HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jdg41088@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Pickaxe)
Subject: Re: IBM XT upgrade
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 07:41:37 GMT
Keywords: XT

slc@a2.cim.cdc.com (Steve Chesney x4662) writes:

>At my wife's job (a church) she is obligated to use a vintage IBM XT with
>a 10 meg hard disk, color display and IBM PC-DOS 2.10.  
>Since she is used to our 386, it seems slow to her.  Are there any cheap and
>simple upgrades that we could try to alleviate this?  I am considering:

>upgrade to MS-DOS 5.0
>use of a console driver like NANSI
>use of a disk cache
>optimize the disk (with something PC TOols Optimize)
>check disk interleave and adjust (with SpinRite or PC Tools DiskFix)

No matter what you do, it'll still be an XT. Depending on how much memory it
has, (I'm guessing not any more than a meg maximum) and how much memory the
programs use, you may or may not have much success at the disk cache and other
memory type solutions. I tried all of this on an old XT turbo that I was
"blessed" with and it didn't seem to make that much of a difference. Either
way, it still will never come close to comparing to the relatively blinding
speed of a 386. But you work with what you got, so good luck.

p.s. Remember when we got so excited about the intoduction of the 386. I'm just
waiting until Cray comes out with a desktop model. :)

-- 
| Joe Gross          | Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| pickaxe@uiuc.edu   | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign        |
| (217) 328-4331     | "I've given up trying to stay ahead of the times, |
| NeXTmail welcome   | it's now a matter of how far I get left behind."  |
From: johnl@yang.earlham.edu (John Fiskio-Lasseter)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: *WEIRD* floppy drive error...
Summary: If God meant for us to use PC's, we would lack opposable thumbs...
Keywords: floppy drives, motherboard error
Date: 22 Dec 92 04:29:46 GMT
Reply-To: johnl@yang.earlham.edu
Distribution: world
Organization: Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana

I'm wondering if anyone has ever run into this problem before, and if so, 
has anyone ever found a solution:  In the last three weeks, three PC's -- 
a pair of 486SX machines and a 286 -- have come into our repair shop with 
an identical problem.  The 3.5"/1.44 meg drive will not read high-density 
disks.  It reads 720K disks without a problem.  It reads 1.44M disks, but 
only when they are write-protected.  If not, the drive will crap out 
("GENERAL FAILURE READING DRIVE A:", etc.), and the FAT and BOOT sectors 
of the disk are destroyed (interestingly, ViruSafe reports that the disks 
are infected with Michelangelo, although they are most certainly not).

What seems to be happening is that every time the drive attempts to access 
a 1.44M disk, it first performs a write operation somewhere in FAT and 
BOOT area, rendering the disk unreadable.  When the disk is 
write-protected, the write operation fails and things carry on as usual, 
except that a floppy isn't much good if you can't write to it.

I am convinced this is a motherboard problem.  I've switched out the 
drive, the cable, the controller, the hard drive, the CPU, and the 
RAM.  The power supply connections all tested OK.  Nothing works, and 
what's more, *ALL* of these parts work fine in another motherboard 
(including the drive).  I've even tried replacing the oscillator on one 
of the boards: nada.  Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks,
-- John
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|John Howard Eli Fiskio-Lasseter  |     "Is obair-la\ to\iseachadh"   |
|e-mail: johnl@yang.earlham.edu   |    ("Beginning is a day's work")  |
|        JOHNL@EARLHAM.BITNET     |                --Gaidhlig Proverb |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: Paul.Gronke@launchpad.unc.edu (Paul Gronke)
Subject: SPSS-PC File Corruption, Anyone else experienced this?
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 23:39:08 GMT

I use SPSS Pc extensively (the Dos version).  Lately, I have been
experienceing odd data file corruption.  FOr example, I will run a
frequencies and everything is ok, run it five minutes later on the same
file and I get oddball values (e.g. -999, 1002039, 27 for a var with
values 1,3,5).
 
ALso, I get trashed system files sometimes.  I read a file fine.  A day
later, I am told that spss pc cannot read a damaged system file.
 
