 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 //                     Welcome to StepUp'96
 //                for Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 95
 //                   and Windows NT(tm) 4.x !
 //
 //                         Version 4.02
 //
 //               Last updated:  November 22, 1996
 //
 //                 Copyright (c) 1996, ChaoSoft
 //                     All rights reserved.
 //
 //                     _______ 
 //                ____|__     |               (R)
 //             --|       |    |-------------------
 //               |   ____|__  |  Association of
 //               |  |       |_|  Shareware
 //               |__|   o   |    Professionals
 //             -----|   |   |---------------------
 //                  |___|___|    MEMBER
 //
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This file contains introductory information regarding StepUp'96.

   STOP!

   IMPORTANT NOTE 1:

Before reading any further, please verify that you have a complete
set of the files originally included in the StepUp'96 package.  A
list of the files may be found in the VENDINFO.DIZ file, supplied
with the package.  If any file listed in the VENDINFO.DIZ file (or
the VENDINFO.DIZ file itself) is missing, the package is incomplete
and its further use or distribution is PROHIBITED.  To obtain a
complete package of the software, please contact us at the address
at the end of this file.

   IMPORTANT NOTE 2:

Before you use this software, please read the ChaoSoft License
Agreement, which may be found in the VENDINFO.DIZ file, supplied
with the package.  By using StepUp'96 you agree to be bound by the
terms of the license.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------

1.  About StepUp'96
2.  System requirements
3.  Installing and uninstalling StepUp'96
4.  This is 'Try Before You Buy' software!
5.  Obtaining updates to the software
6.  Getting customer support

---------------------------------------------------------------

1.  About StepUp'96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

StepUp'96 is a set  of utilities designed to extend the Windows user
interface.  When  you  install  StepUp'96,  additional  commands are
added to the menus and taskbar of Windows, making you able  to  work
with Windows easier and faster.

StepUp'96 resembles best  features  of  its  predecessor, FM StepUp,
featured in many leading publications, such as PC MAGAZINE,  WINDOWS
MAGAZINE,  WINDOWS  WORLD,  WINDOWS  USER, and rated *Five Stars* by
Ziff-Davis Interactive.

Features of StepUp'96 include:

o  StepUp  Menu,  accessible  from  the  context  menu  or  taskbar,
   containing commands which you can use to process files or folders, 
   open new browsing windows, run files, etc.

o  Folder  Navigator,  accessible  from the context menu or taskbar,
   allowing you to quickly open the folder you need.
   
o  Menu Designer, allowing you to add new commands  to  StepUp  Menu,
   modify its existing commands to make them better suit your needs,
   move menu items between submenus, etc.

o  File  Handler,  designed   to  perform  various  file  management
   operations in a way similar to that of File Manager.

o  Taskbar Icons,  allowing  you  to  quickly  logoff, shut down, or
   reboot your computer, toggle the CDROM  Autorun  feature  on/off,
   access the commands of StepUp Menu and Folder Navigator.

o  Context-sensitive  Help  provides  a  complete  user's  guide for
   StepUp'96.

o  Automatic Setup utility, allowing you to  painlessly install  and
   uninstall StepUp'96.
   
o  StepUp'96 may be used both on a single machine and over a network.
   Each user can configure  and  use  StepUp'96 independently on the
   others.  Also, StepUp'96 allows system administrators to restrict
   many  of  its  features  (see  file  StepUp.adm  containing   the
   StepUp'96 Policy Templates).
     
Try it - You won't  believe  how  you  were  able  to  work  without
StepUp'96.

"The way software should be!"(tm)
____________________________________________________________________

2. System requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

StepUp'96  is  designed for operating systems Windows 95 and Windows
NT (version 4.0 or higher).   1  MB  (one megabyte) of free space on
your hard disk is required  to  install  StepUp'96.   There  are  no
special  requirements or recommendations except the obvious one: the
better processor and more RAM your computer has the better StepUp'96
will perform.

NOTE: throughout StepUp'96 documentation, "Windows" is used to refer
to Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.  In those few instances where  the
operation  of  StepUp'96  under  these  operating systems differ, an
explicit operating system name is used.

StepUp'96  can  be  installed  and  used  under  Windows 95 Beta and
Windows NT 4.0 Beta, although the installation utility will warn you
about that.

StepUp'96 CANNOT be installed and used under the following operating
systems:

- Windows 3.1/3.11, even if Win32s is installed
- Windows for Workgroups 3.11, even if Win32s is installed.
- Windows NT all versions prior to 4.0.
_____________________________________________________________________

2. Installing and uninstalling StepUp'96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

StepUp'96 comes with a convenient and flexible Setup utility,  which
allows you to both install and uninstall StepUp'96.

