<snip>

>If I remember Pascal well, this can be simply
>
>

h=fOpen(".\.sice")
>if h>0
>   fclose(h)
>   return .t.
>else
>   return .f.
>endif

>
>And then the same for the other filename. First I thought we'd need fCreate(), but then I noticed the OPEN_EXISTING parameter, so I think we're just detecting the presence of the file.
>
>If the file is hidden or system, you may be better off really using fCreate(), but in reverse - if it can't create the file, it exists - and is in use.
>
>If neither works for you, there's the _fCreate() API call, qv in help - I've never used any of the _f* functions so you're on your own there.

Hi Dragan

OK sorry I did'nt realize how obvious the code was. After reading your reply and doing further reading into the subject I have found that the sample Delphi code is simply testing for the existence of certain device drivers of the SoftICE application. A simple FILE() test will do the trick :) What confused me was the use of the API routine rather than the high level File() function that I would use and the attempt to Create a file first rather than just test to see if it is there. These two "funnies" threw me but I see it now.

In case anyone is interested there are several ways in which one can test for the existence of SoftICE, all of which can be bypassed to one degree or another. The best resource on the subject that I have found is:

http://www.woodmann.com/crackz/Tutorials/Protect.htm