It was 1986 when I owned an ITT Xtra XP. It was one of the first systems to use the Intel 80286 processor, but what really set it apart from its contemporaries was a 1MB add-in card. The card served as a cache to improve the throughput of the machine’s 20MB hard drive. The idea was to place recently read data into memory, where it could be accessed much more quickly the next time it was needed. Today, most of us don’t pay much attention to such things, but back when computers were only beginning to crawl into double-digit clock speeds, that sort of tweak could make a real difference in throughput. xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

            Using the appropriate software, any PC can have the same cache function as the add-in card. Windows has built-in cache management, but a better option is Outer Technologies’ Cacheman (www.outertech.com), a free download that provides the means to optimize the disk cache, memory, and several other settings. Die-hard users are offered direct control over each controllable parameter, while the rest of us can either select a predefined profile (e.g., CD Writer, Games, Multitasking, etc.) or run a series of wizards. Once a configuration is chosen, Cacheman writes the appropriate values to Windows’ configuration files and reboots to implement them.

            Here’s how I know Cacheman works: my CD burner doesn’t have Burn Proof or any other sophisticated buffer-underrun protection. If I so much as open Notepad while burning a disc, the write is ruined. After I invoked Cacheman’s CD Writer profile, I could use the system for anything during the burning process, and my CDs came out fine. Cacheman makes it simple to return the system to its original state, so trying it out is a risk-free process.

            As a result, backup is both complex and awkward, and the restoration of specific folders is more trouble than it’s worth. The frustration is compounded when there’s a need to synchronize e-mail between two computers, such as a desktop and a laptop. Fortunately, I’ve found a solution: it’s AJ Systems’ simple, elegant, and effective Express Assist 6.0 ($29.95, www.ajsystems.com).

            The program’s core function is simple. It backs up all or a selected list of mail folders, including attachments, by saving them as a single compressed file. The file is stored either to a specific location on the hard disk, or to a removable medium such as a Zip disk. In the other direction, Express Assist 2000 makes it easy to restore one, all, or any selection of mail folders, either to their original location or--to prevent new messages from being overwritten--any other folder in the hierarchy.

            In addition, the application allows message folders on two or more machines to be synchronized, so mail sent and received on a laptop during a trip can be made part of the desktop system’s structure. The backup process can be set to include message rules, accounts, and preferences; the Windows address book; and Internet Explorer favorites. The program runs from its own Window or, using the Fast Backup option, from an icon. In Fast Backup, it uses the parameters from the prior backup. It’s a wonderful program, and well worth the modest price--especially since Outlook Express is free.