Gold Medal Software 2/Gold Medal Software Volume 2 (Gold Medal) (1994).iso/utils/pcbrand.arj/PCBRAND.DOC

Text File | 1993-11-27 | 29KB | 1,201 lines

Welcome to PCBRAND!

Created By:
DesignerWare tm
108 Hutchinson Drive
North East PA. 16428

Copyrighted 1993 All rights reserved

          * Note:  DesignerWare is a subsidiary of Bt Labs.

=================================
=== SHAREWARE EVALUATION COPY ===
=================================


     This program may only be used and distributed under the
following conditions:

          1.   You may use the program for a period of up to thirty
(30) days to determine its suitability for your needs.  If you
continue to use it after a period of thirty days you MUST register
your copy by completing the enclosed registration form and sending
it along with the appropriate payment to the address listed on the
form.

          2.   You may distribute the Shareware version if no fee
is charged, except a nominal "diskette" fee or "connect time"
charges. In any event, the entire fee shall not exceed $10.00.

          3.   You may NOT distribute the program in modified form.


          4.   If you distribute this program, it must be in the
ORIGINAL form as released by DesignerWare.  You may not add or
modify any files.
















                        Disclaimer

     Legal Version:

          Because this program is distributed as "SHAREWARE", there
is absolutely no warranty, to the extent permitted by
applicable state law.  Except when otherwise stated in writing,
DesignerWare and/or other parties provide the program "AS IS"
without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire
risk as to the quality and performance of the program is with you.

          Should the program prove defective, you assume all the
cost of all necessary remedies, repair or correction.

          In no event shall DesignerWare be responsible in any way
for the behavior of modified versions of the program.  In no event,
unless required by applicable state law, will DesignerWare or any
other party who may distribute the program as permitted above, be
liable to you for damages, including any lost profits, lost monies,
or other special, incidental or consequential damages arising out
of the use or inability to use (including but not limited to loss
of data or data being rendered inaccurate or losses sustained by
third parties or a failure of the program to operate with any other
program) this program, even if you have not been advised of the
possibility of such damages, or any claim by any other party.

     Plain English Version:

     If Pcbrand doesn't work: tough, if you loose money because of
Pcbrand messes up, it is you that's out the money, not
Designerware.  If you don't like this: tough, DesignerWare reserves
the right to do the absolute minimum provided by law, up to and
including nothing.  This is the same disclaimer as above, just re-
written in plain English.















INTRODUCTION

     Pcbrand is a program that allows you to mark (brand) your .exe
and .com files with a message/serial number etc.  It is like using
an engraver to engrave your property, but Pcbrand allows you to
engrave your software.  The brand can be any combination of letters
or numbers, up to 30.  The brand DOES NOT affect the use of the
.exe &.com or alter its operation.  The user is unaware of the
brand and it can only be read with Pcbrand.  The brand can even be
password protected allowing only your password and Pcbrand to read
the brand information.

     Pcbrand is designed to help companies track and maintain their
installed software.  When a company receives software, Pcbrand
would be used to brand the software with the serial number of the
machine it was installed on.  If the program migrates through the
company, it can be easily identified with Pcbrand---kind of like
putting radio collars on migrating moose.  This ensures all
software was properly installed on the correct machine.  Copies can
be easily identified and non-branded programs can be easily found.
This allows companies to protect their software, as they would any
other asset.  It also helps prevent software piracy, saving money
in fines from trade organization such as the SPA.

     Pcbrand can also be used by software developers to brand their
software with different serial numbers without recompiling the
application each time.  For example, each copy could be branded
with a unique serial number, location, region, salesperson, and
etc.  Then using Pcbrand this information can be easily read.  It
can even be modified.





















PROGRAMS

     pcbrand.exe    The program.
     pcbrand.doc    Documentation ascii format.
     order.doc      Ordering form.
     readme.txt     If included, any late minute changes.
     manual.doc     Document manual.


WHY REGISTER?


     1.  First off, Pcbrand is NOT FREE.  It is distributed as
Shareware to allow you to evaluate it and determine if it's right
for your organization.  Registering also allows us to further
develop the product and make it available.  You benefit, and we
benefit.

