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UZBLANK.HLP
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1994-06-21
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OVERVIEW
--------
UZBlank is a screen blanking program designed specifically for
power-managed laptop computers running MS Windows, although it can also
be used with desktop systems. In contrast to existing screen savers,
whose main purpose is to save the screen pixels from wearing out, and
to provide some entertainment value, UZBlank's purpose is to save power
on the laptop, by blanking the screen when it has been idle for a
configurable period of time. It has been designed to be at least as
good as the default MS Windows screen saver. There are several features
of UZBlank which distinguish it from other screen savers:
- UZBlank uses the Advanced Power Management (APM) features of modern
laptop computers to power off devices (eg. the display) when running
in battery-operated mode, in order to save power. Since APM is still
fairly recent, not all laptops have the most powerful APM features.
UZBlank will try the most power-efficient strategy for your system.
- UZBlank does not waste CPU cycles (which consume power!) when
operating in battery-operated mode. It does not display any fancy
graphics, because they also waste display power.
- UZBlank incorporates password-protected screen locking functionality
which automatically locks the screen after a selectable amount of time
after blanking or being suspended (partially powered off). This
prevents other people from seeing your data, if you are forced to
leave your laptop in unsecured areas. In addition, if your laptop has
password protection at the ROM BIOS level, there is effectively no way
to access the computer short of dismantling it (draining the battery
does not help if your ROM BIOS password is in NVRAM!). This thwarts
casual unwanted access at your data by other people.
- UZBlank has a more insensitive mouse unblanking mechanism, for those
(frequent) situations where the laptop is being moved around (as in
an airplane, train, etc).
INSTALLATION
------------
There are many ways to install UZBlank, and one simple alternative
is to follow these instructions:
1) Make a separate directory (using mkdir from the DOS prompt) and copy
the files from your distribution medium (either extract it from a
downloaded archive file (PKZIP, LHARC, ZOO, ...), or copy from the
diskette) into that directory. It is highly recommended to install
into a newly created directory, so that you can easily uninstall
later.
2) create a new program item in the "Startup" program group, so that
UZBlank starts running when Windows starts. You can do this in the
Program Manager either by
a) dragging the "UZBlank" executable file from the File Manager into
the "Startup" program group (consult your Windows manual);
or by
a) restoring the "Startup" program group (for example, by double-clicking
on its icon). If you do not have a "Startup" program group, you can
add the the new program to any of the other program groups; and
b) choosing the "File" and "New..." menu entry of the Program Manager.
Choose "Program item" and hit "OK". Set its "Description" to
"UZBlank", its "Command Line" to "uzblank" and its working directory
to the directory where you installed the UZBlank files. When you are
done, the "UZBlank" icon should be in the currently selected program
group.
3) disable any existing screen savers, either through the Desktop icon
in the Control Panel (set the "Screensaver" item to "None"), or
explicitely by closing them. If you start your other screensaver (for
example, IdleWild) from WIN.INI, you'll have to disable it by using
the System Editor to remove it from the "load=" line.
4) double-click on the UZBlank icon, or restart Windows (to verify that
it works). UZBlank is started when its icon shows at the bottom of
the desktop.
To uninstall UZBlank in the event you are not going to use it,
simply reverse the steps above, that is:
1) stop running the UZBlank program.
2) remove the program item from any program group that you added it to.
3) remove the files from the directory where you copied them to.
4) reenable the old screen saver, if you had one.
USAGE
-----
UZBlank runs purely as an icon, with 3 additional menu options
in its System menu. These options are displayed and selectable when you
single-click the left mouse button on its (running) icon.
- The "About" menu option displays version and licensing information.
- The "Settings" option allows to configure several parameters:
- "Blank time" specifies the number of minutes of inactivity
after which UZBlank will blank the screen. This is merely an
indication to the user that the system has been idle for a while.
On any input (mouse or keyboard), the original display is
immediately restored, unless the screen has been locked as
described below.
The recommended setting is 1 minute.
