systems Solutions develops and markets software to help PCs and peripherals run faster and more efficiently. Future Systems Solutions has licensed technology to Symantec, Iomega, Quarterdeck and other leading software and hardware companies and its technology is seen today in leading products. FSS headquarters are in Ft. Wayne, IN with offices in Los Angeles, CA. Further information may be obtained by calling 800/272-5457 or by visiting the FSS Web site at http://www.FSSDEV.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on FSS and its products, please view the FSS Press Center at http://www.FSSDEV.com/press. Future Systems Solutions and DriveSpan are trademarks of Future Systems Solutions. All other brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.