     2.  You will be notified of any software bugs, fixes, and
future releases.  You will also receive the registered version of
the program.

     3.  Also, as a registered user you may request DesignerWare
consulting to help with inventorying, installing, and advising on
how best to protect yourself from trade organizations like the SPA.

     4.  We will send you a Christmas Card (ohhhhhhhh).
























COMMAND LINE OPTIONS

  Example:  Pcbrand <switch>


     /C  =     Forces Pcbrand NOT to determine if there is a color
               monitor and assumes monochrome.

     /B  =     Forces Pcbrand to show only branded files.

     /S  =     Makes Pcbrand search sub-directories.

     /E  =     Forces the program to use EMS memory if available.

     /X  =     Show only Dos executable files (com and exe).

     /?  =     Information.




































                            OVERVIEW

     Pcbrand takes a 30 character brand and protects it with a
password (if password is set) and stores this information at the
end of the executable program.  The byte size of the executable
will increase by 40 bytes, and the brand information will become
part of the executable program.  Copying the program, also copies
the brand information making it easy to always identify all
programs.

     The number of files you can work with is limited by the amount
of Dos memory or 2000 which ever comes first.  When using Ems
memory you are limited to 4000 or until allocated Ems memory is
used up, which ever comes first.  Note:  Using Ems memory is slower
than Dos memory and requires using the Fresh command to refresh the
screen after deletions.





































                       FILES NOT TO BRAND

     Some programs may NOT operate correctly if a brand is added to
the file.  You will have to test each program to be sure the brand
hasn't affected it.  The following programs have been reported as
not operating properly after being branded:

     1.   Stacker.com  from Stac Electronics.
     2.   Sswap.com    from Stac Electronics.

     You should always check with the author of the program or
check the programs manual before branding your files to ensure this
type of modification will not affect it.







































                   FILES TO CONSIDER BRANDING

     Consider branding your major applications.  This would include
your spreadsheets, word processing, graphics programs, database
programs, and support utilities.  These are your major investment
and are the assets you should protect.

     You can brand any .exe and .com file you wish, but you should
consider the value of branding each program.  For example, normally
each PC comes with its own copy of Dos.  Dos has several .exe and
.com files.  You can brand these files, but it may be of little
value since every PC has its own copy of Dos.  But, each PC doesn't
come with a spreadsheet.  So putting a brand on your spreadsheet
program would be more advisable.






































                       ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS

     A variety of programs are available which can be used to
protect your system from computer viruses.  Some of these programs
operate, the same way Pcbrand does, by modifying the executable
files on your system by adding a "signature" to the file.  Virus
detectors later use this signature to detect whether or not the
file has been affected.

     If you are using this type of anti-virus program you, must
first remove this signature before branding your programs.  After
you have successfully branded your files, you can replace the anti-
virus "signature".

     Pcbrand will NOT be able to read its brand information after
an anti-virus "signature" has been added to the file.  This is
because Pcbrand looks for the brand information in the last 40
bytes of the branded file.  If this is the case, you will have to
tell Pcbrand to expand the search beyond the 40 bytes.  This is
done by changing the offset with the offset adjust command (J
command).
































                         BRANDING FILES


     1.  Before branding any files, you should first make a backup
copy of the programs you are about to brand.  Pcbrand has been
tested on several hundred programs without causing any problems.
But, Pcbrand does alter the .exe or .com file and a backup should
therefore be maintained (See the section on files NOT to brand)

     2.  Select a file to brand by highlighting it with the arrow
keys.  You can only brand files that have the extension .exe or
.com.  To brand multiple files highlight the file then press the
enter key to tag the file.  If you have a mouse installed you can
use the mouse to tag the file by clicking on the highlighted file.

     3.   Select the Password option (press P or use the mouse).
Set the password to any combination of letters and/or numbers.
Make sure you remember the password, else it will be impossible to
change the brand later or even read it.  You don't have to set a
password, but it is recommended.  If you don't use a password, then
anybody running Pcbrand will be able to modify the brand
information.

     4.   Select the Set brand option (press E or use the mouse).
Set the information you would like to use as a brand.  For example,
the serial number of the PC, Department Name, etc.

     5.   You are now ready to brand your .exe and .com files.
Start the branding process by selecting the Brand option (press B
or use the mouse).

