Startup Lock 2.5

ReadMe

Contents

* What's New in Version 2.5
* What's NOT in Startup Lock 2.5
* Using Startup Lock 2.5
* This Computer is Locked
* Setting Preferences
* Security Settings
* General Settings
* Protecting Your Settings
* Getting Help
* System Requirements
* Disclaimers
* Legal-ese
* Contact Information

What's New in Version 2.5
Startup Lock 2.5 takes the core features of Version 2.0.x and adds to them. Many new features have been added to Startup Lock in Version 2.5 including:

* Multiple Retries: You can now set Startup Lock to allow the user multiple tries to enter the correct password before the computer is shut down.
* Timed Shutdowns: You can set Startup Lock automatically shut down the computer after a user-defined period of time.
* Custom Message: You can now put your own custom message into the main Startup Lock window.
* Immediate Shutdowns: You can now set Startup Lock to immediately shut down the computer without informing the user if an incorrect password is entered.

Other elements have been "tweaked" including:

* Interface Improvements: Startup Lock Control's interface has been totally revamped to allow the new features of Startup Lock. Help icons are now available in the main windows of Startup Lock themselves to allow access to Startup Lock's on-line help system without having to use the menus. The interface has been MacOS Appearance Manager compliant and is ready for Allegro (MacOS 8.2) Themes and will work better with Kalidescope.
* Better Help: The on-line help system has been totally revamped to be more intuitive.
* Underlying Code: The underlying code in Startup Lock has been streamlined to be faster and allow for future expansion (Just wait until you see what I have planned for Version 3.0!)

What's NOT in Startup Lock 2.5
Some planned features did not make this release of Startup Lock. The most important of these features is that annoying "Shift" bug. This feature will be included in Startup Lock 3.0. Version 2.5's code, as mentioned above, has been readied for additional features to be added, including the fix to the "Shift" bug. But, in the interest of getting some much-requested improvements out there, Startup Lock 2.5 is being released as an interim solution.

Using Startup Lock 2.5
Despite all the improvements, the basic function of Startup Lock has remained the same. When a MacOS computer is booted, it goes through a startup process. During this time, the computer can not be used for anything. After the startup process, the user is then allowed to interact with the computer. Startup Lock stops this. After the startup process, Startup Lock will force the user to enter a password before being allowed to interact with the computer. This helps protect your computer from unwanted tampering.

This Computer is Locked
When Startup Lock is installed and activated, the following window will appear at the end of the Startup Process (Note that these screen shots were taken using MacOS 8. The windows will appear slightly different if used under System 7.x or if using Kalidescope):

When this window appears, the user is given two options. He or she may either type in a password and click "OK" or click the "Shut Down" button to shut down the computer. If the user enters the correct password, then Startup Lock will quit and the user may use the computer normally. If the user clicks on Shut Down, the computer will shut down.

If the user enters the incorrect password (and multiple retries is off, or the user has exceeded the set number of retries) the following window will appear:

If multiple retries is off (see below), Startup Lock will only allow one chance to enter the correct password. Otherwise, as long as the user has not exceeded the set number of retry attempts, the computer will beep and the user will get another chance to enter the correct password.

Setting Preferences
You can set your Startup Lock preferences by using the Startup Lock Control panel. This control panel is divided into two tabs, each of which allows you to customize settings of different features of Startup Lock.

Security Settings
* Protection: This allows you to turn Startup Lock on and off. By default, Protection is set to "Enabled."
* Password: This password is required to gain access to the computer when Startup Lock in enabled. The user will not be able to gain access to the computer without this password. By default, the password is set to "correct".
* Allow Multiple Retries: When checked, this will allow the user multiple tries to enter the correct password. You can set the number of retries allowed by changing the number labeled "Limit to x retries." If "Allow Multiple Retrys" is not checked, then the user will only be given one chance to enter the correct password before the computer is shut down. You can not have "Allow Multiple Retrys" and "Shut Down Immediately" checked at the same time. By default, "Allow Multiple Retrys" is on and set to limit to 5 retries.
* Shut Down Immediately: When checked, the computer will shut down without displaying a dialog box when a user enters an incorrect password. You can not have "Shut Down Immediately" and "Allow Multiple Retrys" on at the same time. By default, "Shut Down Immediately" is off.

General Settings
* Custom Message: This allows you to display your own message instead in the main window instead of the default. Be careful when setting this message, however. There is limited space available in the window, so be sure to test any message you want to use. By default, the message is set to "This computer is locked!"
* Use Timed Shutdowns: This allows you to tell Startup Lock to shut down after a period of inactivity. This prevents a user from starting up the computer and then walking away without shutting down the computer. Startup Lock will count the number of seconds between each key-press or mouse-move or mouse-click. If that number becomes greater than the number of seconds you define, Startup Lock will automatically shut down the computer. Note: This option will only operate before a valid password is entered. After a valid password is entered, Startup Lock will not shut down the computer. By default, "Use Timed Shutdowns" is on and set to 30 seconds. Startup Lock will not allow a setting below 10 seconds.
* Allow Shutdown Even in Help: This will have Startup Lock shut down the computer after the timed-period is over even if the help window is currently open. If not checked, Startup Lock will not perform a timed-shutdown if the help window is open.