Possible causes: stacker: removed it, still happened.
                 network: put datafiles on pc, still happened.
                 compressed files: decompressed, still happened.
                 bad Harddisk, possibly, but no other program, stats
                                  database, otherwise having problems.
                                  only spss-pc.
 
My question: has *anyone* else out there had problems with spss-pc files
that sound similar?  I am just trying to isolate the problem.
 
Thanks.  Send responses to:
 Gronke@acpub.duke.edu   or
 Paul_Gronke@bbs.oit.unc.edu or
 Gronke@dukemvs.bitnet
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: johannes.beekhuizen@contrast.wlink.nl (Johannes Beekhuizen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: MSDOS 5
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 16:46:12

Hello lh7873,

On Monday December 21 1992, lh7873 wrote to All:


 >> There are several. I have been using Stacker with lots of success,
 >> average compression a bit over 2:1 - so I get 78 Mbytes on my 40
 >> Mbyte disk drive. Others are DoubleDisk (which will come with MSDOS
 >> 6.0) and SuperStore.
 >> 111111111

 l>               Is there such an animal???

MsDos 6.0 is currently being beta-tested. It will come, as is written in my
message.

Regards,

           Hans.

fidonet  2:281/527.5
yan-net  123:3183/101
e-mail   johannes.beekhuizen@contrast.wlink.nl
From: ninja@willard.UUCP (Sonic Druid)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: AT&T PC6300 hacks....
Date: 21 Dec 92 01:04:28 GMT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814


 
  Anyone know where I can get information on memory, hardware, etc.
upgrades for the AT&T PC6300 ?????
 

-- 
ninja@willard.UUCP (Sonic Druid)
gatech!vdbsan!willard!ninja
emory!uumind!willard!ninja
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: 286-20 locking up only in turbo mode....
From: cctr132@csc.canterbury.ac.nz (Nick FitzGerald, PC Software Consultant, CSC, UoC, NZ)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 04:13:42 GMT
Reply-To: Nick FitzGerald <n.fitzgerald>
Organization: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

In article <59X4VB2w165w@willard.UUCP>, ninja@willard.UUCP (Sonic Druid)
writes:

> can anyone explain why a computer locks up when running at a higher
> speed other than the obvious bad or slow ram  ?????

how aboutr "bad or slow RAM controller circuitry" ??

I have an old XT with an 8MHz m/b but even with 80ns RAM, it doesn't
reliably run at 8MHz (unless I keep the air temp below about 12 C).

Seriously though, it is most likely that your problem is bad RAM or a
conflict (e.g. between 3 & 9 chip SIMM's).

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
 Nick FitzGerald, PC Applications Consultant, CSC, Uni of Canterbury, N.Z.
 n.fitzgerald@csc.canterbury.ac.nz  TEL:+64(3)364 2337, FAX:+64(3)364 2332
From: dcleek@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Dick Cleek)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: Form Virus
Date: 21 Dec 1992 13:39:17 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Reply-To: dcleek@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4
Originator: dcleek@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

From article <1992Dec20.185742.21384@news.tufts.edu>, by pmorvill@jade.tufts.edu (Paul Morville):
> I work in an IBM lab at tufts and lately we've been have a great deal of
> difficulty with the FORM virus.  It's a fairly harmless virus and usually

post this to  comp.virus

and you'll get expert advice.


-- 
..........   .........................         .......................
: |_|\/\/ :   Dick Cleek                        dcleek@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
:.centers.:   Univ.of Wisconsin Centers         dcleek@uwcmail.uwc.edu
From: pk64380@kaarne.cs.tut.fi (Kuusisto Pasi Petri,,,SIG,64380)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: *WEIRD* floppy drive error...
Date: 22 Dec 1992 16:13:37 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Tampere, Dep. of Computer Science ,Finland 
Distribution: world
Reply-To: pk64380@kaarne.cs.tut.fi
NNTP-Posting-Host: kaarne.cs.tut.fi
Originator: pk64380@kaarne.cs.tut.fi

From article <1992Dec21.232946.20701@yang.earlham.edu>, by johnl@yang.earlham.edu (John Fiskio-Lasseter):
> I'm wondering if anyone has ever run into this problem before, and if so, 
> has anyone ever found a solution:  In the last three weeks, three PC's -- 
> a pair of 486SX machines and a 286 -- have come into our repair shop with 
> an identical problem.  The 3.5"/1.44 meg drive will not read high-density 
> disks.  It reads 720K disks without a problem.  It reads 1.44M disks, but 
> only when they are write-protected. 

