CHEAPFLEET TRIAL 0.4.1 — START HERE
================================

CheapFleet is a local Windows command center for buyer-defined Vast.ai GPU
rentals. It starts in simulation mode, with live authorization disabled and the
emergency stop active.

The free software trial allows one supervised live rental of up to 30 minutes.
You pay Vast.ai rental charges; no cloud credit is included. Simulation is
unlimited. Read TRIAL-TERMS.txt and the included LICENSE.txt before use.

LANGUAGE, MONEY, AND TIME

CheapFleet Trial 0.4.1 and its support are provided in English only. Rental prices and
spending limits inside the app are USD; CheapFleet does not convert currencies.
Daily spending limits use UTC calendar days. Review LICENSE.txt, docs\PRIVACY.md,
and docs\SUPPORT_TERMS.md for product and third-party boundaries.

1. VERIFY AND EXTRACT

   Compare the downloaded ZIP's SHA-256 value with the value published by the
   official CheapFleet trial page. See docs\VERIFY_DOWNLOAD.md for exact instructions.
   Extract the entire ZIP before opening any included helper.

2. INSTALL

   Double-click the signed "Install CheapFleet.exe". It verifies every file in
   this release, then opens LICENSE.txt in Notepad; close it after reviewing,
   then type I AGREE only if you accept the
   trial terms and license. The standard bundle is self-contained; Python is not required. The
   installer opens CheapFleet in safe simulation
   mode when installation finishes.

   The trial uses %LOCALAPPDATA%\CheapFleetTrialApp and separate CheapFleet Trial
   shortcuts. It does not replace a purchased CheapFleet installation or migrate
   its profile.

3. CONFIGURE YOUR VAST KEY

   Open "CheapFleet Trial - Configure Vast API Key" from the Windows Start Menu. Its
   simple menu can set, check, or remove the key without displaying it. Key input
   is hidden and stored in your Windows user environment, not in the CheapFleet
   profile or browser. Close and reopen CheapFleet after setting or replacing it.
   The key must permit instance search, listing, creation, and deletion for the
   complete rental flow. Use only those permissions if Vast offers a custom choice.

4. OPEN CHEAPFLEET

   The normal installer opens CheapFleet Trial automatically. Later, open "CheapFleet Trial"
   from the Desktop or Start Menu. Save the container image and startup command,
   review your rental limits, and run the zero-spend simulation before enabling
   the job setup.
   Simulation cannot create Vast instances or spend money.

   For a picture-led tour of every command-center function, open
   "CheapFleet Trial - Guided Walkthrough" from the Start Menu. The same guide is at
   docs\GUIDED_WALKTHROUGH.html and works offline in your normal browser.

5. UNDERSTAND LIVE OPERATION

   CheapFleet Trial 0.4.1 permits one individually approved live rental. Choose
   5 to 30 minutes in the dashboard. Planning is read-only; CLI and canary live
   creation are blocked. Keep CheapFleet and your computer online. The watchdog
   requests teardown at the approved deadline; provider delays or outages can
   prolong cloud billing. Verify cleanup in Vast.ai.

   Closing, restarting, reinstalling, or changing profiles does not grant
   another trial rental. An uncertain creation request can consume the trial;
   use recovery rather than retrying. Monitoring, recovery, and teardown remain
   available after use. Autonomous continuous live renting remains unavailable.

6. GET HELP SAFELY

   Start with docs\GUIDED_WALKTHROUGH.html. For deeper reference, read
   docs\USER_GUIDE.md and docs\INSTALLATION.md. To prepare diagnostics,
   open "CheapFleet Trial - Create Support Bundle" from the Start Menu and review the
   resulting redacted ZIP before emailing it to cfsupport@cheapfleet.io.

   Never email an API key, raw profile, SQLite database, audit file, password, or
   payment information. For uncertain rental or billing state, check Vast.ai
   directly; CheapFleet support is not an emergency monitoring service.

7. BACK UP LOCAL DATA

   Closing the browser tab does not stop CheapFleet. First open
   "CheapFleet Trial - Stop Safely" from the Start Menu. It refuses to stop while an
   active supervised rental or unresolved launch still needs attention. Then open
   "CheapFleet Trial - Back Up Local Data" from the Start
   Menu. The private backup can contain workload commands, environment values,
   and rental history; it is not redacted or encrypted. Store it securely and
   never email it to support. Never restore or duplicate controller state while
   a rental is active or uncertain. The Vast API key is intentionally not included;
   trial-use history is separate from the profile and is not reset by its backup.

8. SWITCH TO FULL ACCESS

   Retire the trial rental and resolve any uncertain launch, then close the
   controller with "CheapFleet Trial - Stop Safely". Buy full software access
   for USD 4.99 plus applicable tax and install the purchased CheapFleet 0.4.0
   bundle under %LOCALAPPDATA%\CheapFleet. The purchased edition has full access
   despite its lower version number. Its profile and shortcuts are separate;
   review your job setup and limits before another rental. Purchase does not
   extend an existing trial deadline, reset trial history, or include cloud costs.

CheapFleet does not promise profitability, uninterrupted third-party hosts,
compatibility with every workload, or that workload progress exists without the
configured evidence needed to prove it.
