 X          
    * Welcome to Magic Folders

    Version 96.09a

    Magic Folders makes any folder (directory) you choose and all the files 
    in that folder completely invisible to those without your password.

    These invisible folders and files can't be deleted, viewed, modified, 
    or run.  For all practical purposes they don't exist.  Use Magic 
    Folders to protect your finances, taxes, and personal documents.  Not 
    only won't other users not know these files exist, they won't be able 
    to accidentally delete or modify them either.  With Magic Folders you 
    can turn over your computer to your children or your co-workers 
    without worrying if they'll delete, modify or view important files. 
    
    Yet, just enter your password and you'll instantly have complete and 
    normal access to all your folders and the files within.  There's no 
    need to un-hide each file or folder individually.  And Magic Folders 
    is totally transparent.  No one need know your invisible 
    folders/files even exist. 

    If you wish you can establish 10 different accounts so everyone using 
    your computer can create their own invisible folders that only they 
    have access to. 

    If you share your computer you need Magic Folders.  Use it to protect 
    files you don't want others to delete, modify, view, or use.  Keep your 
    important files safe.  Protect them with Magic Folders! 

    Magic Folders works in DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95.  It will not 
    hide your folders/files in OS/2, 32 bit file access in Windows for 
    Workgroups or Windows NT.  It is not for use on shared LAN drives. 
        
    Magic Folders (tm) is copyrighted 1996 by RSE Incorporated.  Parts of 
    the program are proprietary.  Do not use the software unless you 
    agree  NOT to unassemble, disassemble, reverse engineer or use any 
    other means to examine or modify the code of any of its files 
    including MAGIC.EXE and MF.EXE. 
    
    "Magic Folders" is licensed "As is" without any express or implied 
    warranties whatsoever.  In no event shall RSE Inc. be liable for any 
    loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including without 
    limitation, special, incidental, consequential or other damages.  
    Your rights may vary based on your state's laws. 

    By choosing to install "Magic Folders" you signal that you understand 
    and agree to abide by the above. 

    * How much?

    Magic Folders is shareware.  You're freely given this copy in order 
    to evaluate it.  If after a 30 day evaluation period you decide to 
    continue using Magic Folders then you must become a registered user.  
    You can register instantly by modem (select "Register Now" under the 
    "Registration" menu) or by sending the registration fee of $29 plus 
    $1 shipping ($5 overseas) to:                          

        Magic Folders                    Mastercard or Visa customers:
        1157 57th Drive SE               E-mail: register@pc-magic.com        
        Auburn, WA 98092                         (206) 939-4105
                                          After Oct97: (253) 939-4105
                                                 
    Make check in US funds drawn on a US or Canadian bank payable to RSE.

    You're encouraged to freely distribute copies of MFD.ZIP as long as 
    you don't modify the files in any way.  DO NOT distribute the 
    individual, extracted, files; only MFD.ZIP. 

    As a registered user you'll receive these additional benefits: 

    1.  No more annoying messages (and delays) asking you to register.
    2.  The latest version of Magic Folders.
    3.  Free updates for 6 months! (If you download them)
    4.  The latest full function evaluation versions of our other 
        shareware including our popular "Remind Me!" programs.
    5.  Technical support 
    6.  A sincere "Thank you" for supporting our efforts to develop quality 
        software and offer it at reasonable prices. 

    Site licenses are available, as well as quantity discounts. 

    If for some reason you decide not to register Magic Folders please 
    send us e-mail and let us know why.  We're always trying to improve 
    our products. 

    * Installation

    If you haven't already installed Magic Folders you need to do so now.  
    Run "MAGIC.EXE" from within Windows.  
        
    * Disk compression software

    If you have disk compression software like Stacker or DoubleDisk make 
    sure that the line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that runs Magic Folders 
    (MF.EXE, or whatever you renamed it during installation) occurs AFTER 
    the line that loads your disk compression program. 
        
    * Selecting your magic folders
    
    Magic folders are those folders you want to be able to make 
    invisible.  You designate which folders you want to be magic folders 
    by selecting the "Add" button at the top of the screen. 

    Magic Folders not only makes all the files in your magic folders 
    invisible it also makes any sub folders invisible too.  For example, 
    if you designate "C:\TAXES" as a magic folder then all the files in 
    "C:\TAXES\BUSINESS" would be invisible too. 

    * Making your magic folders invisible

    Your magic folders are invisible from the time you start your computer 
    until the time your computer is turned off unless you deliberately 
    make them visible as explained below. 

