If you've ever wondered what all of those control panels, extensions and other files in your System Folder are/do, InformINIT is for you!

InformINIT is a stand-alone application (in DocMaker format) that provides information on a mind-boggling number of System Folder files -- control panels, extensions, and much, much more -- from both Apple and third-party developers. InformINIT provides descriptions, information on who needs what, version numbers, RAM consumption, and helpful tips and "secrets." Where appropriate, files are organized into "groups" that are used together. URLs to information sources on the Web are provided for files that require extensive discussion.

But InformINIT is not just "INITs." It also contains information on the following topics:

• A primer on the Mac OS for beginners
• Tips on installing the latest system software
• Installation and troubleshooting notes on every version of the Mac OS since System 7.5.3
• A guide to which versions of the Mac OS are compatible with which computers
• A guide to "System Enablers" and when they're needed
• Information on many of the other folders and files found in the System Folder
• Information on files installed by various Microsoft products
• A guide to managing startup files (extensions, control panels, etc.)
• A comparison of the many startup file management utilities
• Information on PRAM and PRAM settings
• A thorough discussion of the new HFS Plus file format
• Links to some of the best Mac info sites on the Web

The information contained in InformINIT is organized in "encyclopedic" format. You can read it from start to finish, or you can use the contents feature to find a particular topic. You can even use the electronic search feature to make finding information on mysterious files a breeze. InformINIT is a self-contained application, so it does not need any other software, and can be used whenever you want, wherever you want. Use InformINIT to satisfy your curiosity about unidentified files, to help you cut down on all the spurious extensions that you don't really need, to prevent or troubleshoot conflicts, and to generally improve the performance of your Mac.

There have been many imitations of, and efforts similar to, InformINIT, but it remains THE reference for System Folder information. Even Apple's own technical support staff uses it and recommends it to customers!

NOTE: InformINIT is not an automated utility -- it doesn't do everything for you. It is a reference guide and searchable database that helps you, the user, become more knowledgeable about your own computer so that you can become more proficient at managing, using and (most of all) enjoying it on a daily basis.

While the current version of InformINIT is extremely useful to all "Classic" Mac OS users, including those running Mac OS 9, the version-specific sections only cover OS 8.1 and earlier. The next version, currently in progress, will include version-specific sections on OS 8.5 through the latest OS 9 release. It will also include information on the Classic Environment in Mac OS X. The new version will be a FREE update to all currently registered users.

System requirements: InformINIT will run on all Mac OS computers except for those with a 68000 processor (it will work on 68020, 68030 and 68040 Macs!). It requires 1.5 MB of free RAM, and less than 1MB of hard drive space.