Quarterdeck's CleanSweep 4.1 Outperforms the Competition; Tests Show CleanSweep is the Fastest and Most Thorough Hard Drive Cleanup Program Available.

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1998-- Quarterdeck Corp. (Nasdaq:QDEK), the world's leading provider of PC helpware solutions, Wednesday announced that CleanSweep 4.1 outperforms the competition, providing the fastest and most thorough hard drive cleanup functionality available.

Quarterdeck's internal test results show CleanSweep's 4.1 Fast & Safe Cleanup, technology for one-button and scheduled cleanups of several safe file types, provides maximum hard drive space savings, freeing over 38% more hard drive space than its nearest competitor.

Internal test results also confirm Fast & Safe Cleanup provides ultra-fast performance, outperforming CyberMedia's Uninstaller Deluxe 5.0 QuickClean by more than 2.3:1 and Symantec's Uninstall Deluxe 1.04 AutoClean by more than 21:1.

Test Results
                     Avg. Total Hard  Avg. Internet  Avg. Total Time
                     Drive Space      Cache Cleanup  (includes launch
                     Savings                         time)
Quarterdeck          57.71 MB         30.18 MB       23 sec.
CleanSweep 4.1
Fast & Safe
Cleanup

CyberMedia            37.78 MB        24.86 MB       54 sec.
Uninstaller
Deluxe 5.0
QuickClean

Symantec              41.53 MB        Not Shown By   8 min., 27 sec.
Uninstall                             Applications
Deluxe 1.04

AutoClean
Microsoft             35.72 MB        6.60 MB        27 sec.
Windows 98
Disk Cleanup

All comparative statements are true as of Aug. 19, 1998.

"In spite of larger hard drives, we find users are continually looking for ways to recover valuable hard disk space to improve PC performance," said Gary Ulaner, director of product management at Quarterdeck. "Our benchmarks show that CleanSweep is the best at recovering hard disk space and provides the fastest and most thorough hard drive cleanup technology available today."

About CleanSweep

CleanSweep is Quarterdeck's best-selling solution for safe and complete hard drive cleanup and management. It thoroughly and safely removes old or unwanted programs and the widest variety of files, including Internet debris such as ActiveX controls, cookies, browser-plug-ins, and Internet cache files.

CleanSweep also contains exclusive technology for one-button and scheduled cleanups of "safe" file types, an easy-to-use tool for editing the Windows registry, exclusive automatic safety features that protect less experienced users from accidental file deletion, and an updating utility that automatically updates CleanSweep over the Internet.

CleanSweep's "Deluxe" version includes Zip-It 4.0, a file compression utility that allows users to view, run, and selectively extract the contents of zipped files over the Internet before downloading the entire zipped archive to the PC.

Pricing and Availability

CleanSweep 4.1 provides online registration and is available at an estimated street price of $39.95 at major computer retail outlets nationwide. CleanSweep is also available direct from Quarterdeck by calling 800/354-3222 toll-free or 573/443-3282, or by accessing the Quarterdeck online store at http://store.quarterdeck.com. CleanSweep 4.1 Deluxe, which includes Zip-It 4.0, is currently available at an estimated street price of $49.95.

CleanSweep 3.0 users can upgrade to CleanSweep 4.1 for $19.99, and upgrade to the Deluxe version for $29.99 by calling Quarterdeck at 800/354-3222 toll-free or 573/443-3282. A trialware version of CleanSweep is available at http://www.quarterdeck.com.

Test Bed

In evaluating the four hard drive cleanup programs, Quarterdeck's goal was to test a few key areas of the programs' functionality, namely Internet cache cleanup, total hard drive space savings, and performance -- the total amount of time required to perform cleanup functions.

Quarterdeck ran its Clean-Up Performance test on three platforms utilizing the Windows 98 operating system. Quarterdeck used one HP Vectra VL P166MMX configured with 32MB of RAM, a 2G hard drive and a FAT32 file system; one Acer Aspire K6 PR233 configured with 32MB of RAM, a 6G hard drive and a FAT 32 file system; and one NEC Ready 7022 P75 configured with 16MB of RAM, a 1G hard drive and a FAT 32 file system.

The company configured each platform and then created space-eating file types on each system including Microsoft and Netscape Internet cache and history files, deleted files sent to the Windows Recycle Bin, temporary files, and lost cluster files. Next each system was cloned to ensure the test bed could be accurately recreated for each product tested.

Full details on Quarterdeck's tests can be found at the company's Web site, http://www.quarterdeck.com.

About Quarterdeck

Quarterdeck is a global leader in the development and marketing of PC helpware -- software designed to prevent and solve PC performance problems, especially those encountered in networked (Internet and intranet) environments. The company's goal is to make personal computing trouble-free for users and network administrators alike, while reducing the need for live technical support.

Quarterdeck's current product line, which addresses storage management, system conflict resolution, virus protection, system updating, and enhanced access to networked information and communications resources, is marketed to both end-users and businesses via retail distribution, corporate resellers and OEMs, direct marketing channels, and the Internet.

Quarterdeck's products are available in more than 14,000 outlets throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in more than 29 countries worldwide. Incorporated in 1982 and traded on Nasdaq under the symbol QDEK, Quarterdeck's worldwide headquarters are in Marina del Rey, Calif., with its European operations based in Dublin, Ireland.

Further information may be obtained by calling 800/354-3222 toll-free or 573/443-3282, by accessing Quarterdeck's Web site at http://www.quarterdeck.com/, or by sending e-mail requests to [e-mail].

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like more information on Quarterdeck and its products, view the Quarterdeck Press Center at http://www.quarterdeck.com/qdeck/press.

Quarterdeck and CleanSweep are registered trademarks of Quarterdeck Corp. or its subsidiaries. Zip-It is a trademark of Quarterdeck Corp. or its subsidiaries. All other brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, successful integration of acquisitions and divestitures of non-core assets, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The company undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

CONTACT: Quarterdeck Corp., Marina del Rey

Tawana Clark, 310/309-3757

[e-mail]

Ana Thorne, 310/309-3767

[e-mail]