    * Making your magic folders visible

    To make your magic folders visible run Magic Folders (in the 
    Accessories group), enter your password, and then select "Make 
    Folders Visible".  This gives you instant, complete, and normal 
    access to all your files, including the files in your magic folders.  
    
    Likewise, to make your magic folders invisible again just run Magic 
    Folders, enter your password and select "Make Folders Invisible" or 
    use the shortcut and just click on the "Please enter your password" 
    message when prompted for your password.  Your magic folders also 
    become invisible again if your re-boot or turn off your computer. 
        
    * Utility Functions

    Selecting "Utilities" from the top menu lets you change your 
    password, switch to another account (if you know its password), and 
    remove your account.  The Master Account can also create new accounts 
    and un-install Magic Folders. 

    * AutoStart

    You can have Magic Folders automatically start whenever you boot 
    your computer.  In AutoStart mode, Magic Folders gets your password, 
    makes your magic folders visible and then exits.  You can use this 
    feature to control access to your computer.

    You have two options when installing AutoStart.  Both deal with how 
    incorrect passwords are handled.  The first option lets you attempt 
    to enter the password just once.  If incorrect then the user is 
    granted access to the computer but all magic folders remain 
    invisible.  

    The second option lets you attempt to enter the password three times.  
    After three tries the computer is shut down.  In other words, only 
    those with Magic Folder accounts will have access to the computer. 

    In both options AutoStart looks for the KeyDisk if the password is 
    not valid.  Therefore you can still use the KeyDisk to gain access 
    should you forget your password.  And as always, you can use DISABLE 
    on the KeyDisk to uninstall Magic Folders should you not be able to 
    access Magic Folders within Windows. 

    Because AutoStart only makes your magic folders visible you still run 
    Magic Folders (in the Accessories group) to modify your magic folder 
    list and all other Magic Folder functions.                    

    You can uninstall AutoStart from within Magic Folders, or by 
    removing the "Password Entry" icon from the "Startup" group. 

    
    * Multiple Accounts

    Magic Folders lets you create up to five different accounts, each of 
    whose magic folders are invisible to the others.  In this way each 
    user of your computer, or member of the family, can have their own 
    magic folders.  You could also use this feature to group similar 
    files together so that working on one group doesn't expose the 
    others.  For example, one account for financial data, one for 
    business, one for personal documents, etc..

    Only the magic folders of one account can be visible at any time.  In 
    other words when someone successfully enters their password, all 
    magic folders are made invisible.  If that person exits by selecting 
    "Make Folders Invisible" then all magic folders remain invisible.  If 
    they exit with "Make Folders Visible" then only their folders become 
    visible, all others remain invisible.  For example if you make your 
    folders visible, and your son comes along and uses Magic Folders to 
    make his folders visible, then yours become invisible. 

    If you create multiple accounts you can't make all files on the 
    computer visible at one time without uninstalling Magic Folders.  
    Remember this when making backups.  It also means that you don't want 
    to make multiple accounts if you have a disk fix or defragmenting 
    utility that reports more errors when folders are invisible than when 
    they're visible (see WARNING section below). 

    Only the master account can create new accounts.  This doesn't mean 
    however that the master account has access to all accounts.  Each 
    account can change its password.  Let's say you want to give your 
    spouse a private account.  You'd select "Utilities" then "Create New 
    Account" and enter the new account password as requested.  You would 
    then tell your spouse the password you used to establish the account 
    and they would run Magic Folders using that password, select 
    "Utilities", and select "Change Your Password".  Now they have their 
    own account, with a password only they know. 

    Unlike the master account which can use the KeyDisk to get access 
    should the password be forgotten there is no way another account can 
    make their magic folders visible if they forget their password - 
    other than uninstalling Magic Folders.  Don't forget your 
    password(s)! 

    
    * WARNING 
        
    If you use a disk fix or defrag utility other than SCANDISK, DEFRAG, 
    Norton Disk Doctor, or Norton Speed Disk then you MUST test them to 
    see if they are safe to use with Magic Folders.  The danger is that 
    they may see the space allocated to your invisible files and free it 
    thereby deleting all your invisible folders and files.
    
    CHKDSK.EXE is the only program we've tested that becomes confused 
    which is why we disable it so that it won't run when Magic Folders is 
    installed (as long as it is named CHKDSK.EXE).  There are situations 
    where you may need to copy or access CHKDSK.  For example, Win95 puts 
    CHKDSK on the bootable recovery disk it creates.  For this reason 
    there is a function under "Utilities" on the main screen that makes 
    CHKDSK temporarily accessible.
    