- "Display standby time" specifies the number of minutes of
idleness that UZBlank will try to power manage the display.
If your laptop is capable, then (only) the display will be
powered off (to conserve battery time).
On any input (mouse or keyboard), the original display is
immediately restored, unless the screen has been locked as
described below.
The recommended setting is 2 minutes.
- "Global suspend time" specifies the number of minutes of
idleness until UZBlank will suspend the entire system, but
ONLY IF it is currently running on battery power. In this
mode, the laptop uses the least amount of power, and you are
able to (almost) instantaneously power it up. This is
equivalent to you pressing the "Suspend" button on your laptop
(or equivalent, please read your manual), and no programs will
run in this condition.
You can resume by hitting the "Restore" button (if your system
has one, or the "Suspend" button again), and the original
display is restored, unless the screen has been locked as
described below.
The recommended setting is 3 minutes, unless you often run
programs unattended while on battery power, in which case you
want to make this number bigger.
- "Unblank on Mouse Move" allows you to select whether to
restore the blanked screen with the mouse or not. Even though
UZBlank already has an insensitive mouse unblanking mechanism,
you may want to disable this if your mouse still is sensitive,
or you are using your computer in an environment that make you
move the mouse inadvertently.
The recommended setting is to select this item.
- "Lock time" specifies the number of minutes of idleness until
UZBlank will lock the screen. You will be forced to enter a
password if you want to access your screen. This feature is
also enabled if your computer has been suspended for the
specified amount of time (regardless or not whether it was
idle at the time of being suspended).
You can resume by entering the password. The only other way
to get into the system is by powering it off. If your laptop
has a ROM BIOS password (as most do nowadays), your system
can only be accessed by someone knowlegeable dismantling it.
If you are concerned, contact your laptop vendor and get the
details!
The recommended setting is 60 minutes, unless you operate in
an unsecure environment, in which case you want to make this
smaller.
- The "Password" and "Verify password" text items allow you to
select your password. You will have to type the same password
in both fields.
UZBlank will not lock the screen, if you have not set your
password!
We recommend that you select the same password as your ROM
BIOS password, or choose another well-remembered, yet not
easily guessed-at string. If you ever forget your password,
you'll have to turn off the computer, and reset it again.
NOTE: be careful about your "Caps Lock" key, as the password
is case-sensitive.
- The "Lock now" menu option allows you to lock the screen immediately.
You can use this if you expect to be away from your computer and don't
want people looking at your data.
LIMITATIONS
-----------
Due to "features" of the Windows environment, UZBlank has the
following limitations:
- it will not blank if a window of the class "tty" is active, such as
any Non-Windows Application in a Program Manager program item. This
is the same behaviour as the default Windows screen saver mechanism,
but we are working on it.
NOTE: the password locking feature will work on power-up from the
suspended state regardless of whether a Non-Windows application is
active in "windowed" mode.
- it will not control the system while a Non-Windows Application is
running in "Full-Screen mode". In particular, the password-locking
feature will not work while the full-screen application is running.
We recommend to run Non-Windows Applications in "Windowed" mode, as
controlled through the PIF Editor application.
- the (malicious) intruder can always power off the system, so if your
PC does not have a boot-time password, UZBlank only prevents casual
access at the data (without you knowing it). If your boot-time password
lives in memory powered by the battery, the intruder will be forced to
drain the battery (either wait a long time, or dismantle the PC; I am
purposefully omitting details here) If you care about this, ask your
PC vendor to give you decent protection for your PC with a boot-time
password in NVRAM!
SUPPORT
-------
If you are a registered user, UZful Software provides on-line
support via e-mail at uzful@mv.mv.com . When you report a problem,
please include
- the version of UZBlank that you are running,
- the type of PC you have, and
- the symptoms of the problem (any special circumstances that make
the problem appear? Can you repeat the problem?).
If you have additional suggestions on how to make the program even more
useful, please drop us a line.
UZful Software
"We make the useful simple."