Use the cursorkeys to scroll the helptext. Use TAB and SHIFT-TAB for moving the highlight bar to the keywords ( crossreferences ) and press enter. Hit escape to quit the help function. =
Help
Introduction
DIRCRYPT
Shareware-Info
Help-Index
Set sessionpassword
At this point you may set a default password for encryption. This is useful if you want to encrypt several groups of files with the same password. If a session password is set you don't have to enter the password for each encryption, instead Dircrypt will use the sessionpassword. A sessionpassword is only valid for the current run of dircrypt, if you exit Dircrypt the sessionpassword will not be saved. In addition the sessionpassword is only functional for encryption, not for decryption. You can deactive a sessionpassword by choosing the menuitem "Delete sessionpassword".
Help-Index
Loaderfile operating system
You must specify if the application which is being called after decryption is a DOS or a Windows application. If your application is a DOS program please press the "DOS"-button, even if you intend to run this program under Windows.
Help-Index
Delete sessionpassword
This is for deleting/deactivating a sessionpassword set with Set
sessionpassword.
Help-Index
Introduction to DIRCRYPT
Dircrypt is a safe and very fast way to protect your data against unauthorized access. Dircrypt will hide your data from anyone without the correct password. Dircrypt needs less than 5 seconds to protect 40 MB on a harddisk, or 5 seconds to protect a whole 1,44 MB floppydisk. Dircrypt is able to work on single file and on directories and subdirectories.
DIRCRYPT protects access to files and directories by deleting their directory entries and marking their clusters as bad in the FAT table. That means if you use CHKDSK or another disk utility on a disk with protected data, they will report bad sectors on this disk. This sectors will disappear if you decrypt the disk again. It won't matter if there have already been real bad sectors on the disk, Dircrypt is able to differentiate between its own simulated bad sectors and real ones. The deletion of the directory entries is done in a way which makes it impossible even for the professional to restore them, for example with UNDELETE or other utilities. The directory entries are deleted completely and there is no way to even get to know their names. By the way, when I am talking about disks, I mean floppy disks, harddisks or harddisk partitions. Compressed disks like Double Space or Stacker are supported only partially, please read DIRCRYPT.DOC before using Dircrypt on compressed disks. q
To encrypt files or directories on a disk, first select the desired drive ( hit F2 ), then select Encrypt
disk.
Help-Index
Save setup
This will save the current settings so they will be active the next time you start Dircrypt.
Help-Index
Decrypt
There are more than one group of encrypted files on this disk. You can select the desired datafile to decrypt. Select "All" to decrypt all files sequentially.
Help-Index
DOS shell
Use this to get a DOS commandline. Dircrypt will still remain in memory, type exit at the commandline to get back to Dircrypt. If DOS shell won't work there is probably not enough memory.
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save temp datafile
This dialog appears if an error has occured writing the datafile. Dircrypt must undo encryption, and to do this the datafile must be saved temporary. Pleas supply a filename with complete path on where to save the datafile temporary. If saving worked ok dircrypt will undo the interrupted encryption process.
Help-Index
Error writing datafile
There was an error writing the hidden datafile DCDATA.DAT. Maybe there is not enough diskspace. Since Dircrypt has already made changes to the disk, these changes must be undone. To do this Dircrypt will temporary save the datafile somewhere else and afterwards decrypt the disk again. If you don't allow Dircrypt to undo encryption you should copy all unprotected data to another disk and then format the encrypted disk.
Help-Index
Registering
You are only allowed to use the shareware version of Dircrypt in order to check if Dircrypt fits your needs. If you want to use Dircrypt you are required to register (i.e. buy the program). Further information on shareware can be found at the help topic Shareware
This menu item lets you fill out the register form for ordering the registered version of Dircrypt which has no annoying shareware screens. After you have filled out the form you may print it out or save it to an ASCII textfile for later printout.
Choose "Print form" when finished, Dircrypt will then give you the chance to print the form to a textfile or to the printer of course. You will find my address on the printed out form.
