Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

Vali-Flash User Manual

Version 3.0

DATAMAN PROGRAMMERS, LTD.

UK / EUROPE

Station Road

Maiden Newton

Dorchester

Dorset

DT2 0AE

TEL: [phone] ([phone])
FAX: [phone] ([phone])

EMAIL: [e-mail]

WEB: www.dataman.com

"Some things you just don't gamble with!!"

USA / CANADA

Dataman, Inc.

215 East Michigan Avenue

Orange City, FL 32763

USA

TEL: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

EMAIL: [e-mail]

WEB: www.dataman.com

Page 1 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

INTRODUCTION

The Dataman Vali-Flash is a PC Based Validator for calculating CRC-32 and SHA-1
signatures of various CompactFlash™ devices. The Vali-Flash offers many advanced
features including:

• Support for complete range of CompactFlash™ devices

• Can utilize any drive recognized by Windows OS (PCMCIA, USB, FireWire)*

• Signature compatibility with all other Dataman Validator products

• Full database features including search and edit of all records

• Encrypted Database files and visual CRC32 checksum – to prevent tampering

• Protected Program File (.exe ) to prevent tampering

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

MS-Windows 2000/XP ONLY.
Available CD-ROM drive.
Minimum 40 MB or more of free disk space.
Available USB port for CompactFlash™ card reader

PACKAGE CONTENTS

USB CompactFlash™ card reader (for use with PC or Laptop).
CD-ROM containing the Vali-Flash software.
Software License Agreement.
User’s Manual.

* The Memorex CompactFlash card reader (part number 3250 8200) is included for maximum compatibility.

Page 2 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

INSTALLATION

1. To use the USB CompactFlash card reader to val idate your devices, please in stall

the Memorex CompactFlash card reader and the drivers from the CD-ROM.

2. Once you have installed your CompactFlash™ reader and it’s accompanying

drivers, you can proceed with the installation of the Vali-Flash software.

3. To install the Vali-Flash software, follow the normal installation procedure used

for all Windows based programs. The installation program should automatically
launch when the CD-ROM is inserted in your CD drive. If for any reason it does
not, then simply RUN “setup.exe” from the CD-ROM.

NOTE: Please make sure you follow the proper Windows operating system
procedures for ejecting hardware when disconnecting the CompactFlash card
reader. Failure to eject or stop the card reader device prior to removing it may
cause the Vali-Flash program to hang or incorrectly read the CompactFlash™
memory. This is only applicable to removing the card reader and not necessarily
the CompactFlash memory unless you are using a PCMCIA card reader.

Page 3 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

SOFTWARE REGISTRATION

Once the software has been installed, you will need to register this product. When you
run the software for the first time you will see a screen similar to the following:

To register your product, simply call our Support Hot Line at [phone] and give
them the 8-digit Site Code that appears in the Site Code block. You will notice that the
Application Status block will display “LOCKED”. Once you have given them the site
code, they will issue you an Init Code that will unlock your software. Enter the init code
they give you in the Init Code block and click C

ontinue. You will notice that the
Application Status block will display “UNLOCKED”. To launch the software just click
on “Enter Application” button then “C

ontinue”. This completes the registration process

for your product.

NOTE: PLEASE BE SURE TO RECORD YOUR SITE CODE AND INIT CODE
IN A SECURE LOCATION TO ENSURE SOFTWARE REGISTRATION AND
LICENSE. THE END USER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RETAINING THEIR SITE
CODE AND INIT CODE. LOSS OF THES E CODES WOULD REQUIRE A NEW
VALI-FLASH SOFTWARE PURCHASE.

Page 4 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

LICENSE TRANSFER

This product is licensed for one PC only. If you ever need to transfer this program to
another computer you must perform the following steps:

1. Install the Vali-Flash software (from original CD) on the new computer. Launch

the software and obtain the new 8-digit Site Code from the Site Code block of the
registration screen of the new computer.

2. Run the UNLOCKED Vali-Flash program on original computer and enter the

original Init Code (given to you on initial installation) into the Init Code block.
Now enter the New Site Code from the Site Code block on the registration screen
of the new computer. Click the License Transfer button then Continue.

3. The UNLOCKED Vali-Flash program on original computer will now display a

dialog box with New Init code value in the New Init Code block. This Init Code
can now be used to unlock the Vali-Flash program you installed on the new
computer.

The license will be removed from the original computer and will now be installed on the
new computer.

Page 5 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

SOFTWARE OPERATION

Depending of which version of the software you are using (“E” or “M” version), one of
the following screens should appear when you start the program:

“E” version of software

Page 6 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

“M” version of software

To obtain a signature, save an image or burn a copy of the CompactFlash™ device,
simply insert the device into the card reader. Onc e the device has been properl y inserted,
click the “Refresh drive list” button. If more then one drive is displayed, select the
desired drive that contains the CompactFlash™ device. Once you have selected the
desired drive, you are ready to perform the desired function.

Validate: To validat e a CompactFlash™ device, click the Validate button and wait for
the device to be read. Once the device has been read and the signatures have been
calculated, the results will be displayed on the screen.

