Frequently asked questions and answers about ADC

Compiled on July 29, 1997; last updated on Sep 6, 2005



What is ADC?

Tired to remember what disk does any particular file is located on? Want to find it in seconds? Thinking about tracking your backups? Wish to send a printed list of all applications/shareware you have to your friend? Looking for the program which is located on one of cover CDs?

The answer is there. Get ADC. Install it. Run. Add all of your disks - it will not take a lot of time, actually. Now you have the complete database (catalog) with all of your CDs, hard disk, floppies, Zip/Jaz disks, magneto-optical disks etc., with search and report facilities and a couple of other very useful features.

What are the advantages of ADC in comparison to other similar programs?

Well, we would not like to tell anything bad about our competitors... Each program has his own "pros" and "cons". We hope that you'll like ADC just because of the following reasons:

  • It is very fast. We don't use any database engines (like SQL, Microsoft ODBC, Borland BDE etc.). The whole program is writen in C++ (with some assembler subroutines).
  • The database (in our own format) is very compact. There are no extra bytes there; it contains only the information it actually needs for proper work.
  • It is quite simple to use. Just insert the disk, press a single button and wait a few seconds - all your files and folders will be listed. The most of ADC functions are realized so - to be very convenient. And it has an "Explorer-like" interface you should be already familiar with.
  • The program doesn't modify any system files and doesn't write anything into Windows system directory.
  • It is powerful. You can do almost everything you need with ADC. If you're missing any features - just write us, and we'll try to realize them. Don't hesitate to suggest.
  • We're continuously improving it, fixing the bugs and implementing the new features.
  • It contains the complete documentation (help file) with detailed information how to do something.
  • We provide technical support (by e-mail) for free. Usually you get an answer to your question within 24 hours.

Are there any limitations to the number of disks (files etc.) in ADC database?

Only in the unregistered version: when the total size of all files on all disks added to the database will be 2Gb or more, ADC will not add more disks into it, asking the user to register. As for the registered version, there are no limits. You can add as much disks as you want; however, the database load time will increase, of course. The "practical" limit depends on the speed of your CPU, amount of RAM, hard disk performance and the number of files (especially compressed ones) on your disks; it is OK to keep about 50 CDs, 100 ZIP disks and 300 floppies just in one database (on Pentium-133 with 32Mb RAM).

Why should I register?

First, because ADC is not a freeware. It is shareware and protected by Russian and international laws. You may use it during the evaluation period (30 days); after that, you either have to register, or stop using it. Second, the unregistered (evaluation) version has some limitations.

In addition, only registered users get the complete technical support (by email).

What are the limitations of unregistered version?

Well, here they are:

  • displaying the nag screen on start, which cannot be closed within 5 seconds;
  • the maximum total size of files in the database cannot exceed 2 gigabytes;
  • the following options are disbled:
    • Search in archives
    • Save search window layout
    • Save other windows layout
    • Remember open/save path
    • Program to use instead of Explorer
    • Anti-virus program

How do I register?

Simple. Just visit our registration page; follow the link Order the Fully Licensed Version of ADC on Advanced Disk Catalog page. You have to have a valid credit card for the registration. After you'll register, we'll send you the key which will remove all limitations.

I don't have a credit card or would not like to use it in the Internet. How do I register?

No problems. Drop us a mail; we'll give you an address to send the check (by snail mail); or you can make the wire transfer to our bank account. Please don't send us the banknotes - it's a very bad chance that we'll get them, due to a "nature" of Russian post service!

Can I get the site license?

Sorry, but you cannot. However, we do have a volume discounts; the price may be as low as $12 if you purchase a few copies at a time.

Will my registration work for the future version of ADC?

Yes, of course! The registration key you'll receive will be valid for all future versions of ADC (or we may provide you with the new one, if the registration method will be changed), even if we'll decide to increase the price, make a "professional" version or whatever else.

Do you have 16-bit version of ADC?

Sorry, no. Microsoft almost stopped supporting this operating system. Also, Windows 3.1 (and so the applications for it) cannot use the full power of the new CPUs, PCI bus, graphics accelerators etc. It's is too slow and unstable, and it is not multi-threaded. Did I mention ugly user interface?

Does ADC work under Win32s?

Sorry, no. We're using a couple of features which are specific to Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. In addition, Win32s has a lot of serious bugs, and it's really hard to support it. And of course, Windows 3.1 (which Win32s is working on) cannot give you the high performance as the "real" 32-bit operating system does.

Does ADC work under Windows NT 3.51?

Sorry, no. We're using common controls (tree and list views etc.) which are available only in Windows NT 4.0 (and in Windows 95, of course).

Can I make the suggestions for the future versions?