     6.   Your files should now be branded.  Remember the password
you used. You will need the password next time you run Pcbrand in
order to read the brand information.

















                        PROGRAM COMMANDS

     Key:      Operation:

     F1        The F1 key is used to un-tag tagged files.  If you
               have tagged several files and now wish to un-tag
               them, using the F1 key will perform this operation.

     B         Brand files.  This command will brand your .exe and
               .com files with a brand.  You must have a brand
               already set else it will ask for one.

     U         Unbrand files.  Files that have already been
               branded can be unbranded using this option.  This
               command first copies the file to a <filename>.bak
               file which does not contain the brand information.
               The original file is then deleted and the backup
               file is renamed to the original.  For this command
               to work properly, you must have enough disk space
               to contain the backup.  You also CANNOT unbrand
               files that have had a password set without knowing
               the password.

     S         Sort the display.  You have the option to sort by
               File Name, File Time, File Date, or Dos Path.
               Note:  If you have items tagged the program will
               take a few extra seconds after the sort to properly
               retag everything.

     T         This will toggle the display to change from
               displaying the File Date to File Time.  Pcbrand
               starts by displaying the File Dates.  Use the T
               command to toggle from date to time.

     F10       This allows you to change to another directory or
               to another disk drive.   After the disk drive is
               chosen, you will be shown a tree structure of the
               disk directories.  Use the arrow keys to select the
               sub-directory you wish and press return.  If you
               have a mouse, you can highlight the sub-directory
               by clicking on it (left button).  The right button
               of the mouse is the same as the enter key (see
               mouse support).

     I         This will display information about the computer
               and program information.

     E         This command allows you to set the brand
               information.  The brand information will be used
               for branding files.

     A         Attribute command allows you to alter the Dos file
               attributes.

     Esc       Exit Pcbrand.

     H         Shows an explanation for each command and also
               shows the version of mouse driver if one is
               installed.

     O         This option will only show files that have been
               branded.

     R         Recurse sub-directory searching will be turned on
               or off.

     Q         Quickly re-read the disk drive.

     P         This is for setting the password.  Once the
               password is set, files branded will require this
               password (see password protection).

     F9        File selection argument for directory searching can
               be changed using the F9 key.

     C         Copy files from one sub-directory or disk to
               another.  Note:  Copy doesn't check to ensure the
               file exist.  It is possible to over write existing
               files.  You cannot copy a file onto itself.

     M         Move files form one sub-directory to another.  The
               file is first copied then it is deleted.  Note:
               Move doesn't check to ensure the file exist.  It is
               possible to over write existing files.  You cannot
               move a file onto itself.

     N         Rename allows you change the Dos name of a file.

     D         Delete allows you to delete files.

     J         Allows you to adjust the file search offset.
               Normally Pcbrand starts from the last byte in the
               file and searches backward 40 bytes looking for the
               brand information.  Changing the offset will
               increase the search bytes.  For example, changing
               the offset to 10 will make Pcbrand search 40 bytes
               plus 10, for a total of 50 bytes.  This is useful
               if you have added an anti-virus signature to
               branded files.

     X         Mix allows you to further add protection to branded
               information (see Password Protection).

     F         Fresh is for refreshing the screen and removing
               files that have been deleted.  This is only valid
               when using EMS memory (/E command line).


     Left Arrow
               Use the left arrow to show the brand information if
               the Dos path is displayed.

     Right Arrow
               Use the right arrow to display the Dos path.

     Right Shift
               Use the right shift key as a turbo down arrow.

     Left Shift
               Use the left shift key as a turbo up arrow.

     Ctrl Key  Pressing the Ctrl key is a turbo enter key.


































                       PASSWORD PROTECTION


     We suggest you use a password for branding files.  Setting a
password makes it impossible for other users of Pcbrand to alter,
change, or remove the brand information without the password.

     If a file has been branded with a password and you have NOT
set the password (P command) or the password is not the same, then
the brand information will be displayed as 'PASSWORD LOCKED'.  To
read the brand information you must set the password to the one
used when the brand was originally created.