NOTE:  it is NOT sufficient to simply copy StepUp'96 files onto your
   hard disk to install  it.   You  MUST  run Setup.exe to configure
   your system and enable all StepUp'96 components.

NOTE to  Windows  NT  users:  if  you  have  a  different version of
   StepUp'96 already installed in your system, you  MUST  deactivate
   it  before  installing  the  new version.  The reason for that is
   that Windows NT will not  allow to replace the existing Stepup'96
   files which are in use.  When you run Setup, it will not  install
   the  new  version  of StepUp'96 until you deactivate the existing
   one.  This does not apply  if  you  use Windows 95: the new files
   will be copied by Setup over the existing  ones.   
   
   To  deactivate  the  existing  installation  of  StepUp'96,  open
   Control Panel, choose  'Add/Remove  Programs' and double-click on
   "Chaosoft StepUp'96".  When the "Uninstalling  Stepup'96"  dialog
   box  is  displayed, select the "Deactivate all components" option
   and choose OK.

To install StepUp'96:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a) If  you have obtained StepUp'96 as a compressed file, uncompress
   the file into a temporary folder  on  a hard disk, or on a floppy
   diskette.
   
b) Open folder containing the uncompressed set  of  StepUp'96  files
   and double-click 'Setup' (or 'Setup.exe').
   
c) The Setup utility will suggest you the folder in which to install
   StepUp'96.   You  may  accept  the  suggestion  or  choose  other
   location for StepUp'96 files.  You can also  specify  whether  to
   add StepUp'96 items to Start Menu and whether to create a Desktop
   folder for StepUp'96 components.

d) Setup utility will copy  the  files into the specified folder and
   configure Windows for using StepUp'96.
   
e) At the end of the installation procedure Setup will prompt you to
   enter  your  name and Registration Code.  If you have purchased a
   license  for  continued  use   of  StepUp'96  and  received  your
   Registration Code, you  may  enter  it  at  that  time,  and  the
   evaluation  version  of  StepUp'96  will  be  converted  into the
   registered one. Otherwise, you may skip entering the registration 
   code and StepUp'96 will operate in the evaluation mode.

f) After the installation  has  been  complete, you may delete files
   from  the  temporary  folder,  from  which  you  were  installing
   StepUp'96.

To uninstall StepUp'96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE: it is NOT sufficient to simply delete files from the StepUp'96
   folder to completely uninstall it.  Please follow  the  procedure
   described  below  to uninstall StepUp'96 and clean up your system
   configuration:

a) Open folder  'Control  Panel'  and  double-click  on  'Add/remove
   programs'.
   
b) In the list of  products  which  can be uninstalled find the line
   "Chaosoft StepUp'96" and double-click it.
   
c) The "Uninstalling StepUp'96" dialog box will appear prompting you
   to confirm that you want to uninstall StepUp'96.  You may  choose
   to  deactivate all StepUp'96 components, delete its application 
   files, delete user files related to StepUp'96, and/or reset 
   StepUp'96 settings.
   
d) After the uninstalling procedure has been finished, you may  need
   to  go  to  the  folder  where Stepup'96 files were installed and
   delete remaining files.  If you  are  running Windows NT, you may
   need to logoff and then log back on before Windows permits you to
   delete the files.
   
____________________________________________________________________

4. This is TRY BEFORE YOU BUY software
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is NOT freeware or public domain software.   This  is  software
which you can "try before you buy".

You  may  install  the  program  in  your  system  and use it for an
evaluation period of  up  to  14  days.   After  that  time, you are
required to purchase a license for continued use of the software  or
else  stop  using it.  You may freely copy and distribute evaluation
copies of StepUp'96 provided  that  all  conditions specified in the
distribution license are satisfied (please see the license agreement
in the VENDINFO.DIZ file.)

What's the difference between Evaluation and Licensed versions?

There  is  NO  functional  difference  between  the  evaluation  and
licensed  versions  of  this  software (except for the 'registration
reminders', displayed by the evaluation version after the evaluation
period has ended).  Actually, it's the same program: you may convert
an evaluation copy to a registered  copy by entering your name and a
Registration Code.  Similarly, a registered copy of the program  may
be  'unregistered'  by  deleting  the  registration  code or by just
copying the program to another machine.

Evaluation copies of our products are  100%  fully  functional.   We
make  them  this  way  so you can have a real look at them to decide
whether or not they fit  your  needs.  Please understand that if you
fail to register, and continue to use  StepUp'96  beyond  the  eval-
uation  period  without  paying  for it, don't expect the program to
maintain  its  original  functionality:  some  features  may  become
disabled.  If you need more time  to decide whether you want to keep
the program, we'll give you an opportunity to extend the  evaluation
period.   However,  we  cannot  afford  to  let  you use the program
without compensation.  In addition,  it  is  unfair to our customers
who  do  register  to  use  the   program.    We   appreciate   your
understanding of this policy.