    To test your utilities (if not listed above) :  Run your disk fix or 
    defragmenting utilities when your Magic folders are visible and 
    invisible.  DO NOT FIX ANY ERRORS THEY MAY REPORT.  If more errors 
    are reported when your folders are invisible then do one of the 
    following: 

    1.  Remove the utilities (so you can't use them) or remove Magic Folders.

    2.  Use only one account in Magic Folders (just use the Master Account 
    already created) and move the offending utility into one of your 
    invisible folders.  That way it can only be used when all folders and 
    files are visible, and thereby safe. 

    If the errors reported are the same when your magic folders are 
    hidden as they are when magic folders are visible then you can use 
    the utility without concern. 

    Please send the results of your testing to support@pc-magic.com
        
    For those interested in the technical details, this is why CHKDSK 
    (and maybe others) get confused.  Disk fix and defragmenting 
    utilities bypass the operating system and directly examine your disk.  
    In this way they can see the space allocated for your invisible 
    files.  Instead of directly examining the disk to see which files 
    belong to this allocated space (as smart utilities do) they instead 
    ask the operating system.  Since the operating system doesn't see 
    your magic folders when they're invisible these utilities assume the 
    space allocated to your invisible files should be freed.  Freeing 
    this space will obviously delete your invisible files and folders.  
    On the other hand if you don't create any additional Magic Folder 
    accounts except for the Master Account created during installation 
    then you can put the offending utility into one of your magic 
    folders.  In that way it can only be run when all folders and files 
    are visible to the operating system. 
    
    WARNING TOO!

    DON'T hide folders that contain critical system files.  By default 
    your folders are invisible until you use Magic Folders to designate 
    them as visible.  If Windows needs a file that exists only in one of 
    your magic folders then it won't be able to find it until you make 
    the folders visible.  If you accidentally hide important system files 
    then you'll need to use your KeyDisk to disable Magic Folders.  See 
    "Problems?" below. 
    
        
    * Things to remember

    Backups:  Some backup programs won't backup your magic folders unless 
    they are visible.  Remember, if you have multiple accounts you won't 
    be able to make all files visible at once, you can only make the 
    magic folders of one account visible at a time.     

    Networks:  Do not use Magic Folders on a file server for a LAN.  
    However it works great protecting files that exist only on your 
    workstation's drives. 

    Win95 "Boot to DOS":  If you exit Win95 by booting to DOS the 
    visibility of your magic folders remains the same in DOS as they were 
    when you exited Win95.  Likewise, if you're using Win95 and you want 
    the visibility of your magic folders to be the same when you re-start 
    the computer as it was when you shut down the computer then simply 
    add a " x" to the line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that loads MF.EXE 
    (or whatever you renamed it).  In other words change the line from 
    "LH MF.EXE" to "LH MF.EXE x".  Use a lower case "x". 

    Shortcut:  If you've made your magic folders visible and you want to 
    make them invisible again, you need only click on the Magic Folders 
    icon and then click on the "Please enter your password" message. 

    Another Shortcut:  If you're using Win95 and exit Magic Folders by 
    clicking on the yellow folder button on the Main Screen, then not 
    only will your magic folders be visible, but the "Hide M-folders" 
    icon will appear on the Task Bar.  You need only click on this "Hide 
    M-folders" icon and your magic folders will be instantly hidden.  
    Notice that the "Hide M-folders" description only appears for 5 
    seconds and then disappears leaving no evidence that Magic Folders is 
    present. 

        
    * Making Magic Folders tougher to defeat

    Magic Folders does a great job of keeping your files protected and 
    invisible if its loaded and running.  If no one knows Magic Folders 
    is running then they won't have any reason to try to defeat it.  To 
    the non-authorized user, Magic Folders is totally transparent.  If we 
    broadcast the fact Magic Folders is protecting your files then a 
    nosey user could try to disable it. 

    There are things you can do to make Magic Folders more difficult to 
    defeat.  During installation MF.EXE is renamed to the new name you 
    give it.  You can make multiple copies of this renamed file, giving 
    each copy a different name, putting them in different directories, 
    and running each of the different copies from within your 
    AUTOEXEC.BAT file.  Someone would then have to remove all references 
    to the renamed Magic Folders files in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file before 
    Magic Folders would be defeated.  Don't worry about loading Magic 
    Folders multiple times as it only loads itself once regardless of how 
    many times it is run. 

    If you're using Windows 95 you can also use this "multiple load using 
    different names" method in the SYSTEM.INI file.  Look for the section 
    "[386Enh]" and add a line underneath it that says "device=" followed 
    by the full pathname of the renamed Magic Folders.EXE file.  For 
    example, if during installation you rename Magic Folders to SYS_MGR, 
    and the Magic Folders files are in C:\MF,  then you would add the 
    line: "device=c:\mf\sys_mgr.exe".   This is only useful in Win95. 