     You can further protect your brand information by changing the
number used for scrambling the brand information.  This is done
with the miX command.  Normally Pcbrand uses a number for the
starting position, ie. the base seed number, for scrambling the
brand information in the file.  You can tell Pcbrand to use any
number from 1 to 126.  If you change the seed number, it will act
as a password too.  By using the miX command and Password command,
you will need both to properly alter, change, or remove the brand
information.

     NOTE:     Brand information will show 'PASSWORD LOCKED' if the
password and seed number are NOT the same as the ones used to brand
the file.  Once a file is branded, any future attempts to alter the
file with Pcbrand will require the original Password and seed
number.  If you forget the Password used or seed number there IS NO
WAY within Pcbrand to determine what they were.
























                          MOUSE SUPPORT


     If Pcbrand detects a mouse then you can use a mouse to select
items and move through the display.  Press the left mouse button on
the Up-arrow or the Down-arrow (located on the far right of the
screen) will cause the files to move accordingly.  You can also
click on the line just above the first file or the line just below
the last file causing the same effect.

     When the directory tree is displayed (F10 command) you can use
the mouse to highlight a sub-directory by clicking on it with the
left mouse button.  Pressing the right mouse button will cause the
highlighted sub-directory to be selected (this works the same as
pressing the enter key).





































                           TURBO KEYS


     If the Left shift key is pressed, the files will move up at
the fastest speed possible.  Use the Right shift key to move the
files down as fast as possible.

     Holding the Ctrl key down is a turbo enter key.  This is the
same as holding down the enter key.  The only difference is the
functions are called as fast as possible.











































                         SUGGESTED TIPS

     To locate all of the branded files on a disk, you could use
one of the following two methods.

     Method 1 - Start Pcbrand from the root directory of the disk
using the /B /S commands from the command line (pcbrand /b/s).

     Method 2 - You can use the Only command once the program is
started.  Select the Recursive command FIRST then select the Only
command.

     To locate all .exe and .com files on a disk, you could use one
of the following methods.

     Method 1 - Start Pcbrand from the root directory of the disk
using the /S /X commands from the command line (pcbrand /x/s).

     Method 2 -  Use the Recursive command to turn Recursive on.
Then use F9 to change the file selection for .exe & .com files only
on.  Then use the Quick command to quickly reload files.
































                   Information Screen Number 1

Today is Saturday, November 20, 1993

The system ID is FC PC/AT or PC/XT-286



Processor type                          80286
The ROM BIOS release date is            02/03/87
The DOS version is                      6.0
The number of parallel ports is         1
The number of game ports is             0
The number of RS-232 ports is           2
The number of diskette drives is        2
The video mode at cold boot time is     Mode 2
The currently active monitor is         Color
The current video mode is               3
The number of rows displayed is         25 by 80
This system has the following adapter(s)/monitor(s):
     VGA card on a color adapter with 256 Kbytes of memory


No math co-processor has been detected


    *** This screen show basic information about the PC


























                   Information Screen Number 2

The amount of memory on the mother board is 640 KBytes

File Memory:                           Directory Memory:

Elements    : 2000                      Elements    : 1000
Reserved k  : 219                       Reserved k  : 73
Bytes Free  : 214185                    Bytes Free  : 7
KBytes Free : 209                       KBytes Free : 68
Des seg     : 565EH                     Des seg     : 8D59H
Ems Handle  : 0                         Ems Handle  : 0

Current memory Bytes free    : 90400
Current Kbytes free          : 88
Program reserved Bytes       : 301600
Program reserved Kbytes      : 294
Descriptor Bytes             : 10256 / 5256
Descriptor Kbytes            : 10 / 5
Program Stack                : 6870
Free space for Variables     : 59918
Block free                   : 43550 / 43550
Reported Ems                 : Version 4.0
Total Ems pages              : 128
Total Ems Kbytes             : 208
Total Ems pages free         : 85
Total Ems kbytes free        : 1360

 *** This screen shows program memory usage.  The amount of memory
used for storing file and directory information.  If Ems memory is
use, it will show the Ems memory handle for each array.





















