Forum Display Privacy/No Privacy

[MistyMeanor]

I am having a heck of a time! I just realized after being open for well over a week now that the forum is not being viewed by unregistered users how I want it to be!

There are too many darn options and permissions and I have tried selecting things, logging out, logging back in, etc. trying to figure this out.

So my forum is geared toward disabled people with a neuromuscular disease. Some of the content is very private, yet trying to gain memberships. Then some of the forums are 18+ and password protected.

This is what I want and see if anyone here can help me (I thought I had it correct but don't.)

I want all guests to be able to see ALL forum categories (minus the moderator forum) and show the thread/post counts (even in the password protected) and the LAST POST area that shows on the main forum display page. BUT ... if any guest tries to click on a category or last post, to not be able to go ANY further or read anything in any threads/posts unless they register.

Simple concept right? View main page just as every registered member wound, minus they cannot go any further.

Right now, Last Post shows as PRIVATE beside all the forum categories when a guest views it. I have tried and tried to figure out how to get this changed, and I can't seem to figure it out!

I need unregistered/not logged in, members awaiting email validation, and members awaiting moderation to view the forum main page with all the above, but not go any further. Please help!