Contents
TestDrive Help Contents

The following Help Topics are available:

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM

Trying & Buying Products

TestDrive Subscriptions

Free Products & Specials

Technical Support

About TestDrive

For Help on Help, Press F1


Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM

Getting around the TestDrive CD-ROM is easy. Buttons for moving from one area to the next are located on every screen. Then, depending on your screen location, you can click additional buttons to try or buy products, get product information, see demos, or find free products and special offers.

For information on the screen locations, see the following:

Main Menu Screen

Browse Screen

Fast Finder Screen

e-Specials Screen

Purchase Screen

Free Products Screen

For information on the using the buttons, see:

The TestDrive Buttons


Trying & Buying Products

Trying or buying products is easy. First, go to a TestDrive screen location that contains product listings. Then, highlight a product and press the appropriate button to try out or purchase the selection. Use the information below to get started.

To quickly locate products by Title, Category, or Publisher from a product list, use the Fast Finder Screen .

To quickly locate products by Category, go to the Browse Screen . Once you've selected your category, a product list will be displayed.

From either screen you've chosen, you'll see titles listed in a scroll box. Next to each title is a TestDrive Button , indicating an option to try the product, get information about the product, or to see a demo. Now, highlight the title you want, then...

To try out a product, use the Try Button .

To buy a product, use the Buy Button .

To place a product in your Shopping Cart, click the Cart Button .

To buy products placed in your cart, press the Purchase Button .

When you "try" a product, the product launches as if it had been installed on your hard drive. Unlike a "demo", all the features of the software will be fully operational. The only limitation is either by "counters" or "timers", depending on the product.

When you "buy" a product, the product is unlocked and an icon for the software is placed in the TestDrive Windows group. Shortly following your purchase, you'll receive the complete retail software package in the mail. Until then, whenever you want to run your purchased software, just place the TestDrive CD-ROM in your drive, go to the TestDrive Windows group, and click the icon for your product.

Not all products are "tryable". Some software publishers have provided demonstrations of their products. Press the Demo Button to see these. Other products listed will display a written description of their features when you press the Info Button . ALL products, though, can be placed in your shopping cart and purchased.

See also:

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM

Free Products Screen

e-Specials Screen


TestDrive Subscriptions

To get your subscription to TestDrive and to unlock all the Free Products on this CD-ROM, just press the Subscribe Button from any screen location and follow the directions for calling into our toll-free number. Not only will you receive a code to unlock the free products on this release of the TestDrive Super Store, but your next four releases will have additional free software already unlocked.


Free Products & Specials

The TestDrive CD-ROM contains a selection of Free Products, available to TestDrive subscribers, and a selection of Special offers and promotions available to everyone.

To get to the Free Products Screen , press the Free Button .

To get to the e-Specials Screen , press the Specials Button .

See also:

TestDrive Subscriptions


Technical Support

For help with ANY problem you have with the TestDrive CD-ROM, please call 408-496-6667.

TestDrive Technical Support is available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

Any call placed during our regular hours should connect you directly with a "live" support person. If you get a recorded message at that time, our staff is on other calls, but THEY WILL GET BACK TO YOU RIGHT AWAY if you leave a message.

If you can't call during the regular hours, call anyway and leave a message for us to get back to you the next day.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU REALLY WANT TO CALL... Don't worry - our tech staff is actually friendly and courteous. No call is too simple or too small. We're here to help.


About TestDrive

Located in California's "Silicon Valley", TestDrive Corporation has brought together the diverse skills and experience of many talented individuals. It is our desire to provide every computer user, whether novice or professional, innovative products combining the latest computer technology with the logical needs of consumers.

Every effort has been made by every staff member at TestDrive to make this CD-ROM useful and entertaining for you. We hope we have succeeded. If not, we're sure you'll let us know!

The Development Team:

Software Architecture & Programming  -  Warren Stringer

Systems Design & Programming  -  George Rikker

Additional Programming  - Chuck Berg, Gregory Rakoshitz

Creative Director  -  Ted Richards

Art & Animation Director  -  Dave Kettmann

Software Quality Assurance Manager  -  Eric Wolf

MIS / Telecommunications Manager  -  Larry Keffer

Technical Support  -  Maeve Hannaway, Gary Gregg

CD-ROM Status Cursor Design by Carla Collopy

The Sales / Marketing Team:

Mike Conran  -  VP and General Manager

Greg Sutyak  -  Chief Financial Officer

Cynthia West  -  Director of Sales

Kevin Scheier  -  Director of Distribution

Heidi De La Torre  -  ISV Sales

Jay Adams  -  Distribution Sales

Erin Wahl  -  Administration

Where to reach us:

TestDrive Corporation

2933 Bunker Hill Lane  Suite 101

Santa Clara, CA  95054-1124

Phone:  408-496-0555

Fax:  408-496-6810


Main Menu Screen

The Main Menu screen appears when you first start the TestDrive CD-ROM. From here, you can easily get to any area of the Super Store. Just click on any of the five screen location buttons to reach the area you want.