                   Information Screen Number 3

CMOS data is:

 Diskette 1: 3.5 inch diskette - 1.4MB
 Diskette 2: 1.2 MB, 96TPI
 Disk 1: Type 45
 Disk 2: not installed
 Default display: Enhanced Graphics Adapter
 Math co-processor: not installed
 Base memory in KBytes: 640
 Extended memory in KBytes: 384

 Brand only files                        Off
 Recursive Sub-Directories               Off
 Password
 Brand with
 Brand size                              30
 Base scramble number                    27
 Mask for com & exe files                N
 Adjust file offset by                   0

 Program Command Line:


 *** This screen shows the information stored in CMOS if CMOS is
installed.  The command line to start the program is also shown
along with other program information.

























                             ERRORS

 DWMSG 001
  -    003     Not used.
 DWMSG 004     Memory allocation error.
 DWMSG 005     Error reserving memory. > 256 - 256 else its an
               error.
 DWMSG 006     Error reserving record. > 256 - 256 else its an
               error.
 DWMSG 007     Error memory sorting. > 256 - 256 else its an
               error.
 DWMSG 008     Error walking directory tree. > 256 - 256 else its
               an error.
 DWMSG 009
  -    019     Not used.
 DWMSG 020     Error trying to determine default directory.
 DWMSG 021     Error releasing memory from file array.
 DWMSG 022     Error releasing memory from directory array.
 DWMSG 023     Error occurred while branding files.
 DWMSG 024     Error occurred while copying files.
 DWMSG 025     Error occurred while fetching/storing records in
               tree.
 DWMSG 026     Error in display function.
 DWMSG 027     Error doing array information.
 DWMSG 028     Error Reading Drive! in System.Info.
 DWMSG 029     Calculating space!!!
 DWMSG 030     Changing file attributes.
 DWMSG 031     Setting files time and date.
 DWMSG 032     Releasing array memory for array #1


Dos Critical errors are in the range 1-255:

01 = Unknown unit.
02 = Drive/Device not ready.
03 = Unknown internal command.
04 = CRC error.
05 = Bad structure requests.
06 = Seek error.
07 = Unknown media type.
08 = Sector not found.
09 = Printer out of paper.
10 = Write fault.
11 = Read fault.
12 = General DOS failure.
255 = Attempting to write to protected media.






Dos Non critical errors are greater than 256.

257 = Invalid function call.
258 = File not found.
259 = Path not found.
260 = To many files open.  No DOS handles left.
261 = Access denied.
262 = Invalid handle.
263 = Memory control blocks destroyed.
264 = Insufficient memory.
265 = Invalid memory block address.
266 = Invalid environment.
267 = Invalid format.
268 = Invalid access code.
271 = Invalid drive.

499 = Routine was interrupted by user.
500 = Cannot open file for writing.
501 = Failure to write all required bytes.
502 = Cannot open source file.
503 = Cannot open destination file.
504 = Cannot open file for attribute.































THIS FORM IS FOR REGISTERING PCBRAND OR FOR A SITE LICENSE.


Name   : __________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

         __________________________________________

         __________________________________________


Current version of Pcbrand 1 @ $ 19.95
                   Number __________ X $ 19.95    = $ __________

Current version of Pcbrand 2 or more @ $ 15.95
                   Number __________ X $ 15.95    = $ __________

* Commercial site license for the use of Pcbrand are
available.  Valid for up to 500 computers $ 295.00.

                    Number __________ X $ 295.00 = $  __________

                    Shipping and handling          $      10.00

                                    Total enclosed $  ___________
Diskette type:

 ________ 3 1/2"                  ________ 5 1/4"

Terms:    Check drawn on a U.S. banks in U.S. funds.
          International bank or postal money order in U.S. funds.
          Purchase orders accepted from larger corporations.  All
          foreign orders must be prepaid.  Sorry, no C.O.D orders
          accepted.  Prices are subject to change without notice.
          For fastest deliver use money order or certified check.
          Make checks payable to DesignerWare.

Mail to:
DesignerWare
108 Hutchinson Drive
North East Pa. 16428

Information on Site Licenses/Corporate Site License:
    This is a license for use of the software within your
company, and is not transferable.  This allows internal use and
copying of the software by as many users/machines as stated for
(See the order form).  You can use the program in a network,
timesharing, multiple Cpu or multiple  user arrangement.
Distribution, repackaging, or reselling of the software to third
parties is not allowed.