#1-TuffTEST-Proä
http://www.tufftest.com

(Reviewed by Fred Sabin, President, NJCC)

What would you do if your computer failed to work correctly?

This could happen for many reasons, including both hardware and software related problems.  Would you know how to troubleshoot it? Would you even know where to start? Or would you just take it to a professional for repair (which might take many days and cost in excess of $100)?

The NJCC has provided numerous presentations on computer troubleshooting and repair, and at our “Random Access” Q&A period at each meeting we offer you the opportunity to ask questions about your specific problems. Almost everything we have done, however, has been software related, but you really should make sure that you don’t have a hardware related problem first. The single “beep” at startup is a good indication that everything is OK, but running a PC hardware diagnostic program would be much better and much more reassuring.

That is where #1-TuffTEST-Proä comes to the rescue. It is a very powerful and reliable diagnostic software that runs over 200 hardware tests on your computer system, and reports any errors that it may find to allow you to properly identify and correct the problem. If everything tests OK, you will have the added assurance that your system hardware is functioning properly.

This is a very simple program to use, as you just inset a diagnostic floppy disk and then start your computer. Instead of booting into your Windows operating system, the diagnostic disk self-boots into an assembly language program that tests your hardware without interference from your operating system or other installed software. You can sit back and watch it cycle through all the tests, or select the tests you want to run, and then just wait until it is done.

If you do not understand the results you can get excellent free technical support via e-mail, phone or fax. I didn’t understand a test result when I was evaluating this software, and my email requesting help was answered extremely quickly with a very complete and professional response.

Two programs (under 1 MB) are available by download only from http://www.tufftest.com :

#1-TuffTEST-Liteä is a reduced function program that you can try for free, and then purchase for $9.95 should you determine that this software will meet your needs.

#1-TuffTEST-Proä is the full function program that costs $29.95.

A full listing of the tests and functions that are run is available on the website, as well as additional information that better describes the software and its functionality. #1-TuffTESTä supports Intel, AMD and Cyrix processors, and runs on almost every computer system.

I strongly suggest that you download and try #1-TuffTEST-Liteä, and you will then probably end up purchasing  #1-TuffTEST-Proä. I did a demo of it at our December (2004) NJCC meeting, and will have it available for demo or questions at future NJCC meetings.