See Also:

Browse Screen

Fast Finder Screen

e-Specials Screen

Purchase Screen

Free Products Screen


Browse Screen

The Browse Screen is a good place to get an overview of the TestDrive Super Store products. Each of the four shopping aisles contains Category Title Bars ,for viewing all the products available by category, and Tilted Packages for viewing Special Offers.

When you click on a Category Bar, you'll see a drop-down list of product categories. Click on a category to display all the products for your selection. From here, you can press buttons to try and buy applications, get product information and demonstrations.

For help using the other buttons you see on the Browse screen, see the following:

The TestDrive Buttons

See also:

Trying & Buying Products

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM


Fast Finder Screen

The Fast Finder Screen lets you quickly locate products by product title, category, or publisher.

To display a list of all product titles, click the Product Title Button.

To display a list of titles in a product category, click the Category Button.

To display a list of titles by publisher, click the Publisher Button.

You can also use the Fast Finder text box, located just above the product list. Just type in 1 to 5 letters of the product title to go immediately to that area of the list.

Once you've created the display list of your choice, you may press buttons to try and buy applications, get product information and demonstrations.

For help using the other buttons you see on the Fast Finder Screen, see the following:

The TestDrive Buttons

See also:

Trying & Buying Products

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM


e-Specials Screen

The e-Specials Screen is the place to find TestDrive Special Offers and promotions. Click the Specials Button from any screen or the Tilted Packages  from the Browse Screen to arrive here. The screen displays a list of all the specials, and next to each item listed is an Info Button describing the details of each offer.

From here you can purchase any offer. Or, if you need even more information on the items listed, call the toll-free number displayed on the screen.

For help using the other buttons you see on the e-Specials Screen, see the following:

The TestDrive Buttons

See also:

Trying & Buying Products

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM


Purchase Screen

If you highlight an item from a product list and click the Buy Button , you'll arrive here. Also, if you've loaded your Shopping Cart with items, and then press the Purchase Button you'll arrive here.

The screen will display all the items you've selected for purchase, their unit price, and the total price. You'll see a toll-free number to call to purchase and unlock your product. Once unlocked, an icon for that application is placed in your TestDrive Windows group. Shortly following your purchase, you'll receive the complete retail software package in the mail. Until then, whenever you want to run your purchased software, just place the TestDrive CD-ROM in your drive, go to the TestDrive Windows group, and click the icon for your product.

For help using the other buttons you see on the Purchase Screen, see the following:

The TestDrive Buttons

See also:

Trying & Buying Products

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM


Free Products Screen

The TestDrive CD-ROM contains several products available free to subscribers. When you press the Free Button from the Main Menu Screen or the Browse, Fast Finder, or e-Specials screens, you'll be shown the Free Products List display.

If you're not already a TestDrive subscriber, press the Call Button next to any Free Product item and follow the on-screen instructions to place your subscription and unlock all the free products. Once unlocked, the Call Button changes to an Install Button . Use this button to install the free products to your hard drive.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TESTDRIVE SUBSCRIBERS: If you're already a TestDrive subscriber, you should already have Install Buttons next to the Free Products listings. If not, call TestDrive Technical Support at 1-408-496-6667 to unlock your free products.

For help using the other buttons you see on the Free Products Screen, see the following:

The TestDrive Buttons

See also:

TestDrive Subscriptions

Getting Around the TestDrive CD-ROM


Category Title Bars

Located along the "aisles" of the Browse Screen, click on these colored bars to see a drop-down list of product categories.


Tilted Packages

Located along the "aisles" of the Browse Screen, click on these tilted boxes to see TestDrive's Special Offers.


Unlocked Products

Whenever you make a purchase, the software product is "unlocked" so that you may run the program from the TestDrive CD-ROM for unlimited use. Following your purchase, you'll find an icon for your program in the TestDrive Program Window. This is provided as a convenience until your actual disks arrive in the mail for installation onto your hard drive.


Counters & Timers

Every "tryable" product on the TestDrive CD-ROM is completely functional in every way, operating on your system as if it were installed. The only limitation is in the form of "counters" and "timers". In other words, a program would be available to try for a limited number of times (or counts), or would be limited by a given amount of time. After a product is purchased, the counters and timers are set for unlimited use.


The Shopping Cart

The Shopping Cart is where you can temporarily place selected items for later purchase. Use the Cart Button to put your items here.


The TestDrive Buttons

On every TestDrive CD-ROM screen, you'll find an assortment of buttons. Although they may appear confusing at first, after a few minutes of using the program, you'll find them very understandable and very easy to use.

Listed below is an explanation of each button according to its general category:

Buttons for Getting Around...

