Lights Out!
===========

Convenient Shutdown/Restart Utility for Windows 95/NT 4.0

- Bryan Lau
  Toronto, Canada
  Email: bryanl@interlog.com

NOTE:
This text file is best viewed in a monospaced font.

Overview
--------
Thank you for trying Lights Out!, a convenient shutdown utility for Windows 95 
and NT 4.0 operating systems.  Lights Out! is a program for people who would 
rather not click Start and select Shut Down, click another radio button and 
click yet another button in order to shut down or restart their Windows 95 or NT 
4.0 machines.  With Lights Out!, a mere double click of the mouse, will shut 
down your computer in a flash!  Lights Out! also features a handy pop-up menu,
also allowing you to restart your computer and conveniently close all of your
currently running programs!


Installing Lights Out!
----------------------
Lights Out! needs no special installation.  Just unzip the files into a 
directory of your choice and run the LIGHTSOUT!.EXE file.  If you want Lights 
Out! to automatically run at startup, copy the executable file into your Windows 
Startup folder, usually "C:\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\STARTUP".  Alternately, 
you can place a shortcut to the executable file in the Startup folder.


System Requirements
-------------------
Lights Out! will only run on a Win32 operating system.  Windows 95 and Windows 
NT 4.0 Server/Workstation are both Win32 platforms.

The program has not been tested under Windows NT 3.51 or any version of Win32s.  
The program may not work reliably--if at all--in these conditions.


How to Use Lights Out!
----------------------
When you run Lights Out!, a small unobtrusive icon appears in your Windows 
system tray area (On the Taskbar, beside the time).  The icon (hopefully) looks 
like an old fashioned lever-style power switch.

If you double click the icon, Lights Out! will try to quickly close all of the 
applications that you are running and shut down Windows.  Note that if one of 
your applications prompts you to save your work or to confirm the quit command, 
then the shutdown procedure will naturally take longer.

If you right click the icon, a handy pop-up menu appears listing the following 
choices:

- About
- ShutDown
- Restart
- Close Programs
- Exit


About
-----
Nothing mysterious here.  A dialog box appears and brightly proclaims its 
presence to all within visual range.  Not coincidentally, it also mentions my 
email address--albeit in tiny letters.


ShutDown
--------
Choosing ShutDown will perform the same action as double clicking the Lights 
Out! icon.  All of your programs will be closed and Windows will be shut down.  
Again, if one of your applications prompts you for anything, then you will most 
likely have to take care of it before shutting down.


Restart
-------
This menu option is the same as clicking Start, selecting ShutDown and choosing 
Restart the computer.  All of your applications will be closed and Windows will 
restart.  Of course, if one of your applications prompts you for anything, then 
you will most likely have to take care of it before proceeding.


Close Programs
--------------
The Close Programs menu option will attempt to close any applications that are 
currently running except for Lights Out! itself.  If an application requires 
confirmation before closing, it will display the appropriate dialog box first.  
Please note that programs that do not respond correctly will not close properly.  
Programs that have crashed will definitely not close correctly.


Exit
----
Choosing Exit will close Lights Out!.  The icon in the system tray will vanish.


Pricing
-------
Lights Out! is free.  I have written Lights Out! primarily for my own use, and 
the use of my friends and colleagues.  Thus, I do not require a donation fee for 
this program since I do not feel that it is warranted.  This does not mean that 
future versions will be free, however.


Bugs and Enhancements
---------------------
If you encounter any problems with the program or have suggestions for improving 
it, you can email me at the email address listed at the beginning of this file.  
I appreciate positive, encouraging comments and delete negative, inflammatory 
(hare-brained) messages.  Please note that I have an extremely busy schedule and 
can only devote attention to the project as time permits.

There are definite features I would like to add to the program in order to 
enhance its functionality.  All in due time, however.


Uninstalling Lights Out!
------------------------
Lights Out! does not create any additional files or registry entries at this 
time.  To uninstall Lights Out!, simply delete the Lights Out! executable file 
(LightsOut!.exe) and its associated files.


Acknowledgements
----------------
No work stands completely on its own, and Lights Out! is no exception.  My 
thanks go out to the following people (in no particular order) for testing the 
program and providing me with valuable feedback:

- Andrew Brooke, Vartex Nicolian, Wai Ip.

My apologies if I've missed anyone out.


DISCLAIMER
----------
A necessary evil in this day and age, but here goes...

I do not make any claims, expressed or implied, as to the suitability of the 
software for your particular application.  Use Lights Out! (the Program) at your 
own risk.  I am not liable for any damages, real or imagined as a consequence of 
running the Program.  In fact, I do not guarantee it will do anything except 
take up space on your hard drive.  I reserve the right to make changes to the 
Program's executable and accompanying files without notice.

Lights Out! may not be distributed for profit.  The executable and associated 
files must be distributed together in the same archive and may not be modified 
in any way.  This program and associated files are protected under Canadian 
Copyright law, including countries belonging to the Berne Copyright Convention, 
the Universal Copyright Convention and the World Trade Organization.  Which is 
to say, most countries.

Your usage of the Program indicates your understanding of the above.

- Copyright (c) Bryan Lau, 1997.