Help-Index
Keys in dialog windows
A dialog window may consist of several dialog items: checkboxes, selection boxes, lists, inputlines or buttons. Only one item is active at the same time, this item will be shown highlighted. The focused item takes all user input. You can move the focus to the next or the previous item by pressing <TAB> or <SHIFT>+<TAB>. This way you move to every single inputline, button, checkbox or any other dialog item. While in a help window pressing <TAB> selects another keyword (if available). You may also select certain dialog items by pressing their hotkey, which means pressing <ALT> together with the highlighted char in the dialog item text.
Your changes in a dialog window are accepted if you press the OK-Button, if you select CANCEL or press <ESC> the original values will be restored.
Help-Index
Shareware-Information
Dircrypt is distributed as Shareware, which means you may try out if Dircrypt fits your needs, but if you want to use Dircrypt apart from testing purposes you are required to buy the program. Dircrypt costs 30 US$ for non-commercial private use, and 40 US$ for use in a commercial environment. Read SHAREWAR.DOC for further informations on the Shareware principle. If you decide to buy Dircrypt please read ORDER.DOC for further informations. In ORDER.DOC you will also find a register form.
Help-Index
Operation of Dircrypt
Dircrypt's interface follows the SAA-Standard. Use <F10> or <Alt>+Char to select the main menu. Use the cursorkeys to navigate, or press the highlighted char of a menu item to activate this function. Use <ESC> to leave a menu or a dialogwindow. Well, if you know any SAA programs you know how to operate Dircrypt. 8
Now press <ESC> if you want to leave this help window.
Help-Index
Change drive
This lets you select the drive on which you want Dircrypt to work on. Just hit the char of the desired drive and press <ENTER>. J
General help on dialog windows can be found at the topic Dialog
windows.
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Encrypt disk
Keys:
-------
Cursor Up/Down = move highlight bar
Space = select file
ENTER = change directory
Cursor Left/Right = toggle list
Escape = Cancel
Alt-S = start encryption
After choosing the encryption menu item you will be show this dialog. It consists of two listboxes, of which the left box shows all files and directories in the selected drives root directory at first. You can select files or directories to encrypt by clicking with the mouse or pressing space on the desired filename. The selected file or directory will be marked and also appear in the right listbox, which shows all to be encrypted files. To select files in subdirectories just move the selection bar to a directory name and press enter to change to this directory. You can change between the two listboxes by using cursor left and cursor right. When in the right listbox you can unselect files by pressing space, and you can toggle encryption level by hitting "M". Encryption level 2 is a lot slower than normal encryption, so just use it when really neccessary. You will find further information on when to use level 2 in DIRCRYPT.DOC. You can change encryption level for all files at once be pressing Alt-M.
After you have selected all entries you wish to encrypt press the "Start" button. Dircrypt will ask you for a password, and encrypt the selected files and directories. You can decrypt by choosing the menu item Decrypt.
Help-Index
Input password
Please type in the password. For safety reasons your input will be shown as X for every char. Please note that uppercase and lowercase are NOT treated the same, and special chars like space are also allowed. By the way, the longer the password, the better the security. For this reason the supplied password must be at least 5 chars long. Don't forget your password, because without it there is no way to access the encrypted files. Dircrypt will ask for the password a second time in order to make sure there is no typing mistake.
Help-Index
Input password
Please type in the password you used for encryption. Please note that uppercase and lowercase are NOT treated the same, and special chars like space are also allowed.
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Input password
This option dialog is password protected with the current masterpassword. Type in the password to get access. Please note that uppercase and lowercase are NOT treated the same, and special chars like space are also allowed.
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Input password
Type in the masterpassword. Dircrypt will check if there are any files which have been encrypted with the option "masterpassword active", and if this masterpassword is the same as the password you just typed in. If these conditions meet you can decrypt this files.
Help-Index
Master-decryption
Type in the masterpassword. Dircrypt will check if there are any files which have been encrypted with the option "masterpassword active", and if this masterpassword is the same as the password you just typed in. If these conditions meet you can decrypt this files.
Help-Index
Master-/Programpassword
Select the button "Masterpassword" to setup a masterpassword. This password serves three purposes: first it protects the current dialog window, so unauthorized users can not make any changes to the settings, second it serves as a programpassword, if the option "programpassword" is activated, and third it can be used for decrypting files which have been encrypted with the option "masterpassword" activated.
