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Text File | 1993-10-24 | 20.2 KB | 437 lines

Rosenthal Engineering P.O.Box 1650, San Luis Obispo, CA USA 93406 all patent, trademark and copyrights reserved. 1993 Master Disk (tm) Master Disk prepares floppy diskettes used as masters for software duplication and distribution. Software duplicated from Master Disk prepared originals is more reliable and resistant to virus contamination. Master Disk examines the diskette and drive for flaws and errors, and verifies the quality and integrity as being suitable for use as the original master from which many duplicate copies are to be made. Distribution security is enhanced because unused areas of the diskette and file allocation table (FAT) are filled with special security code, reducing opportunity for concealment of viruses and similar malicious contamination. The system boot tracks are replaced by a special security program that displaces potential boot sector viruses and displays an announcement if the system is booted from the diskette. The registered user's company name is embedded within the security code and displayed if the system is booted from the enhanced diskette. You can demonstrate this extra protection by booting a system with the protected diskette in place, or use the DOS DIR command which reveals zero bytes free. - - - - - - - - - - - - Master Disk Enhances Distribution Security Users need to trust the software received from reliable vendors, but an alarming number of virus infections have been spread by software actually contaminated at its source. Master Disk assures users that a software supplier has made every effort to protect the integrity of software they distribute. - - - - - - - - - - - - Mastering Diskettes for Reliability and Security Floppy diskettes store information in concentric circles called tracks. Every track is further divided into multiple sections called sectors. In order to keep track of the files stored on each diskette, the computer's disk operating system records the side, track, sector, bios parameter block, file allocation table, bootstrap loader and similar information in specific areas, sectors and tracks of the diskette. When a computer system is first turned on, reset, or booted; the embedded program stored in the computer's nonvolatile memory directs the computer to attempt to execute the disk operating system from the boot sector of the default floppy diskette. If the computer fails to find a diskette to load the disk operating system from, it will then load from the normal memory storage device, such as a hard disk drive. The ability to load the operating system from the boot sector of a floppy diskette is required for initial set up and maintenance of the hard disk drive, but presents a significant security risk for infection by boot sector viruses. The boot sector of distribution floppy diskettes is a popular hiding place for contamination by malicious programs such as software viruses, worms, trojans, modification and other tampering. Master Disk overwrites the boot sector of the diskette and replaces it with a special security program. When the boot sector security program runs, it displays an announcement, and the registered source of the software. Master Disk overwrites other unused portions of of the diskette with special security code, preventing malicious programs from being transferred between systems in the unused portions of the diskette or increasing the size of a trusted file by attaching malicious virus code to it. It's important that only reliable diskettes are replicated, so all tracks are verified to disclose any discrepancies, - - - - - - - - - - - - How to use Master Disk Prepare a freshly formatted diskette to include all the files and data you wish to distribute. Follow the directions for your independent virus detector to assure that the computer you're using has no known viruses active. Run the Master Disk program from the DOS prompt and follow the directions to enter the letter of the diskette drive you wish to process. Only registered users have an additional file called MASTER.DAT which contains the company name that gets embedded in the security code. If you have not yet registered, you may still evaluate this software but without the embedded company name. Master Disk will process the floppy diskette, filling unused tracks, directory entries and boot sector with security code. The first time the program is run, registered users should check the spelling of their embedded company name as it appears in the boot sector announcement. Master Disk will prompt the user to enable the write protect notch at the appropriate time. The process will continue until the entire disk is examined and verified. Finally, use your virus detecting program to examine the completed distribution disk. That's it..... you're done! - - - - - - - - - - - - Duplication of Diskettes from Original Masters Whether you duplicate a few diskettes on single PC or send them out to a duplication house, the process is similar. Diskettes Used for Mastering The diskette used as a master should be new, of high quality, freshly formatted using a clean, tested drive. Even if you have erased files from the diskette before using it, some information may remain, which is how some unerase programs can often recover files. When your diskette is duplicated, even erased files are duplicated as well. Master Disk will overwrite any unused tracks and erased files with special security code, but it's still best to use a fresh diskette. Only high quality diskettes should be used as masters. The major factor in determining the reliability and quality of a floppy diskette is the "clipping level". It refers to a measurement of the relative read/write signal amplitude of the diskette. The "clipping level" is dependent on the surface quality of the iron oxide coating of the diskette as it contacts the clean head/write heads. A diskette with a clipping level of 60% should produce no pulses that are less than 60% of the