                              HDD BENCHMARK
                               version 1.5
                       Copyright (c) Bartha Istvn

              This version has been released as a FREEWARE !

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. What is HdBench (what can it do) ?
2. Requirements.
3. How to use different config-files ?
4. Other tips and comments.
5. Known bugs.
6. Disclaimer, License and Copyright.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. What is HdBench ?

        HdBench is a drive benchmark program with the following features:
- Tests any Dos drive (Fat 12,16,32 and ramdisks) using 6 different tests,
  it even performs basic file operations to give you useful and realistic
  data about your drives.
- Logs your results to a file (drives.log) and after the tests it presents
  you with a colorful comparison between your own drives and some other
  drives (extra feature: you can scroll the whole drive-database).
- It presents you with a basic system info.
- Makes you able to start your favorite cache program (predefined in the
  configuration-file: hdbench.cnf) from within HdBench.
- It was meant to be a benchmark for hard drives, but it may be used to test
  and compare floppy drives and ramdisks, too.
- To find out more about the program just run hdbench.exe under Ms-Dos.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Requirements.

        It can be run on almost any Ms-Dos system (under Windows it will
   give unstable and not realistic results), 386 recommended. It needs at
   least 500 kb free Dos memory and a drive to test.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. How to use different config-files ?

        Some of you might want to use different config files and there is
   on way to do that: create a batch file (*.bat) calling it anything you
   like and put the following lines into it ( use a simple text editor ):

               @ Echo off
               rename hdbench.cnf original.cnf
               rename newconf.cnf hdbench.cnf
               HDBENCH.EXE
               rename hdbench.cnf newconf.cnf
               rename original.cnf hdbench.cnf

   - where original.cnf will be the temporary file containing the original
     config file with its own settings (but it can be another config file)
     while you're running the program with the new settings of the
     newconf.cnf file, a secondary config file.
   - NOTE: original.cnf and newconf.cnf are just examples, you can give
     these files any name you want, just edit your batch file accordingly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Other tips and comments.

  If the program is damaged because of some nasty bad-sectors and you
  can't decompress the archive, or one of the files is lost ... and
  now HdBench is driving you crazy with it's initial error messages, than
  start the program with the /nom switch and the messages will disappear.

  If you like HdBench and you want to have a larger drive database, then
  you can help me, by sending your results (test under Dos and no cache!)
  by email, and when I have the time, I will try to update the files.

  HdBench was written in Turbo Pascal v7.0 (free French version :-).
  It was compressed with aPACK v0.99b by Joergen Ibsen which I consider to
  be the best executable compressor around. Thanks Jibz !

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Known bugs.

  A major bug is that it can't detect the size of drives with more than
  2 gigs because of the Longint limit.
  Not all drive models can be detected by Hdbench (actually very few).

  This program is far from being perfect, you may find lots of other bugs
  or other annoying things in it, but keep in mind that I have worked a lot
  on this software and that it is Freeware.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Disclaimer, License and Copyright:

  Copyright (c) 2002 Bartha Istvn

  HdBench is FREEWARE, so you may copy it, share it, tell your friends
  about it, but you may not sell it for any profit !
  Feel free to upload it to any FTP or site, or include it on a CD..

  If you like my program then you may write some comments about it to the
  following email address:              bico@k.ro

  This software is provided "as is". In no event shall I, the author,
  be liable for any kind of loss or damage arising out of the use,
  abuse or the inability to use this software. USE IT ENTIRELY AT
  YOUR OWN RISK !

  This software comes without any kind of warranty, either expressed
  or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of
  merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.

  If you don't agree with these terms or if your jurisdiction does
  not allow the exclusion of warranty and liability as stated above
  you are NOT allowed to use this software at all.


  Contact:
  --------

  If you have any comments or bug-reports, then you may send them to me by
  using the following addresses:

  E-mail:
     bico@k.ro

  Mail to:
     Bartha Istvn,
     4150 Szkelyudvarhely,
     Fazakasok 2/6,
     ROMANIA


 Thanx for reading the dox and for using Hdbench :-)