The option "masterpassword active" serves as a backdoor for decrypting files without knowing the used password. If this files have been encrypted with the option set the masterpassword can be used for decryption by choosing the menu item "Drive/Master-decrypt". This feature is especially usefull if you want other persons to be able to protect their data from each other on your pc, but you want complete access to all data in case of need.
The option "programpassword active" is for protecting the execution of Dircrypt itself. If activated the right password must be supplied at startup of Dircrypt, otherwise Dircrypt will not work. This way no one can even try to use Dircrypt if he does not know the programpassword. To set the programpassword press the button "programmpassword". Please note that apart from the programpassword the masterpassword can also be used to get access to dircrypt. Use the masterpassword if you want access to this dialog and to the menu item "master-decryption". If you log in with the programpassword and not with the masterpassword you have no access to this features. v
If you activate the option "programpassword as only password" Dircrypt will always use the programpassword for encryption and decryption. This is useful if you are always using the same password, this way you just have to supply the password at program startup, and afterwards Dircrypt will automatically use this password and not ask before each encryption or decryption.
Help-Index
Encrypt disk
If you choose this menu item you will get to a dialog where you can select files and directories for encryption.
Help-Index
Decrypt disk
Choose this menu item to decrypt data on the currently selected disk. Type in the right password and the files will be decrypten.
Help-Index
Screen mode
Dircrypt automatically detects the current video card. But if you want to use another screen mode, here you can set it up. Note that the wrong selection in some cases may hang your computer.
You also can turn on snowchecking. This should only be activated for old CGA-Cards, modern video cards don't need snowchecking. Y
Remember to save setup after making changes (if you have not activated setup autosave).
Help-Index
Color setup
You can adjust the colors to your taste. The left listbox shows different item groups, the right listbox shows the individual items. The two color boxes represent foreground and background color.
Help-Index
Rebuild datafile
In case a datafile has been deleted by mistake this gives you the chance to let Dircrypt rebuild the file. This is only possible if you know the right password and the option "datafile duplicate save" has been activated on encryption. Rebuilding is only possible if there are no other encrypted areas on the disk, so decrypt all files on the disk before trying to rebuild a datafile. After rebuilding a datafile you can decrypt the data as usual.
Help-Index
Error rebuild datafile
Rebuilding of a datafile is only possible if there are no other files apart from the ones belonging to the lost datafile encrypted on this disk. Decrypt all files before trying to rebuild the datafile.
Help-Index
Drive-setup
If you want to use Dircrypt with batchfiles and via commandline Dircrypt needs a file with the names of the files and directories to be encrypted. This function allows you to create such a file. Just select the desired files and directories as you would do when encrypting. Then press the Ok-Button. Dircrypt will not encrypt but create a file DCDATA*.DIR, which can be used for commandline processing. Another way to create this file is decryption with commandline parameters. For further information on how to use commandline parameters please read DIRCRYPT.DOC.
Help-Index
Exit
This will exit Dircrypt. You probably guessed that.
Help-Index
Restore drive
All needed information is already displayed on this info screen. For further explanation please read DIRCRYPT.DOC. You can now select "Cancel" and exit Dircrypt to read the manual, and afterwards restart Dircrypt, and you will be right back at this screen.
Help-Index
Options
Please select the item you want help for. p
Datafile
duplicate
progress-log
description
show
descriptions
autosave
setup
Help-Index
Datafile duplicate save
DIRCRYPT saves information about an encryption in a file named DCDATA*.DAT. This file is needed for decryption, without this file decryption is impossible. This file is made writeprotected and hidden to prevent it from being deleted by mistake. But it is still possible to delete the file, for example with certain filemanagers. If you think the DCDATA*.DAT file may get deleted by mistake you can activate this option. In response Dircrypt will make a copy of the datafile when encryption. This copy is not a file, but it is placed sectors marked as bad, so it can not be deleted or destroyed unintentionally. If the first DCDATA-file is lost, Dircrypt is able to reconstruct the file using this copy. For this choose the menu item "Rebuild datafile". There is a drawback when activating duplicate save: the diskspace needed for the datafile is doubled because of the copy, and encryption may take (insignificant) more time. You may only recover a datafile if you know the right password.