average signal amplitude, with no more than 40% of the signal being clipped. If the clip level is not high enough, a signal may fail to be read properly causing a data bit to be missed, or dropout as it's called. The best diskettes have a clipping level of 70% or at least 60%. The industry ANSI standard calls for a minimum clipping level of 40%. Bargain diskettes often have a lower clipping level, so use only good quality diskettes for original master diskettes. - - - - - - - - - - - - Disk Drive Preparation for Mastering Make sure the diskette you use as a master is prepared on a freshly cleaned drive. Follow the directions with the "Disk Drive Cleaner" program from Rosenthal Engineering to ensure your disk drive is operating at its optimum for preparing your original master. The "Disk Drive Cleaner" contains additional information on the importance of this process. - - - - - - - - - - - - Duplicating Copies from Masters Clearly label your masters. Include your company name, program title date and of course "Master". If you're sending your master copy away for duplication, it's best to make at least two backup copies using the DOS DISKCOPY command. One backup copy you keep, and the master and one backup are sent to your duplication service. The duplication service can compare the master and backup copy they receive to each other. They should be identical unless they have been damaged in transit. If you need more than one size, prepare a master (and backup) for all the sizes you need. Some disk duplicating services can convert between different sizes, but usually require a mastering charge and there will be a time delay waiting for you to confirm the converted diskette. Obviously it's best to just send a master diskette (and backup) for each size. Send your original master and one of your backup copies for each size to your duplication service in a rigid shipping container. Every duplication service can relate horror stories about the condition some disks have arrived in. Remember your disk duplication service will duplicate whatever you send them. If they receive a master that has flaws, errors, bad sectors or viruses that's what will be replicated. - - - - - - - - - - - - Master Disk Displays Your Company Name. When you register Master Disk, you will be issued a registration number. The first time Master Disk is run, it creates a data file MASTER.DAT, which is referred to from then on. If you have not yet registered Master Disk, just press enter and you will be allowed to continue. The registered user's company name is embedded within the security code and displayed if the system is booted from the enhanced diskette. - - - - - - - - - - - - Diskette Verification Each sector of each track is checked and rechecked. This verification process is somewhat time consuming, but mandatory if confidence in the quality and integrity of the original master is to be assured. The preparation of diskettes used as masters is the final step in releasing software for duplication, and no time to take short cuts in quality assurance tests. Master Disk is quite thorough and redundant.... which takes a few minutes. Please be patient, your distribution software is worth the wait. - - - - - - - - - - - - Using a Reputable Duplicator If you are only duplicating a few diskettes at a time, a PC may be all you need. Make sure you are using one that has a good, clean, aligned disk drive. Even if the drive reads every disk it makes reliably you have no assurance that disks will be compatible with other PCs unless the alignment is within tolerance. Reputable disk duplicators take alignment, cleaning and integrity checking very seriously. Internal security audits need to be conducted to assure everyone involved takes your companies reputation for integrity seriously. Reputable duplicators periodically examine their equipment and even your product for viruses. The only way to be assured this is taking place is to periodically conduct a security audit. Rosenthal Engineering produces a product called Virus Simulator that makes safe internal security audits possible. The registered version of virus simulator produces dummy sample viruses that set off vigilant virus detectors and is the recognized industry standard for safely conducting security audits. These safe and controlled sample viruses can be used to see if anyone is taking the security of your product seriously. Is anyone using a virus detector? Do they even know how? If they claim to be testing for viruses, they should have no difficulty reporting one generated by Virus Simulator that you plant. - - - - - - - - - - - - Master Disk Virus Protection Master Disk has been tested and shown to be an effective defense against the distribution of viruses. Rosenthal Engineering maintains a comprehensive collection of viruses for testing. New virus samples are continually being tested as the collection is maintained. Text file VIRUS.DOC is a list of the viruses used in the testing of Master Disk. For obvious security considerations the Rosenthal Engineering sample virus collection is not publicly released. Access to the virus collection, in our facility, for independent testing, audit control and verification is available by contacting Rosenthal Engineering directly. Notice that there is a considerable difference in the names each anti- virus product assigns to the samples. Also, no anti-virus product has ever detected 100% of the verified samples in the comprehensive Rosenthal Engineering virus collection. This illustrates the need to use more than one virus detector for redundancy. When used in conjunction with independent virus detectors listed, Master Disk has successfully protected distribution diskettes against contamination from the malicious software listed in the VIRUS.DOC file. Additional viruses have been included since this list was compiled, and a number of viruses are currently being tested. Some are new and have yet to be named. - - - - - - - - - - - - Protecting Master Disk Integrity Because of the