ScreenSaver Rev. 1.04 Copyright 1989 Signature Software, Inc. Thank you for your selection of ScreenSaver from Signature Software, Inc. ScreenSaver is a screen blanking utility designed for user-supported or Shareware distribution. ScreenSaver is not free software. As a shareware product, we (Signature Software, Inc.) are giving you an opportunity to copy and try ScreenSaver without charge. Install and use ScreenSaver on your system to evaluate the program's functionality for your needs. If, after evaluating ScreenSaver, you wish to continue using ScreenSaver on your system, it will be necessary to become a registered owner. Whether or not you register and continue using ScreenSaver on your system, we encourage you to copy and share ScreenSaver with other PC users. As a registered ScreenSaver owner, you will be entitled to technical support, a bound copy of the ScreenSaver user's manual, ScreenSaver updates, and information about other free or specially priced Signature Software products. To become a registered ScreenSaver owner complete and mail the registration form (included at the end of this ReadMe file) along with a $14.95 registration fee to: Signature Software, Inc. P.O. Box 11755 Richmond, VA 23230-0155 Attn: ScreenSaver Registration For corporations wanting to use ScreenSaver on a large number of computers, special site licensing agreements can be arranged. For more information on site licensing, contact David E. Wachter, Director of Marketing, at the above address or by calling (804) 287-5053. Thank you for your support of Signature Software through the use and sharing of ScreenSaver. This program has been designed to work with almost every hardware and software configuration possible. We realize the number of possible configurations changes almost every day, as a result, ScreenSaver may not work on some configurations. We are interested in hearing about configurations that are not compatible with ScreenSaver, your general comments about this product and other software needs you may have. Technical questions regarding ScreenSaver can be directed to Carl J. Mosca, Director of Research and Development. Disclaimer Signature Software, Inc. makes no warranties as to the content of these instructions and disclaims specifically any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any purpose. Signature Software, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to programs and documentation without notice. Signature Software, Inc. will not be liable for consequential, indirect, special, or other similar damages or claims, including loss of profits regardless of the form of the claim. This includes circumstances under which agents of Signature Software, Inc. may be informed of the possibility of such damages. Signature Software Inc. makes no warranty that the programs documented herein are fit for any particular purpose. Acknowledgements IBM Personal Computer (PC) and PS/2 Family are products of IBM. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. MS-DOS is a product of Microsoft Corporation. ScreenSaver and Signature Software are trademarks of Signature Software, Incorporated. Introducing ScreenSaver ScreenSaver is an easy to use memory resident, screen blanking utility, that requires less than 2K of memory. Unlike other screen blanking utilities that will only blank your screen at a DOS prompt, ScreenSaver will blank your monitor either instantly or automatically while you are in almost any application program. ScreenSaver is compatible with the IBM PC family, PS/2 family and with 100% IBM compatible PCs running MS-DOS version 2.0 or higher. ScreenSaver works with MDA, HGC, CGA, EGA, and VGA type monitors ScreenSaver's automatic screen blanking will help protect your monitor from costly and damaging "burn-in" (when images displayed on the screen for extended periods of time appear even after the monitor is off or in another program). ScreenSaver's automatic screen blanking is also a benefit to users of expensive graphics monitors. To produce the high quality, high resolution graphics provided by many of today's software programs, monitors (such as the VGA and Super VGA types) must operate at higher scanning frequencies. These higher scanning frequencies stress critical circuits and cause circuits to produce greater amounts of heat. Both the stress and greater heat on the monitor's circuits may shorten the useful life of an expensive video graphics monitor. Regular use of ScreenSaver can help reduce the heat and stress to your monitor's circuitry. Because ScreenSaver electronically turns off your monitor when not in use, your monitor is saved from unnecessary wear and tear, helping it last longer and work its best for you. ScreenSaver's instant screen blanking function provides a solution to the problem of interruptions while working with confidential or sensitive data, by letting you instantly blank the screen to protect information displayed on your monitor. This is useful when your PC is in view and you do not wish (or do not have time) to exit the program in which you are currently working. A Note About Instructions These instructions assume the source drive you are using is drive A (source drive is where the program diskette is placed during installation). The target drive you are using is named drive C (target drive is where the program files are stored after being copied from the source drive during installation). The instructions also assume the prompt as {d}:\> ("d" representing the name of the drive currently being addressed). The prompt is set in this manner when the command "prompt $p$g" is issued (usually in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file during boot-up). When using different drive names, substitute the correct drive letter for all references to drive A or C. All instructions for using ScreenSaver's functions assume the use of the program default settings. If any default settings are changed by accessing the ScreenSaver Settings Utility, the changes made should substituted in the examples given. Making a Copy of The Program Diskette During ScreenSaver installation, information is written to the diskette containing the program files. It is suggested you make a backup copy of the program diskette for installation purposes. The copy can be made using the DOS command DISKCOPY (see your DOS manual for more information on using this function). Installing ScreenSaver During ScreenSaver installation, three different steps will be completed automatically. The first step will modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The modification will allow ScreenSaver to install automatically each time the computer is rebooted or turned on. Your original AUTOEXEC.BAT file will be saved and renamed as AUTOEXEC.SS. If no AUTOEXEC.BAT file exists, one will be created for you. During the second step, the ScreenSaver program files will be copied to your hard disk. The third step will load ScreenSaver into memory. To install ScreenSaver use the following instructions: 1. Insert the backup copy of the program diskette into drive A. 2. At the C:\> prompt, Type A: and press ENTER. 