GuaWord/GuaExcel v. 1.3 FAQ. (version from Feb 2009). (latest FAQ you'll find in the latest program distributive) 4. FAQ. 4.1. Questions about all GuaWord/GuaExcel versions 4.1.1. How to interrupt and continue searching? The program can be interrupted by pressing Ctrl-Break once and continued by running with the same options (no need to change the keyspace range - it will be picked up automatically). (*) Continuing is impossible in freeware version, it will start from key 0. See also Q. 4.3.1. 4.1.2. What do the values in .key file mean? First 16 bytes are special. The byte with n offset mean the state of (n-16) key and may be one of 3 values: 0 - key is not tested yet, 1 - key was tested and is not right, 2 - key is testing now (or may be interrupted key). So, if after the test of a given keyspace is completed, there are still some values (in this keyspace) which are not equal to 1, then there must be a bug in the program. Those keys, which have not been tested, can be tested by simply running the program on this keyspace again with /r option. 4.1.3. I've got Pentium 4/3000 computer, but key testing time is extremely large. Make sure that other CPU hungry programs (including 3D-screensavers) are not running simultaneously. 4.1.4. How can I test if your program is working? Run GuaWord/GuaExcel on test.doc file in the archive (the password for this file is 'nyxo'). As the password is known, DEMO version starts from right key at once (or you should start commercial version from key 15806). To test /s option, use the following command-line: GuaWord(GuaExcel) /s TEST.DOC 1675 You may also create your own file with 'nyxo' password and repeat the same procedure. 4.1.5. I've got a message "XXXXX is not Word 97/2000 file". How to crack it? Maybe the program is right? 4.1.5a I've got a message "new encryption is not supported". Please look at the Parallel Password Recovery software (http://www.parallelrecovery.com), which supports MS Office XP/ 2003/2007 documents in brute-force mode. 4.1.6. The full keyspace has been tested, no key found. Please check for the interrupted keys in .key file (see q. 4.1.2) or just simply run program again with /r option. If it is still fails, it's a bug. 4.1.7. Your program found a key, successfully decrypted a file and Word still can not open it... First, don't despair. The found key is correct and your file can be decrypted. Another method exists to read your document (only if you made backup copy of your file). If you are legal customer of commercial version of the program, just contact me. I DON'T SUPPORT FREEWARE PROGRAM, but it's not too late to became a legal customer. 4.1.7a. Your program found a key, successfully decrypted a file and Word still asks for password... Yes, there are few strange (corrupted?) files. Firstly, they are opened ok (after decryption) in WordPad. If you need to open these files in Word, just send it to me. 4.1.8. Is it possible to speed up your program? On Pentium Pro architecture processors (including Celeron, PII, PIII) is not possible. On Pentium 4 (and similar) architecture is may be possible to improve speed by using SSE insructions more intensively. Althought I currently have no plans to optimize this software on other architecture (IA-64 etc) please contact if you are interested in. 4.1.9. I'm using UNIX, OS/2, BeOS etc. Will such version be available? Possibly. (Linux i386 version is already available). Regarding other OS and platforms, bear in mind that GuaWord/GuaExcel is optimized exclusively for Pentium II/4/AMD architecture and please read the previous question. 4.1.10. I'm sure all of my files are encrypted with the same password. Can I decrypt file without searching the key for each of them? YES! Files with the same password DON'T have the same key, because it depends on file ID etc . Use /s option for searching of file-independent key. 4.1.11. How to run GuaWord/GuaExcel in the low priority? Under Windows NT/2000/XP use start /low GuaWord(GuaExcel) 4.1.12. How to run GuaWord/GuaExcel on the dual/quad processor computer? Just start two (four) instances of the program with the same options. 4.1.12a. Should I start 2 copies of GuaWord/GuaExcel on my HyperThreading processor? Curiously enough, but on some modern Pentium 4 Prescott it may help, on other (older) P4 it has no sence. You can try to experiment yourself. 4.1.13. How to decrypt file without the prompt and shutdown the computer? You need to use simple .bat file, like: echo y|GuaWord(GuaExcel) your_file.doc pshutdown -k where pshutdown is the utility from www.sysinternals.com site. 4.2. Questions about freeware and demo versions. 4.2.1. What are the differences between freeware and commercial version? Freeware version 0.9 is no longer supported. Many improvements and bug fixes has been made in newest version, like: a) Distributed mechanism b) Starting and ending key arguments c) File-independent key searching See changes.txt for more details. 4.2.2. What are the differences between demo and commercial version? Demo version demonstrates some of the commercial version features, including testing for file-independent key. It should be used to check if your file is parsed correctly and to estimate time needed to decrypt file on your computer. If you've got the message like "Your file is parsed and can be cracked", the commercial version will work fine with this file. To test the decryption procedure, just save any Word file with 'nyxo' password and run demo version on it. 4.2.3a. Freeware version found the key, but couldn't (correctly) decrypt the file. Is there the way for not searching for key again? 4.2.3b. Freeware version tested some (a lot of) keys when I decide to buy commercial version. Is there the way for not testing them again? Sure, just run commercial version with appropriate parameter. 4.3. Questions about network versions. 4.3.1. Program displays "no more clients (N) allowed in this keyspace", although less than N clients are running. You incorrectly interrupted some clients. Stop others and use /r option. 4.3.2. My file is confidential and I don't want to remain it in shared directory. What to do? You can remove your file after seeing the message "Client XX ready" and copy it back when the prompt for decryption will appear. 4.3.3. The key has been found on one of the clients while first client was stopped. How to decrypt file in this situation? Just start first client with /1 option.