Of course! Actually, you should do that!! Your comments make the program better. Please write use what you'd like to see in ADC, and we'll probably implement your suggestion already in the next version. If you know about other good programs of this kind and they have any useful facilities not existing in ADC (yet), please let us know. Thanks beforehand.

How often do you release the updates?

As soon as we add enough new features and/or fix the important bugs.

Can I get a notification message each time when the new version is there?

Yes. You can subscribe to ADC mailing list at http://maillist.elcomsoft.com/.

The new version seems to be working slower than the previous one. What is going on?

This is not true, actually. We're adding the new features, however; for example, automating the process of describing the files in the catalog (using files like file_id.diz etc.). Of course, such operations will slow down the disk scanning; but they're configurable, and you always have a chance to turn off the partucular setting and receive the same speed as before. Well, almost the same, because the brogram becomes larger and so works a little bit slower (just a few percents decrease, so don't worry about that).

What if ADC would not even like to install?

First, get the latest version -- we're improving the installation program as well. Second (if you're running Windows NT) be sure to have the Administrator priviledges; otherwise, the setup may fail when trying to modify some setting in Registry. If the above recommendations did not help and the setup still hands, just terminate it (using Ctrl-Alt-Del under Windows 95 or Task Manager under NT) and run again. If you still have problems, get the detailed description of the problem (see an answer on the privious question) and contact us. Or you may wish to download the Advanced Disk Catalog without the setup files (instead of the full package). Visit the Advanced Disk Catalog page for details.

Should I uninstall an older version of ADC before installing the newer one?

Yes, we recommend you to do that. Just be sure to save your databases.

How do I uninstall an older version?

As usual, from the Control Panel. Look at the Add/remove programs applet; find the Advanced Disk Catalog entry and simply click on Remove.

How do I submit bugs?

Well, if you've encountered a bug, please inform us about it immediately! You'll help us a lot if you'll give the detailed information how to repeat it; we also need to know something about your system (Windows version, what service packs installed -- if any -- etc.). And of course, ADC version. BTW, you may wish to visit our site to get the latest version (if there is one), or at least check More information link on ADC page -- the file available there contains the information about the bugs fixed in each version; so your one might be already fixed too.

Why does ADC would not like to work with my Iomega drive?

Probably because you have the old version of Iomega drivers. We recommend you to use the latest version; it is available free from Iomega..

I cannot open my database in ADC (error 0). What should I do?

First, please try to use the latest version of ADC (we had problems like that in earlier versions). Second, be sure that you have not applied any patches to the program, except ones available from our home page. If the problem still exist, try to determine which particular disk causes it -- by adding one-disk-at-once and saving and re-opening your database (remembering what disk you have added last time). When the program will fail, create the fresh new database and add the this (one) disk; does the database valid now? If yes, please contact us for the support. If no, create the new database with the same disk, but having some "scan" options disabled (Inport comments, Extract file_id.diz from archives, Analyse compressed files etc.), and detect which option causes ADC to fail. With this information, contact our technical support group.

Help! My database seems to be corrupted!

If you cannot load the database you've just created or modified... It happens sometimes (rarely). Something goes wrong. Power problem, or hard disk fail, or whatever else. Be quiet!

The simplest solution is to use a backup copy - it is always created when ADC saves the file. It should have bak extension, by the way (as usual). Just rename it (to have the cat extension) and try to open - how it works now?

If it doesn't help, or if you've made a lot of changes since the last save, don't modify the database anymore before you'll contact us. Instead, drop us a letter and ask how to upload your corrupted database to our ftp site. It's a very good chance that we'll repair it, don't worry.

I've seen a crack or serial number for ADC in the Internet. Can I apply it?

If you are a registered user, or a legitimate evaluator, my apologies for bringing this up. You can skip right over the discussion of cracks if you wish.

You can. Please note, however, that this will violate the license agreement and strictly prohibited by international and Russian laws. Also, do it on your own risk: "cracked" program will not work as it should -- we have built-in some protection routines into ADC. Your computer will not crash (ADC doesn't run any desructing routines, even if it detects that it has been cracked), but don't ask us why your database cannot be loaded, or something else goes wrong after such cracking... Moreover, you will not get any technical support for the cracked program.

Also, the numbers we're providing will work for all future versions (or we may give the new ones to registered users). Of course, for free. But we cannot say the same about the cracks and serials from Internet/UseNet -- you'll need to search for new ones. This is troublesome, as far as we update the program quite frequently...

So, that's up to you. The registration costs only $20, even when you're paying with the credit card (is it too much?), and you may loose much more if you'll use the crack or invalid serial. At least your time -- if the database will be corrupted. Please think about that before cracking. Think twice. And join the community of registered users of ADC -- you will not be disappointed!

Thank you for reading! If you have a question which is not answered, please don't hesitate to submit to our contacts form (select general in "Question type"). You're always welcome!