Helix Software Company

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Helix Software Company, Inc.
TypePrivate company
IndustrySoftware
FoundedOctober 1986; 35 years ago (1986-10)[1][2]
FounderMichael Spilo[1]
HeadquartersLong Island City, New York, U.S.[1]
Area served
Worldwide

Helix Software Company was a New York City based software company founded in October 1986.[2] The company developed software tools and utilities for DOS and Windows.[1] In 1993, Helix licensed some of its memory management technology to Microsoft for use in MS-DOS 6.0. Microsoft subsequently released Helix's memory management technology as part of the MEMMAKER and EMM386 DOS commands.[3][4]

The company pioneered several technologies, including virtual memory compression systems,[5] switching between multiple protected mode operating environments,[6] use of off-screen video RAM,[7] and highly recoverable fixed storage systems.[8]

On 1 December 1997, Helix Software merged with McAfee, Network General, and PGP Corporation in a pooling of interest transaction, the resulting company was named Network Associates.[9][10][11] Helix's products were integrated with the other companies' products as well as with products from the subsequent acquisitions of and Dr Solomon's Antivirus. The combined products were branded and .[12]

Notable products[]

DOS/Windows memory management:

Windows performance enhancement:

Nuts & Bolts and related Windows tools:[20][21]

  • DiskTune hard drive optimization[21][22]
  • DiskMinder hard drive repair[21][22]
  • Stronghold encryption[21][22]
  • Safe & Sound automatic backup and recovery[23]

See also[]

  • Tech companies in the New York metropolitan area

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "About company in press release". PR Newswire. 18 August 1997. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Entity Information". NY Department of State. 14 October 1986. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Best Utilities". PC Magazine. 14 September 1993. p. 134. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  4. ^ "The Ultimate Utility Guide". PC Magazine. 14 May 1996. p. 172. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. ^ US patent 5559978 
  6. ^ US patent 5459869 
  7. ^ US patent 5875474 
  8. ^ US patent 6208999 
  9. ^ "McAfee, Network General to Merge". CNET. 1997. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Network Assoc. Created as McAfee, Network General Merger Closes Ahead of Schedule". PR Newswire. 1997. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Pooling-of-Interests".
  12. ^ "What Happened to all the Utility Vendors". PC Magazine. 4 May 1999. p. 104. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Headroom One-Ups Software Carousel". PC Magazine. 28 February 1989. p. 38. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Lan Memory Management". PC Magazine. 29 January 1991. p. 225. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  15. ^ Singh, Amarendra (13 July 1993). "NETROOM 3.0 More Room at the Top". PC Magazine. Vol. 12, no. 13. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  16. ^ Canter, Sheryl (31 May 1994). "Multimedia Cloaking Reclaims RAM Gobbled by Drivers". PC Magazine. Vol. 13, no. 10. Ziff Communications Company / Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. p. 48. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  17. ^ Knoblauch, Rick (17 May 1994). "Hide Programs With Cloaking". PC Magazine. Vol. 13, no. 9. Ziff Communications Company / Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. p. 269. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  18. ^ Helix Cloaking API Services, 1.01, Helix Software Company, 1 October 1993
  19. ^ "Memory Enhancement Utilities". PC Magazine. 20 February 1996. p. 209. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  20. ^ "Nuts & Bolts: a True Norton Alternative". PC Magazine. 24 June 1997. p. 73. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  21. ^ a b c d "Helix's Nuts & Bolts utilities hit the nail on the head". GCN.com. 30 June 1997. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  22. ^ a b c "Troubleshooting Utilities". PC Magazine. 24 March 1998. p. 132. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Network Associates Launches Safe & Sound". PR Newswire. 23 March 1998. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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