UBX - The ultimate modular system to unlock UNBOX-Files (V 1.1)
  now detecting 8 different FileVersion formats (see Section 5)

1. What is UBX

UBX is a modular system to unlock all kind of UNBOX-files without a
password and without doing any patches to a file. Principle is that
all UNBOX-files use an "Integrated Unlocker" which is part of the
UNBOX-File. So running the UNBOX-file the Unlocker checks on integrity
of the file, validates the password and if the password is accepted
strips off the file, unlocks and stores to the harddisk.

UBX works in the way, that an "External Unlocker", further simply 
called "Unlocker", does the same work like the "Integrated Unlocker". 
Difference is that no valid password is required. Any letter typed
for a password is accepted.

The Unlocker assumes the filename of the UNBOX-File to be a single
letter name "U" and the file to be placed in the same directory where
the Unlocker is.

As there are many UNBOX-Version a collection of different Unlockers is
provided to be used with the according UNBOX-Files. To select the right
Unlocker run UBX. This will check for a present file "U", makes a scan
and informs about the used UNBOX-Version and the suitable Unlocker. The
complete UBX-System consists of

- UBX.EXE       (FileVersion detector)
- UBX.TXT       (This Info-File)
- UBn_nn        (Unlockers for Version n_nn)


2. How to use

- Create a directory like C:\UBX
- Copy all UBX-files to this directory
- Copy the UNBOX-File to this directory and name it U
- Run UBX and read the message

Following messages are typical samples, depending on the UNBOX-File:

- FileVersion 2.11 detected... to unlock use UB2_11

- FileVersion 3.0.7 detected... Version unknown to UBX !
  Now checking for an Unlocker similar to this Version...
  Version looks similar to 3.0.5 - to unlock try UB3_05

- FileVersion 9.9.9 detected... Version unknown to UBX !
  Now checking for an Unlocker similar to this Version...
  ...sorry, but there is an upgrade necessary to this FileVersion !
  Post a request UBX to alt.cracks with FileVersion and ProgName...

- File "U" was scanned but is not in UNBOX format !!!

No message is shown if no file "U" is there. In that case only the
infoscreen is displayed.

After you know which Unlocker will work, change to Windows and run
the Unlocker. It is recommended to create a seperate group with
icons for all Unlockers. Now just click on the icon of your choice.
If the File "U" is not found in the Unlocker's directory, a messagebox
"Error opening unlocker: U" will appear. Just quit and retry after
having placed "U" to the Unlocker's directory.


3. Known problems

Starting an Unlocker with a wrong file "U" will lead to many kind
of errors. Sample:

The file "U" is an UNBOX-File with FileVersion 3.0.5 and so the
Unlocker UB3_05 should be used. If you run UB2_21 which expects
a FileVersion 2.2.1 you will get the Errormessage

  "Unlocker is corrupted. Header is bad."

Sometimes you may get a "Protection fault" and a rebooting could
be necessary. Also observed was, that the Unlocker tries to save
something else than the unlocked EXE-file, opening the Save-Menue.
Always quit such errors and try again using another Unlocker.

The Unlocker UB3_10 works correct with FileVersion 3.1.0 but shows
a garbaged path, where to find the unlocked file. This is just a bug
showing something wrong, but the unlocked file usually is found in
the same directory where is the Unlocker and "U". Seems to be that
UB3_09 works fine with FileVersion 3.1.0 Therefore UBX shows an
additional REMARK when detecting a FileVersion 3.1.0 telling that
UB3_09 may work better than UB3_10.

Unlocker for newer FileVersions use to create small tempory files
which are stored in the TMP directory. Ensure to have set such
a directory in AUTOEXEC.BAT like TMP=C:\TMP and TEMP=:C\TMP.
Without such settings temporary files are stored elsewhere. This
is a general subject and not only related to Unlocker's behaviour.
So use such settings, keep your TMP directory empty and delete
TMP-Files whenever they appear after unlocking actions.

ATTENTION: TMP-Files never should be deleted when running Windows.
Delete them only after Windows is finished and you are in DOS.
Windows and Windows-Application often use to create temporary
files and delete them on their own when Windows is closed down.


4. Upgrading the UBX-System

The UBX-System is only as good as it is updated on a regular base.
So it depends on feedback to new evaluations of the UNBOX-Versions.
Also older UNBOX-Versions which are presently not known to UBX-System
can be added as soon as information is given about the same.

Any user is asked to post messages to alt.cracks if a FileVersion
was found which UBX cannot handle. The message should be titled UBX
and contain info about the FileVersion, Program Name and which UBX
was used. Actual Version of UBX is found in the head line.


5. Content of the UBX-System's actual Version

   Date of release (dd.mm.yy): 21.03.97
   UBX Version:                   V 1.1

   UBX.EXE      FileVersion Detector
   UBX.TXT      This Info-File

   UB2_11.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 2.11
   UB2-21.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 2.2.1 (and 2.16)
   UB3-05.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 3.0.5
   UB3-06.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 3.0.6
   UB3-08.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 3.0.8
   UB3-09.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 3.0.9
   UB3-10.EXE   Unlocker for FileVersion 3.1.0


by Pepper... with Greetings to Saltine