Page 7 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

Save: To read a CompactFlash™ device and save the ima ge to your PC’s hard disk, click

the save button. You will then be prompted to enter a filename and path for your saved
image file. Once this has been entered, the software will read the device and make a
saved copy of the image to the folder you specified on your hard disk. Note: This

function is only available on the “M” version of the software, contact Dataman for
more information.

Burn: To program or burn a CompactFlash™ device from a saved image on your hard
disk, insert a blank CompactFlash™ device into the card reader so cket an d click the burn
button. You will then be prompted to enter the filename and path of your saved image file
that you want to burn. Once this has been entered, the software will read the specified
image file from your hard disk and burn the data into the blank CompactFlash™ device.
Make sure that you insert the proper size CompactFlash™ device for the size image file
you are attempting to duplicate. Note: This function is only available on the “M”

version of the software, contact Dataman for more information.

NOTE: Please make sure you never remove the CompactFlash™ device from the
reader while the BUSY LED is lit. Doing so may damage the reader and/or the
device under test. Each time you in sert a new CompactFlash™ device into a reader,
you must click on the “Refresh drive list” button and make sure that the new
CompactFlash™ device has been sensed and the proper drive selected. Failure to
follow these steps may result in the Vali-Flash program not sensing the correct
device or not sensing an y device at all in the reader. Before you r emove the reader,
you must stop/eject the hardware from within Windows by clicking the “Unplug or
eject hardware” icon in the system tray and then stopping the device by clicking
stop or eject. Windows will indicate that it is now safe to remove the card reader.

Page 8 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

ADDING GAME TO DATABASE

Once the signatures are calculated, they are then compared against the database for a
match. If no match is found, the user is prompted and asked if this new signature should
be added to the database. If the user selects “No”, the signatures will not be added. If
“Yes” is selected, the user will be prompted to enter a Game Name. Once the user enters
a Game Name, the signatures will be added to the database. The next time this game is
validated it should find a match and pull up the Game Name you just entered.

NOTE: There are only two conditions that will prompt you to enter a new game:
Either the game in CompactFlash™ being valid ated does not exist in the database,
or the data in the CompactFlash™ being tested d oes not match the d ata of the game
in the database (hence a differen t signature). If you get thi s message and you believe
the game already exist in the datab ase, you should search the databa se for the game
to confirm that it does not exist. If the game exists, but the signatures are different
you should take all precautionary measures to verify the data integrity of the game.

Page 9 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

If you want to add the signature to your database, fill in the desired fields then click the
Update button. If you want to save an image of the device just read then click the “Save
CompactFlash™ Image File” checkbox, enter the filename and path you desire (or
Browse), then click the Update button. If no image copy is desired, then just click the
Update button and the signature will be added to your existing database.

Page 10 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

SEARCH AND EDIT DATABASE

To use the search and edit features of th e Vali-Flash software, left click on “Datab ase”,
then on “Search / Edit” from the main menu. You should get the following screen:

There are three ways to find a desired record in the database:

1. Sequentially search all records in the database using the Forward or Back button.

2. Click on “Browse NAMES” to list all the Game “NAMES” in the database.

3. Enter a value in the “Search Text” fi eld, then select the field you wish to search

by selecting it from the “Search Field” drop down menu.

In all cases clicking the “Search” button will display all matching records. The matching
records count is displayed below the search button. If a matching record is found then the
“Edit” and “Delete” buttons will become visible. Use the “Delete” button to delete the
current record, pressing this button will cause the user to confirm that the record is to be
deleted.

NOTE: Once the record ha s been deleted there is no way of retrievi ng it. If there is
more than one record which meets the search criteria then the forward and back
buttons become enabled.

Page 11 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

The Search field lets the user choose which field
of the database to search on. The default search
criteria is “All records”. This enables you to
look at each record in the database by clicking
the “Forward” or “Back” button. You can also
display a list all the names by clicking the
“Browse NAMES” button, this will open a drop
down listing of all game titles.

Once a game has been found in the database it
is possible to edit the details. To find a game,
simply use the search function and then click
the “Edit Record” button. This will display the
following screen:

Edit Screen

All fields that have a white background can be edited, once all chan ges have been made
click the “Update” button and the Database will be updated with the changes.

Page 12 of 13

Dataman Vali-Flash User Manual

DATABASE INFORMATION

Located on the right hand side of the “Search / Edit” screen is the database information
panel. This panel looks like the following:

Database information shows the total number of games held in the database and the
calculated CRC-32 checksum for the database file. The database itself is encrypted and
any attempts at modifying it outside the Vali-Flash software will render the file useless.
The CRC checksum is calculated from the main database file and any changes to this file
will affect the checksum. This can be used to ensure that a known trusted database is
being used.

To backup the database file use the “BACKUP” button. Left clicking this button will
cause the program to request a file name and then make a copy of the database using this
name.

The “RESTORE” button will restore any previously backed-up copy of the database.

Page 13 of 13