    Is it my imagination, or does this sound like some kind 
    of a .. *gasp* ... VIRUS?!

> If not, the drive will crap out 
> ("GENERAL FAILURE READING DRIVE A:", etc.), and the FAT and BOOT sectors 
> of the disk are destroyed (interestingly, ViruSafe reports that the disks 
> are infected with Michelangelo, although they are most certainly not).

    Umm .. didn't read this part when I wrote the last sentence ...
    I still think it is some ... *gasp* ... VIRUS. 

    What kind of access are you tryin (copy, read, format) ?
    I'm not familiar with ViruSafe, but I suppose it DOES check
    the memory and hard disks as well (?). 

    I'd buy the motherboard / controller bug if the machines were
    of the same type from the same vendor, but since this is not
    the case, I'd still say it's a ... *gasp* ... VIRUS.

    Anyone more familiar with these issues care to give it a try?

-zi

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: yen1366@cs.cuhk.hk (Stannon Yen)
Subject: Re: MouseSystems Mouse Driver
Organization: Faculty of Engineering, The Chinese U. of Hong Kong
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 02:01:34 GMT

<HARVEY@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU> writes:

>Try Mouse Systems
>(510) 683-0617    BBS
>(510) 656-1117    tech Support

    I want to get the driver of Mouse System mouse too. Is there any
driver avaliable in anonymous ftp site?

Regards,
CT Yen.
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: fox@rei.com (Fuzzy Fox)
Subject: Re: How to prevent shelling out?
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 20:47:24 GMT
Organization: Recognition Equipment, Inc.

beng@dorsai.com (ben ng) writes:

>Use a binary editor and such for the COMSPEC within the file. If it
>searches thru COMPSEC for COMMAND.COM then remove it.

This might work.

>If you'd like to present a little message you can setup your own 
>environmental variable that leads to a program you replace for 
>COMMAND.COM

This will crash the computer when the program tries to exit back to DOS
after it runs.

-- 
#ifdef TRUE        | Fuzzy Fox (a.k.a. David DeSimone)       fuzzy@netcom.com
#define  TRUE   0  |
#define  FALSE  1  |  "You have been recruited by the Star League to defend
#endif             |     the Frontier against Xur and the Kodan Armada."
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: mjb@netcom.com (Martin Brown)
Subject: Re: ANSI ESC sequence, how??
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 09:12:03 GMT

I've never the debug command.  Very interesting use of it.

-- 

                                   - mjb -

                                mjb@netcom.com
From: ninja@willard.UUCP (Sonic Druid)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: 286-20 locking up only in turbo mode....
Date: 21 Dec 92 01:06:15 GMT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814


 
can anyone explain why a computer locks up when running at a higher
speed other than the obvious bad or slow ram  ?????
 

-- 
ninja@willard.UUCP (Sonic Druid)
gatech!vdbsan!willard!ninja
emory!uumind!willard!ninja
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814
From: vporguen@unlinfo.unl.edu (victor porguen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: Virus Advice needed
Date: 29 Dec 1992 03:41:37 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln	
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: unlinfo.unl.edu

Regarding that infection by the Stobned virus of your friend's 
computer, DON'T PANIC!

The Stoned does not infect files. It does not delete files. It does
not erase hard disks. It only infects one specific peortion of a hard 
disk or diskette: the Partition Table (hard drive) or the Boot Sector
(diskettes). NOTHING ELSE.

It has no "activation date". It has no "built-in bomb". 

Nearly any antivirus program, commercial, shareware or public domain,
will clean it up. 

You MUST perform the cleaning operation by first booting from a CLEAN
diskette, NOT from the infected hard drive. You must then clean the
Partition Table. Then you can boot from the hard disk again. After 
that, check and clean every diskette you own - most of them are 
probably infected also.

Remember: it doesn't infect or modify files. There is only ONE 
specimen of the Stoned virus per disk or diskette, no more. But it
is a TSR, and stays in memory if you boot from an infected disk.
If so, it will infect ANY diskette you insert into the machine.
That's the only way it can enter a system: by booting or attempted 
booting from an infecte disk, either system disk or not.