Browse Button

Finder Button

Specials Button

Purchase Button

Free Button

Buttons to See Product Listings...

Product Title Button

Category Button

Publisher Button

Show All Button

Buttons for Trying Products...

Try Button

Demo Button

Used Button

Buttons for Purchasing Products...

Buy Button

Shopping Cart Total Button

Cart Button

Remove Button

Reset Button

The Button for Product Information...

Info Button

Buttons for Subscribing...

Subscribe Button

Call Button

The Button to Get HELP...

Help Button

The Button to Leave TestDrive...

Exit Button


Browse Button

Use this button from any screen to go directly to the

Browse Screen .


Finder Button

Use this button from any screen to go directly to the

Fast Finder Screen .


Specials Button

Use this button from any screen to go directly to the

e-Specials Screen .


Purchase Button

Use this button from any screen to go directly to the

Purchase Screen .


Help Button

Click this button and you'll be back here in the Help area!


Shopping Cart Total Button

This button appears near the top of your screen. On the surface of the button you'll see a shopping cart and a red arrow pointing down. Click this button to view the total amount of purchases in your Shopping Cart .

See also Cart Button .


Subscribe Button

Click this button to subscribe to the TestDrive CD-ROM. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete your subscription and to install your Free Products.

For more information on related buttons, see the Call Button and Install Button information. For more information on subscribing see TestDrive Subscriptions .


Show All Button

This button appears near the bottom of the Browse Screen . Click this button to open up the product category listings for every Category Title Bar .


Product Title Button

This button appears on the Fast Finder Screen . Click this button to view every product listed in alphabetical order by name.


Category Button

This button appears on the Fast Finder Screen . Click this button to see a drop-down box of product categories. Then click a category item to see a listing of all products within the chosen category.


Publisher Button

This button appears on the Fast Finder Screen . Click this button to see a drop-down box of software publishers. Then click a publisher name to see a listing of all products available from that publisher.


Buy Button

This button appears on the Fast Finder Screen at the bottom of the product list box. Once a product is selected, click this button to go directly to the Purchase Screen . Your selected product will already be listed and ready to buy.

For more information on purchasing products see Trying & Buying Products .


Info Button

This button appears on several screens in two locations - at the bottom of a product list box, or on the left side of a product list box. Click this button to bring up a Product Information Screen that provides additional information about your selection.


Cart Button

The cart button appears at the bottom of a product list box. Once a product has been highlighted, click this button to place the item in your Shopping Cart . To view all the items in your cart press the Shopping Cart Total Button .


Try Button

You'll find these buttons on the Fast Finder Screens , just to the left of product listings. Click this button to launch an application you have selected to try out. Just follow any directions that appear on-screen, and once the product has loaded onto your computer, you can run it like any other installed application.

For more information on trying products see Trying & Buying Products .


Demo Button

Not every product appearing on the TestDrive CD-ROM is completely "tryable". Click this button to see the next best thing - a demo provided by the software publisher to illustrate the features of their product.


Used Button

When you've used up all the counters and timers  for a product, the Try Button will change to "Used", indicating you have no more "Trys" left.


Call Button

You'll see this button at the Free Products Screen . In fact, if you're not already a TestDrive subscriber, all the buttons next to the Free Products listing are "Call" buttons. This is to remind you that all the Free Products are available to you after you call in to subscribe. Just click this button and call the "800" number listed on-screen to start your TestDrive CD-ROM subscription. You'll be given a number by the operator to "unlock" your free products. The call button will then change to the Install Button . Subscribers receive disks with the Install Button already in place.


Remove Button

You'll see this button from the Purchase Screen . If you've loaded up your Shopping Cart  with an item you don't want to purchase, use this button to remove it.


Exit Button

Use this button to exit from the TestDrive CD-ROM Super Store.

Be sure to close all the applications you were trying out, otherwise you'll get an error message preventing you from leaving TestDrive. WINDOWS TIP: If you can't remember what programs you had open, or, if they are hidden by other screens, hold down the Alt key and then press the Tab key repeatedly to view a message box showing each of your open programs. To get to a program to close it, just lift your finger from the Alt key when the message box shows the program you want.


Install Button

You'll see this button at the Free Products Screen . After you've used the Call Button to subscribe to the TestDrive CD-ROM, the Call button changes to Install. Now press this button to install your Free Products onto your computer hard drive.


Menu Button

Use this button from any screen to return directly to the Main Menu Screen .


Free Button

Use this button from any screen to go directly to the Free Products Screen .


Reset Button

After a product has been purchased using the Buy Button, it changes to "Reset". Pressing this button will remove the purchased application's temporary icon from the TestDrive Program Window, and will remove the application's files from the TestDrive directory. Once you have received your purchased program disks and wish to install the actual program on your hard drive, you may choose to use the Reset Button to free up your hard disk space .