3. At the A:\> prompt, type GETSS and press ENTER. 4. The install program will ask the following question "Please indicate where ScreenSaver is to be installed (drive/ directory): C:\SS". If you want to use the default location indicated, press ENTER. You may modify the default location by typing a new location over the default of C:\SS and pressing ENTER. 6. The message "1 file(s) copied" will appear as each program file is copied to the location selected. After all files have been copied, the message "ScreenSaver files copied" will be displayed. 7. The message "ScreenSaver is now loaded." will appear and the prompt C:\SS> (or location you selected) will be displayed. ScreenSaver is now loaded and ready for use. See the section entitled "Using ScreenSaver" for information on using the program's various functions. Important Notes About Installation If problems occur during ScreenSaver installation one of two different messages may appear. The message "File copy error" is displayed to indicate a problem copying the files from the program diskette or a problem copying the files to your system. The message "ScreenSaver previously installed" indicates that the AUTOEXEC.BAT file has been previously modified by the ScreenSaver installation program. If you are attempting to re-install ScreenSaver, you must first erase the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and rename the file AUTOEXEC.SS to AUTOEXEC.BAT. You should next erase all ScreenSaver files stored on your hard disk and remove the directory or subdirectory in which they were stored. After these two steps have been completed, you can again attempt to re- install ScreenSaver. Using ScreenSaver Automatic Screen Blanking: This function automatically blanks the monitor screen after five minutes of system inactivity (the default ScreenSaver time of five minutes can be adjusted for 1 - 30 minutes by accessing the ScreenSaver Settings Utility, see "Changing ScreenSaver Settings"). You can retrieve the screen by pressing any key on the keyboard. A harmless key such as ctrl, alt or shift is suggested, but generally, the key struck will not affect any program in progress. The monitor display will also re-appear whenever a program that is running updates or writes new information to the screen. Instant Screen Blanking: This function instantly blanks the screen at your command. Unlike automatic screen blanking, when instant screen blanking is activated the screen will not re- appear when the program that is running updates or writes information to the screen. A key must be pressed to retrieve the screen. To activate instant screen blanking, use the following instructions: 1. Press and hold down the ALT key (defined in the ScreenSaver Settings Utility as the ScreenSaver Key). 2. Press the RIGHT SHIFT key (defined in the ScreenSaver Settings Utility as the Activation Key). The screen will now blank. Changing ScreenSaver Settings Changing any of ScreenSaver's default settings (ScreenSaver time, Activation Key, ScreenSaver Key, and DisInstall Key) involves three steps. First, it is necessary to remove ScreenSaver from memory. Second, you will need to access the ScreenSaver Settings Utility. Third, ScreenSaver must be loaded into memory. Each of these steps are covered in the next three sections. Removing ScreenSaver Plus From Memory To remove ScreenSaver from RAM (random access memory), enter the following at any DOS prompt (i.e. C:\>): 1. Press and hold down the LEFT SHIFT Key (defined in the ScreenSaver Settings Menu as the DisInstall Key). 2. Press the RIGHT SHIFT Key (defined in the ScreenSaver Settings Utility as the Activation Key). You will hear two quick beeps verifying that ScreenSaver was removed from memory. Accessing the ScreenSaver Settings Utility To access the settings menu and change desired settings, use the following instructions: 1. At the C:\> prompt, type CD\SS (or location you selected) and press ENTER. 2. The prompt will change to C:\SS>. At this prompt type SSSET and press ENTER. 3. The first field will ask you to enter the ScreenSaver time. This is the length of time that must pass before ScreenSaver will automatically blank the screen during periods of system inactivity. The answer you give must be a number between 1 - 30. Press Enter to keep the current setting. 4. The second field will ask you to select an Activation Key. Follow the instructions given on the screen. 5. The third field will ask you to select a ScreenSaver Key. Follow the instructions given on the screen. 6. The fourth field will ask you to select a DisInstall Key. Follow the instructions given on the screen. 7. The final field will ask if you want to save the settings shown on the screen. Type Y for yes or N for no and press Enter. If you answered Y, the message "ScreenSaver settings changed" will be displayed. If you answered N, the message "ScreenSaver settings not changed" will be displayed. Loading ScreenSaver Into Memory To begin using ScreenSaver with the changes made, use the following instructions: 1. At the C:\SS> (or location you selected) prompt, type SS and press ENTER. 2. ScreenSaver will now be loaded into memory and ready to function. Registration Form Complete and mail the form below, along with the $14.95 registration fee (check or money order payable to Signature Software) to: Signature Software, Inc. P.O. Box 11755 Richmond, VA 23230 Attn: ScreenSaver Registration Product registration entitles you to technical support, a bound copy of the ScreenSaver user's manual, ScreenSaver updates, and information about other free or specially priced Signature Software products. The serial number requested is displayed on the screen when ScreenSaver is loaded. ScreenSaver Owner's Registration Form Name: _____________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: _______ Zip: ________ Daytime Phone Number: (_____) _____ - ________ ScreenSaver Serial Number: ________________________________ Type of PC Used: __________________________________________ How did you find out about ScreenSaver? ___________________ ___________________________________________________________ What PC magazines do you read? ____________________________ ___________________________________________________________ What PC software would you like to see developed? _________ ___________________________________________________________