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CD ROM Paradise Collection 4
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CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso
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screamer.zip
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SCREAMER.DOC
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1993-10-27
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Screamer
Screamer is a combination password (actually, pass key)
protection program, screen saver, and joke program. When the
program is activated, it freezes the computer until someone
presses the correct code key or key combination (such as
Alt-F1). If anyone presses any key other than the correct
code key, the program screams "Help! Don't touch me!
Unauthorized use of this computer. Help!" through the
computer's speaker. No extra hardware is required to use this
program.
The program can be activated in several ways, depending
on what the command line parameter is. A command line
parameter is any string of characters that are typed after
the name of the program when the program is loaded from DOS.
The command line parameter must be separated from the name of
the program (SCREAMER) by at least one space.
If Screamer is run without any command line parameter,
it immediately displays the title page/shareware notice. A
window pops up asking you to press the desired code key. This
can be a simple key, like a letter key or the space bar, or a
key combination, such as Alt-S or Shift-F1. After you press
the desired code key, a new window will pop up, asking you if
you want the screen blanked. If you press <N>, the title page
will stay on the screen. If you press <Y>, the screen will go
blank. The title page will be restored after you press the
code key.
If you run Screamer with the command line /M, the title
page will be displayed and Screamer will be installed as a
memory resident program. It will not ask for the code key
immediately. You may run other programs with Screamer in
memory. When you want to activate Screamer, hold down the
Ctrl key and press the space bar. The window asking you to
press the desired code key will pop up. After you press the
key or key combination that you want to be the code key, the
window asking if you want the screen blanked will pop up. If
you press <N>, the screen you had before you pressed
Ctrl-Space will remain. If you press <Y>, the screen will go
blank. However, your original screen will be restored and
your program will resume running after you press the code key
again. You may activate Screamer as often as you like after
you have installed it as a memory resident program.
If you have installed Screamer as a memory resident
program and you want to uninstall it, you can do so by
running Screamer from DOS with the command line parameter /U.
I recommend against doing this if you have installed other
memory resident programs after you installed Screamer.
If you run Screamer with a single character command line
parameter, that character becomes the code key. Screamer will
not display the title page, ask you to press a code
key, or ask if you want the screen blanked. For example, if
you entered SCREAMER S at the DOS prompt, the program would
run with S as the code key. You are somewhat limited in your
choice of code keys when you run Screamer this way. It must
be a key that you can type from DOS with no special effect.
This rules out the F keys and most key combinations such as
Alt-S or Ctrl-C. However, you still have all the letters,
numbers, and punctuation marks. The code key is case
sensitive, so SCREAMER S is not the same as SCREAMER s. This
nearly doubles the number of possible code keys that can be
selected with this option.
Normally, you would not run Screamer from DOS with a
single character parameter, because the code key would be
clearly visible on the screen. However, it can be very handy
in batch files, especially your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. For
example, you could put the following in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
ECHO OFF
CLS
ECHO Press the secret code key to use this computer . . .
SCREAMER @
This would require anyone who wanted to use the computer to
press the @ key (Shift-2) to run the computer.
As was mentioned earlier, Screamer can be used in a
variety of ways. You can use it in your batch file as was
just explained to make it hard for unauthorized people to use
the computer. You also could install it memory resident and
then pop it up any time you need to leave your computer
running and unattended for a few minutes. In that case, you
probably would elect to have it blank the screen so that
nobody can even see what you were doing when you left the
computer.
You can use Screamer as a simple screen blanker if you
like. You could install it memory resident, then pop it up
when you wanted to blank the screen for a little while. This
can sometimes be more convenient than the screen savers that
blank the screen automatically any time you stop to think for
a minute. Just don't forget what code key you selected! You
also can use Screamer as a joke program. Install it memory
resident, run another program, and pop it up. Press <N> when
it asks you if you want the screen blanked. There will be no
visible evidence that Screamer is in effect. Then invite
someone to use the computer.
Note: Hercules screens require too much memory for
Screamer to save. If you have a Hercules card when you
activate Screamer, it will not ask you if you want to blank
the screen. Also, the pop-up windows and save screen features
do not work in graphics mode. Screamer will beep and refuse
to activate when you are in any mode other than SCREEN 0
(text mode).
Registration
Screamer is a shareware program. If you like it, please
send a check for $5.00 to:
Leithauser Research
4649 Van Kleeck Drive
New Smyrna Beach FL 32169
I will send you a disk containing more shareware and
public domain programs by Leithauser Research.
Custom Programming
The primary function of Leithauser Research is custom
programming. Our specialties are voice programs, TSR (memory
resident) programs, and artificial intelligence. If you would
like a program that you cannot find commercially, please
contact us for a price quote. Our rates are very reasonable.
Depending on the specific contract terms, you may acquire all
rights to the program, so you can market the programs you
contract us to write, as well as use them yourself.