Optionen
Help-Index
Progress-log
Use this to protect Dircrypt against power blackout or switching off the PC by mistake. If activated you can restart Dircrypt and Dircrypt will continue the interrupted encryption or decryption. Progress-log can only be used when encryption or decryption is not taking place on the same drive where DIRCRYPT.EXE resides. Major drawback: encryption and decryption will be noticable slower. Note that this option is not a guarenteed protection against loss of data when the computer is switched of during operation of Dircrypt. So MAKE BACKUPS to be on the safe side. By the way, I myself don't use this option because I want real fast encryption and decryption, and I have backups.
Options
Help-Index
Descriptions
This option will make Dircrypt ask for a short description when encrypting. This is useful if you encrypt different groups of files with the same password. On encryption you are then able to identify this files by their description.
Optionen
Help-Index
Show descriptions
If selected Dircrypt will show you the description before each decryption. If this option is not activated descriptions will only be shown if there are more than one group of files encrypted with the same password, so you are able to select which file to decrypt.
Options
Help-Index
Setup autosave
If this option is activated Dircrypt will save all settings (drive, options) before exit, and reload them on restart.
Options
Help-Index
Cancel recover
For some reason you have canceled recovering with the progress-log. Read DIRCRYPT.DOC for further information on the progress-log. You may now exit Dircrypt, and on the next start you will be presented the recover option again. Do not make any changes to the drive, otherwise important data Dircrypt needs for recovering could be destroyed. If you continue using Dircrypt recovering is not possible any more.
Help-Index
Description
Type in a short description for the files that will be encrypted. This is useful if you encrypt different groups of files with the same password. On encryption you are then able to identify this files by their description. You may also leave the description empty, in this case just press enter.
Help-Index
Description
There is data encrypted with the password you just typed in. This data has the shown description. Choose if you want to decrypt this files now.
Help-Index
Create program-loader
With this feature you can create an EXE-file for automatic operation. This EXE-file will automatically decrypt files or directories, call a program and encrypt the files/directories again after termination of the program.
At "commandline" type in the complete commandline for calling your program, for example "C:\DATA\MYPROG.EXE". Append commandline parameters if necessary. b
At "workdir" type in the directory from which the program will be called, for example "C:\DATA". z
At "Loader EXE-filename" type in the name of the new EXE-file which should be created. Later you can call this EXE-file for encryption, execution of your program, and decryption (no need to call Dircrypt yourself anymore). Obviously this EXE-file should not be located in a directory which will be encrypted, because you call it to decrypt your data. Example: "C:\MYPROG.EXE". K
Use the "search" buttons for easy selection of filenames and directories.
After all input has been made select "Ok". Dircrypt will ask you for the files and directories you want to encrypt, encrypt them and create the new loader executable. If you want to use your encrypted program the next time just call this loader instead of your (encrypted) program, and all you need to do is type in the right password. Decryption, starting your program, and encryption after your program has terminated will be handled automatically.
Help-Index
Create EXE-loader
With this feature you can create an EXE-file for automatic operation. This EXE-file will automatically decrypt files or directories, call a program and encrypt the files/directories again after termination of the program.
For example if you have a directory named C:\BUSINESS and an application FINANCE.EXE in it which you like to protect from unauthorized access. This feature lets you create a loader, for example C:\F.EXE F.EXE will manage decryption and encryption automatically. If you call F.EXE it will decrypt your directory C:\BUSINESS, call C:\BUSINESS\FINANCE.EXE, and after you quit FINANCE.EXE encrypt C:\BUSINESS again. Your data will be securely protected, and only the right password will give access, but you are able to work with your program as usual. The only additional work is typing in the password for decryption (encryption does not need the password to be typed in again).
Help-Index
Not enouph space in root-dir
The root directory can only hold a certain amount of files and directory entries. If this limit has been reached no more files can be created in the root directory, even if there is still enough diskspace. Since dircrypt needs to create its datafile \DCDATA*.DAT you must delete or move files from the root directory. You can move them to a subdirectory.
(.txt)