What do you get when you purchase a license for StepUp'96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.  A  unique  Registration  Code,  allowing  you  to  remove   the
    registration  reminders  and  put your name, or the name of your
    organization, on the "About StepUp'96" screen.

2.  Disk with the latest  version of StepUp'96 and information about
    other ChaoSoft products.

3.  The privilege to upgrade to all  future  versions  of  StepUp'96
    FREE of charge.

4.  FREE 90-day customer support.

5.  FREE Compuserve membership with a $15.00 usage credit.  This is
    more than enough online time to have your technical support
    questions answered, and still have some fun!

How to purchase a license for use of StepUp'96
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ChaoSoft  licenses   the   software   on   the   'per-user',  not  a
'per-computer' basis.  This means that you  may  purchase  a  single
individual  license and use StepUp'96 on more than one computer (for
example, a desktop system and a notebook), provided that you are the
only user of those computers and  there is no possibility to use the
Registered Copy of StepUp'96 by anybody else.

On the other hand, if more than one person uses  a  computer,  every
such  user  must purchase an individual license for continued use of
the software, or  a  site  license  for  the  total  number of users
accessing the computer must be obtained.

Please refer to ORDER.TXT  file  for detailed instructions and order
forms.  You may order StepUp'96 with a check or money order.   Major
credit  cards  accepted.   You  may  also  register  via CompuServe.
Purchase orders from companies accepted.

Please refer to ORDER.TXT for more information.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware
Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to  make  sure  that  the  shareware
principle   works   for  you.   If  you  are  unable  to  resolve  a
shareware-related problem  with  an  ASP  member  by  contacting the
member directly, ASP may be able to help.   The  ASP  Ombudsman  can
help  you  resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does
not provide technical support  for  members' products.  Please write
to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover  Road,  Muskegon,  MI  49442-9427
USA,  FAX  616-788-2765  or send a message via CompuServe e-mail to:
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
____________________________________________________________________

5. Obtaining updates to the software
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You receive the latest version of this program  after  you  order  a
license  for  its  continued  use.   Please  see  file ORDER.TXT for
information on ordering ChaoSoft products.

The  evaluation  copies of the software are also available from many
other  sources,  including  FTP   and  WEB  sites,  online  services
(COMPUSERVE, AOL, etc.), BBSes, and from  disk  or  CD-ROM  vendors.
The  evaluation  version  of  StepUp'96  may  be  converted into the
licensed version by entering a valid registration code.

Some of the locations are listed below:

CompuServe:
      GO PIKAPROG, or WINSHARE, or WINUTIL, or WUGNET
      search for the keyword CHAOSOFT
      
America On Line:
      search for the keyword PIK
            
FTP:  ftp.pik.com
      ftp.asp-shareware.org
      ftp.winsite.com
      garbo.uwasa.fi
      ftp.simtel.net
                        
HTTP: www.pik.com/chaosoft.html
      www.asp-shareware.org
___________________________________________________________________            

6. Getting customer support
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before requesting customer support, *PLEASE* check out  the  on-line
Help  for  StepUp'96.   In  particular,  be sure to look through the
following sections:

    "Answers to Frequently Asked Questions"
    "Known problems and limitations"

If you cannot find the answer to your question in the documentation,
then:

a) if  your  question  is  of  TECHNICAL  character,  for   example,
   regarding program features, bug reports, suggestions on improving
   the  program,  etc.,  please  contact  the author of the program,
   Andrei Belogortseff, directly via e-mail at:
    
      Internet:   74634.2173@compuserve.com
      Compuserve: 74634,2173
      
   Please include  in  your  message  information  about versions of
   Windows and StepUp'96 you are using and detailed  description  of
   the problem. 
            
b) if your question  is  NOT  TECHNICAL  one, for example, about the
   status  of  your  order,  sales  terms,  pricing   and   discount
   information, etc., please contact the authorized dealer at:
   
      Pik A Program, Inc.     Telephone   (212) 598-4939
      13 Saint Marks Place    Fax         (212) 228-5879
      New York, NY 10003      CompuServe: 74777,3233
      USA                     Internet:   74777.3233@CompuServe.com
                        
Thank you for using ChaoSoft products!
____________________________________________________________________

ChaoSoft(tm), the ChaoSoft logo, and "The way software should be" are 
trademarks of ChaoSoft.

Pik A Program(tm) is a trademark of Pik A Program, Inc.

Microsoft(R) and Windows(R) are registered trademarks  of  Microsoft
Corporation.

All  other  product   names   may   be  registered  or  unregistered
trademarks/tradenames of their respective owners.