You also got the most widespread virus in existence. Cheers.

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: rh0083b@medtronic.COM (Roger-Hunen)
Subject: DRDOS FileLink 2.00 cable (HELP!)
Organization: Medtronic, Inc.
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 10:22:05 GMT

Hi folks!

I am using DRDOS 6.0 on my notebook, and the new FileLink 2.00 can use LPTx
instead of COMx. The manual however only discusses serial cables.

Q: Can anyone provide me with the wiring diagram for a parallel cable?

Thanks in advance,
-Roger
From: tcscs!zeta@src.honeywell.com (Gregory Youngblood)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: Virus Advice needed
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 92 08:29:25 CST
Reply-To: zeta%tcscs@src.honeywell.com
Organization: TCS Consulting Services

vporguen@unlinfo.unl.edu (victor porguen) writes:

> Regarding that infection by the Stobned virus of your friend's 
> computer, DON'T PANIC!
> 
> The Stoned does not infect files. It does not delete files. It does
> not erase hard disks. It only infects one specific peortion of a hard 
> disk or diskette: the Partition Table (hard drive) or the Boot Sector
> (diskettes). NOTHING ELSE.

There are some variations to the stoned virus that do more, I believe. 
If he gets cleaned fairly quick, it shouldn't matter that much.  Look
for a file called VSUMX???.zip (or arj or whatever).  It is hyper text
of viruses that you can look up infomration about the stoned virus.



.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
.   TCS Consulting Services   P.O. Box 600008   St. Paul, MN  55106-0008    .
.   ..!srcsip!tcscs!zeta                 ..!src.honeywell.com!tcscs!zeta    .
.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
Xref: sparky comp.os.msdos.misc:6692 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16110 comp.sys.mac:567
From: tamari@bimacs.BITNET (tamari zvi)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Wanted : Utility to read MAC disks on IBM-PC/MSDOS machine
Date: 23 Dec 92 11:36:44 GMT
Organization: Math & CS, BarIlan U, Ramat-Gan, Israel

Hi,

  I have received a few MAC format diskettes and I would like to read them
  using my MS-DOS compatible machine which has a 1.44MB floppy drive,

  If you know about a utility that does that I will be very happy if
  you drop me a message.

                                Thank you in advance,
                                        Zvi Tamari.



--
Name : Zvi Tamari

E-Mail Addresses : BitNet   : tamari@bimacs.bitnet
                   InterNet : tamari@bimacs.cs.biu.ac.il

Address : 3   Hameiri  st.
          Ramat Gan 52 651
          ISRAEL            Telephone : +972-3-340169
                            Fax       : +972-3-6910525
From: vporguen@unlinfo.unl.edu (victor porguen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Virus descriptions vs. viruses
Date: 31 Dec 1992 03:36:27 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln	
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: unlinfo.unl.edu

Writes ..!src.honeywell.com!tcscs!zeta (G. Youngblood):

> Look for a file called VSUMX???.zip (or arj or whatever).  
> It is hyper text of viruses that you can look up infomration 
> about the stoned virus.

Ah... well... actually, I look at it this way: the Stoned virus,
if it infects a diskette with a LOT of files on it, MIGHT erase some 
of the filename entries by displacing the boot sector code into 
them.  That's a few files lost, sort of. 

The VSUMX??.zip (or arj or whatever) file, on the other hand, will 
SURELY overwrite about 500 kilobytes of disk space, by taking them 
over for itself.  That's before decompresion.

Now, I wonder: which is the lesser evil?

(just kidding)


Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: Richard_Robb@mindlink.bc.ca (Richard Robb)
Subject: Incompatibility between Stacker 3.0 and PC Tools 7 fixed?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 10:13:09 GMT

On upgrading to Stacker 3.0, I discovered that the Appointment scheduler in
PC Tools' Desktop no longer worked.  The machine hangs every time I try to
use it.  A friend who also upgraded to Stacker 3.0 is experiencing the
identical problem.