To accept the new settings, click on "OK". To close the Startup Lock Control without accepting the new settings (keeping the previous settings), click on "Cancel". Any changes made will take effect immediately.

Protecting Your Settings
Startup Lock will not allow you to access the control panel without entering the current password. This way, users will not be able to change the Startup Lock settings.

Startup Lock is also self-repairing. If a user who has gained access to the computer trashes or moves the "Startup Lock Prefs" file, Startup Lock will recreate the "Startup Lock Prefs" file using the default settings (see above). That way, the computer will still be protected.

Getting Help
Startup Lock and Startup Lock Control both offer on-line help. The on-line help is found under the Apple menu in both applications. Help can also be accessed by clicking on the Help icon found in many of the Startup Lock windows. Help works the same way in both applications, even though the help topics are different.

You can change help-topics by using the list of topics at the left of the window. Simply click on the topic you want to display and the help text will appear in the box on the right of the screen. You can see sub-topics under the main help topics by clicking on the disclosure triangle to the left of the topic. Then, click on one of the sub topics to display that topic's text.

In case it makes things more convenient, the help-window can be resized by using the grow-box in the bottom-right corner of the window. The window can be made as large as your Mac's main monitor (the one the menu-bar appears on, in case you have more than one monitor), or smaller than the size it initially appears. However, it will not allow itself to be made smaller than 300 pixels by 300 pixels (so that the help topics and text can still be read). Startup Lock Control's help window is resizable. The Startup Lock application's help-window may not be resized.

Simply click on the close-box in Startup Lock Control to dismiss the help-window. (Note that in Startup Lock, the help window is modal, to prevent users from gaining access to the system. To close Startup Lock's help window, you need to click on the "Done" button).

System Requirements
Startup Lock requires a 68030-based Mac or better (including PowerPC-based Macs!) running System 7.1 (with Thread Manager) or better and is MacOS 8 compatible. You must have at least 4MB of RAM installed to use Startup Lock (8MB with PPC Macs and 16 with MacOS 8).

Disclaimers
Startup Lock is not meant to be a fool-proof, hack-proof way to lock your computer. There are many good commercial products that are able to do that. What Startup Lock is meant to do is provide an easy and inexpensive (i.e. free) alternative to those products. It is not going to be able to stop an experienced Macintosh troublemaker who is determined to get by it, but it will stop the casual Mac user who is not necessarily familiar with the way the system works.

In Beta-Testing, a conflict was found between Startup Lock 2.5 and Retrospect which could render the Mac unaccessible if Retrospect was set to do an automatic backup at startup. Because I don't have access to Retrospect, I don't know what might be causing this conflict and no easy solution was found to prevent this conflict. I will continue to work with the tester who discovered this conflict to develop a solution (and to determine if it is Startup Lock's fault or Retrospect's). However, if anyone else with Startup Lock 2.5 and Retrospect are able to make the two work happily together, please let me know by e-mailing me at the address noted below.

Startup Lock 2.5 is provided as-is without any warranty of any kind. Neither the author, nor SearchWare Solutions, is responsible for any damage that may occur during the use of this product. I have tried, to the best of my ability, to test this software on a variety of different systems and configurations. This software is even being used on my own Mac. Any bug reports should be e-mailed to me at the e-mail addresses listed below.

Legal-ese
Startup Lock is freeware, and as such, you may freely distribute this software as much as you like. The only things I require are that you only distribute the original installer (so that all the proper files are included) and that you don't include this software on any software collection or other commercial product without written permission from me (e-mail permission counts). Startup Lock 2.5 may not be modified in any way. This is just so that I can protect my investment in this product (i.e. the time I've put into it).

The installer for this product was created using Installer VISE from MindVision Software.
For more information on Installer VISE, contact:
MindVision Software
7201 North 7th Street
Lincoln, NE 68521-8913

Voice: (402) 477-3269
Fax: (402) 477-1395
E-mail: mindvision@mindvision.com
http://www.mindvision.com

Contact Information
I do accept and, in fact, encourage feedback from the users of Startup Lock. I do ask that every person who uses Startup Lock on a regular basis e-mail me with their thoughts on the product. If you have any bug reports, feature suggestions or other comments about Startup Lock, let me know! I am planning future versions of Startup Lock and want to know what you would like to see. I can be reached at search@radiks.net

It doesn't take that much time to whip up a quick e-mail, so I'd like to hear from each and every one of you! Plus, if you make a suggestion that I use in future versions, I will e-mail you a copy of Startup Lock with your suggested feature when it becomes available (that way you won't have to go searching for it). If you would prefer I not e-mail you a new version, let me know in the same message as your feature request.

Original file name: Read Me - converted on Sunday, 17 October 1999, 21:47