    If you're using Windows 95 you can also user REGEDIT.EXE to modify 
    the registry files.  If you don't know what the Registry is or how 
    to use RegEdit, or you don't understand the following directions, 
    then DON'T try this.  DO NOT ask us for help if you mess up your 
    registry.  Microsoft technical support won't even take calls on the 
    registry.  You're on your own.
    
    Windows 95 depends heavily on the registry so ALWAYS backup the 
    registry files (SYSTEM.DAT SYSTEM.DA0 USER.DAT USER.DA0) to a floppy 
    before modifying the registry.  Use REGEDIT to hi-lite the 

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/VXD 
    
    key.  Making sure you've selected the "VXD" key select "Edit" then 
    "New" then "Key" and enter whatever you want the key to be named.  
    Double click on your new key to open it.  Then select "Edit", "New", 
    and "String Value" and enter "StaticVxD".  Then double click on the 
    "StaticVxD" and enter the full pathname of the renamed MF.EXE file.  
    Since most people are not stupid enough to mess with the Registry, 
    and you're hiding the purpose of this key fairly well, this is a 
    fairly secure method of assuring that Magic Folders runs whenever 
    Windows 95 does.  Note: Win95 Safe Mode doesn't use the registry, but 
    Magic Folders uses another method to load in Safe Mode. 
        
    If you decide to load Magic Folders using any of these methods then 
    keep in mind that using the "Uninstall" Utility within Magic Folders 
    (or DISABLE on your KeyDisk) only un-installs the initial copy of 
    Magic Folders.  You'll need to manually remove all other references 
    to the renamed MF.EXE file in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (and SYSTEM.INI 
    and Registry if appropriate). 
    
        
    * FAQs  (Frequently Asked Questions)

    "Sometimes after making my magic folders invisible they still show up 
    in directory listings, even tho I can't access them or their files.  
    Why?" 

    Many programs keep their directory listings in memory.  So if you 
    have the program do a directory search before hiding your folders 
    the program will continue to use that directory information even 
    after you hide your folders.  File Manager and Explorer both do this.  
    If you force the program to regather (refresh) the directory 
    information then you'll see that your folders really are invisible.  
    The hot key to force a refresh in File Manager and Explorer is F5. 
    
        
    "I'm having problems with my disk compression software"

    Check the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and make sure the line that run Magic 
    Folders (or whatever you renamed it during installation) is being run 
    AFTER the line that loads your disk compression software (Stacker, 
    DoubleDisk, etc..). 


    "I forgot my password.  What now?"   

    Master Account:

    Put your KeyDisk in the appropriate floppy drive.  Run Magic Folders 
    and attempt to enter a password three times.  After the third attempt 
    Magic Folders will attempt to read your Password from your KeyDisk.

    Other Accounts:

    You'll have to have the Master Account uninstall Magic Folders, re-
    install it, and then re-create a new account for you.
        

    "I want to un-install Magic Folders but I forgot my password so I 
    can't use the Magic Folders utilities to un-install.  What now?" 

    Re-boot using a System floppy.  Insert your KeyDisk and run 
    DISABLE.COM.


    "I registered but the program is still asking me to register."

    Make sure MFD.SYS is in the same directory as MAGIC.EXE.  MFD.SYS is 
    for your use only and has been customized with your personal 
    information.  If MFD.SYS isn't in the directory with MAGIC.EXE then 
    the program won't act registered.  If you registered via modem then 
    MFD.SYS was downloaded and installed automatically, otherwise it's on 
    the disk we sent when you registered.  For more information select 
    "About your registration" under the "Registration" menu. 

    "I can't rename the parent folder of a magic folder when it's 
    invisible."  That's correct.  Magic Folders doesn't mark your folders 
    with a special secret sign to indicate they're magic folders.  It 
    just uses the list of magic folders you create.  If someone renamed 
    the parent directory of a magic folder then your magic folder would 
    no longer match the list of magic folders and would therefore become 
    visible. 
        
    * Technical Support

    Registered users can get technical support by calling (206) 939-4105 
    ( after Oct97: (253) 939-4105 )

    or by e-mail: support@pc-magic.com 

    * Latest Versions

    You can always find the latest versions of all our software on our 
    WEB page at:  www.pc-magic.com

    Thank you for taking a look at Magic Folders.  Hope you find it 
    worthy of your support. 

    
