PE Corrector: README
===================================
Copyright (c) 2002-2003 GigaMind Systems
All rights reserved.

Please read this file carefully (especially "Installation"
chapter) before installing the program to your computer.


Contents
--------

  Introduction
  Requirements
  Installation
  Localizations
  History
  Registration
  Copyright and license
  Technical support
  Known bugs and limitations
  Where to get the latest version
  Other GigaMind Systems products


Introduction
------------

PE Corrector is easy to use tool for correcting
Windows Portable Executable files (exe, dll, sys, bpl, dpl,
cpl, ocx, acm, ax, scr). PE Corrector allows you to modify these files.

PE Corrector can work in two modes: "default" and "wizard". "Wizard"
mode introduces comfortable and easy way to set up all options. But if you
are an advanced user, you can use program in the "default" mode.

This program is very useful when you need to correct PE files. Such
correction may be very necessary in this cases:
 - Some compilers (Borland C++ Builder 4, for example) do not clear memory
   before compilation. Because of this the new exe file may contain binary
   trash in the header. But also it may contain even your personal security
   data from your disks (passwords, for example). Great example of this
   situation you can find in the file ssmaze.scr (animated labyrinth
   screensaver) in  Windows 98. This file contains some strange information
   in the header.
   PE Corrector can correct this problem. It simply cleans the headers in safe
   mode and erases all illegal information. Also you can insert your own info
   into header (copyright information, for example).
   
 - Some compilers (Borland C++ Builder, for example) inserts into PE files
   some export functions which are needed for debugging, but not for final
   compilation (examples of such functions: __CPPdebugHook, _Form1,
   __GetExceptDLLinfo, @@Unit1@Initialize, @@Unit1@Finalize, etc...).
   These export functions adds some extra volume to PE file and not
   necessary in most cases. But it is not the whole problem. If there are
   many exports in PE file, this file may not be processed correctly by
   some exe-packers. Also it may contain some secret functions (defence of
   trial, for example) declared in export section of PE file. This situation
   is very useful for crackers. PE Corrector helps you to solve this problem.
   It displays all of the exported functions and gives ability to clean
   export sections on the optional basis (you simply specify what functions
   you want to erase).


So, if you keep PE file "as is" after compilation, probably you will give very
useful gift to crackers.


In summary, with PE Corrector you are able to:

 - Clear binary trash in headers of PE files
 - Insert your own information into header (copyright information, for example)
 - Erase section names (.rsrc, .reloc, .pdata, etc...)
 - Remove relocations table (it was reserved by Microsoft but not used in exe files)
 - Examine the list of the export functions
 - Erase selected functions in export section
 - Reduce size of PE files
 - Prepare PE files for exe-packers
 - Protect PE files from crackers

The program is written with usage of the Key Objects Library (KOL) (c) Vladimir Kladov.
So it very fast and small.


Requirements
------------

 - Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/NT 4.0/2000/XP 
 - Pentium 100MHz 
 - 8 MB RAM 
 - 1 MB Hard Disk 



Installation
------------

Important! If you've got PE Corrector not from our web page, but from
the other source (magazine CD or some software library), please
visit our home page - you'll probably find the later version.

We recommend you to uninstall the previous version of PE Corrector (if
you have one) from your computer before installing this one. You
can do this via "Add/Remove Programs" Control Panel applet.

But deinstallation is not absolutely necessary.

To install PE Corrector, just run the "setup.exe" and follow the
instructions. You'll need to select the target directory
to install. We recommend you to select that folder,
where the previous version of the program was installed.
Thus you can save all of the program's settings.



Localizations
-------------

See "local.txt" file.


History
-------

See "history.txt" file.


Registration
------------

See "order.txt" file.


Copyright and license
---------------------

See "license.txt" file.


Technical support
-----------------

See "support.txt" file.


Known bugs and limitations
--------------------------

 - PE Corrector may not run correctly under Windows 95 if the new version of
   common control library (comctl32.dll) is not installed;
   the program requires version 4.72 or later. Please visit
   http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/ieplatform/ie/comctrl.asp
   for update.


Where to get the latest version
-------------------------------

The latest version of PE Corrector is always available from our web page
at http://www.gigamindsystems.com/pec/pec.php


Other GigaMind Systems products
-------------------------------

See "products.txt" file.
        
 

            Thank you for using PE Corrector.

                                            GigaMind Systems
                                            Web:    www.gigamindsystems.com
                                            E-Mail: info@gigamindsystems.com