security nature of this software, it should only be trusted if you can trace its origin directly to Rosenthal Engineering without compromise. Registered copies are serial numbered on write protected distribution diskettes in envelopes sealed with a tape bearing the words "Tamper Resistant". - - - - - - - - - - - - Software Registration Requirements Please feel free to use and evaluate this software without charge to prepare original master diskettes for up to 100 copies. You are encouraged to copy and distribute this software freely provided it remains unmodified, complete in its original form, and no fee (other than a nominal copy charge) is required. This software is provided "as is" without warranty either expressed or implied. Master Disk (tm) is fully functional and not copy protected or crippled. The only thing missing is your unique registration number which allows your company name to be embedded in your distribution software. Once the required, registration fee is received, the latest registered version will be sent by priority first class mail. Be sure to print out and include the ORDER.FRM file so your unique registration number and company name will be correct. Software License agreement This Software is copyrighted material. It is not sold, but licensed. The registration fee must be paid within the time the free 100 disk evaluation copies are made, or its use discontinued. You may not make any changes or modifications to the software, and you may not decompile, disassemble or in anyway reverse engineer the software. This constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding whether oral or written and may only be modified in writing. This software is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. Responsibility rests entirely with the user to determine its fitness for a particular purpose. ROSENTHAL ENGINEERING SHALL NOT IN ANY CASE BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR OTHER SIMILAR DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY USE OF THIS SOFTWARE. Some states may not allow these limits on warranties, so they may not apply to you. In no case shall Rosenthal Engineering's liability exceed the license fees paid by you to Rosenthal Engineering for the right to use the Licensed Software. Corporate, business, institutional and government users who duplicate over 5,000 diskettes, require an additional negotiated site license. Rosenthal Engineering, P.O.Box 1650, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 USA - - - - - - - - - - - - Error and Warning Messages Warning! Suspicious file may be infected. This warning generally caused by a virus that has infected the program file, or modified a data file. Viruses often mark their victims so they do not give themselves away by reinfecting the same file repeatedly. - - - - - - - - - - - - Warning! Defective or unreliable diskette. Master Disk has determined the read/write quality of the diskette to be unreliable. Read/write clipping levels below minimum industry standards (40% ANSI), unacceptable data drop out and similar errors will cause this error to be detected. Master Disk examines each sector of every track with very close scrutiny. If this error is reported be sure the disk drive you are using is clean and use a new high quality diskette (60% clipping level minimum). - - - - - - - - - - - - Warning! Cluster marked bad in the file allocation table (FAT). There is a problem with the DOS directory structure or there is a track or sector marked bad. This includes cross linked and fragmented directory errors. - - - - - - - - - - - - Warning! Diskette is unsuitable for use as a master. One or more warning messages will cause this error. Also if the Master Disk process is unable to complete its security code terminated early, this message may be displayed. - - - - - - - - - - - - Warning! Drive RPM speed out of tolerance. Warning! Drive head stepping unreliable. Warning! Abnormal drive response termination. Warning! Drive recalibrate fault. Warning! Drive interrupt response failure. Warning! Drive end of cylinder beyond final sector. Warning! Drive error reading CRC. Warning! Drive error not verified writing CRC. Warning! Floppy disk controller not verified. Warning! Drive can't find specified sector. Warning! Missing or deleted disk data address mark. Warning! Sector scan not satisfied. Warning! Floppy disk control fault. Warning! Drive sense interrupt status fault. These and a number of other tests are performed on the disk drive hardware. Make sure the drive you are using has been recently cleaned and meets industry standards. The NEC 7265 or Intel 8272 floppy disk controller and disk drive are tested and verified quite exhaustively. - - - - - - - - - - - - Error! Program has been corrupted. This copy of Master Disk is defective or has been compromised. Reload a fresh copy from your write protected distribution diskette. Master disk does an extensive self evaluation before proceeding with any security checks. Because of the anti-virus and security nature of Master Disk, you should not trust its integrity unless you can trace its source to Rosenthal Engineering without compromise. - - - - - - - - - - - - Error! Company name or registration number incorrect. Be sure you have entered your correct company name and registration numbers exactly as the appear on you registration. This will only need to be entered if you do not have a MASTER.DAT file in the same directory as MASTER.EXE the first time Master Disk is run. Once the MASTER.DAT file is created, the process is automatic and the registration entry is not required again. If you have not registered the software yet. Just press enter without additional input. - - - - - - - - - - - - Error! Insufficient memory. There is not enough memory free to run Master Disk. Try running master disk directly from the DOS prompt and not from a shell or menu program. Check if you have too many TSR programs or device drivers in use. ====================================================================