Does anyone know if this bug has been fixed, and if so, how the patched
version can be obtained?  (Can it be downloaded from a BBS?)
From: rkimmel@stein.u.washington.edu (Robert Kimmel)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: MCI codes...
Date: 26 Dec 92 23:39:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Dec26.233903.11493
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

I'm looking for a book (or even a text file) on MCI codes.  I have a friend
who's working on a BBS and wants to add the MCI codes for the screen, but 
isn't able to find a definition of them yet.  So we're on the hunt and 
would appreciate any help.  Also, What's a good book (or again, text file) on 
Ansi?

thanks
Robert
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Extinguishing DOS cursor
From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 92 02:17:37 GMT
Organization: DSIR, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Keywords: cursor, no_blink

I am trying to locate a program which will hide the DOS cursor. Have only 
found a Unix program so far. It is needed to take a video recorder feed 
from off of the PC. Can someone please help?
--
Brian Shaw   hrpbds@pnv.palm.cri.nz           ~{2<@36w!#Ot~}
HortResearch      fax +64 63546731            ~{PBNw@<T0RU<0J3F7QP>?Q'T:~}

Xref: sparky comp.os.msdos.misc:6775 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:16223
From: scott@mycro.UUCP (Scott C. Sadow)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Question about Gateway modem vs Boca Modem
Date: 30 Dec 92 14:34:06 GMT


   I am looking at buying a 14.4 modem, and have narrowed it down to
either the modem from Gateway or a Boca Research modem. Both are about
$200. The Gateway has the advantage of being from Gateway - I have had
very good luck with them. (I know about the first release of the modem -
it had problems and was recalled. I recall reading that the newest version
is good, though)  The Boca modem is from the same people who made my VGA
card (1024x768x256, tseng 4000) and have not had any problems with it, nor
has anyone in my office.

   Does anyone have any comments on either of them? Reply or email is
fine, and I can summarize the info for others, if needed...

   Thanks,


   Scott C. Sadow
   scott@mycro.UUCP
   ...gatech!nanovx!mycro!scott
From: jkokko@lk-hp-20.hut.fi (Jari Kokko)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: ANSI ESC sequence, how??
Date: 24 Dec 1992 11:10:16 GMT
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology
Distribution: inet
NNTP-Posting-Host: lk-hp-20.hut.fi

In article <1992Dec23.195236.28511@netcom.com> mjb@netcom.com (Martin Brown) writes:
;; I have ansi.sys installed,

Try nnansi , it's a lot faster.

;; Now that I want to do some ansi coding, I can't figure out how to
;; actually enter (which keys to push) the 'esc' part of the sequence.  I'm trying
;; to do this at the command prompt.

I am afraid you're out of luck! This can't be done in any other way
that I know of than by kludging with the prompt command. Other shells
(e.g. 4dos) give this to you as a feature, but dos command.com is not
very handy with this.

I haven't used the prompt kludge for a time but anyway, esc is $e.
So if you want to set the bg to blue, just say 
"prompt $e[<integer>m$p$g" (was it 44?)


-- 
jkokko
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: h8915726@hkuxb.hku.hk (Medusa)
Subject: Re: ms-dos 6
Reply-To: h8915726@hkuxa.hku.hk
Organization: University of Hong Kong
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 07:38:44 GMT

twcaps@tennyson.lbl.gov (Terry Chan) writes:
: beng@dorsai.com (ben ng) writes:
: 
:   +Whats the word on this bird?
: 
: According to the December 14 _PC WEAK_, it's due in 2Q93.
: Some points:
: 

	The beta version of MSDOS v6.0 shows that...
:   - data compression to effectively double HD size.

	It's a doubledisk only. Not Stacker nor SuperStor.

:   - Memory mgt w/"viewing tools and 'hang' protection"

	Not sure with this...

:   - Full backup, compare, and restore capabilities for DOS and Windows.

	Just PCBACKUP if I remember correctly....

:   - Anti-virus TSR

	And CPAV only...

:   - Pop-up TSR that starts the network, connects, disconnects and
:     browses the servers.
: 
: Terry Chan
: --
: Energy and Environment Division   | Internet:  TWChan@lbl.gov
: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory      | 
: Berkeley, California  USA  94720  | Carpe per diem

--
Medusa
University of Hong Kong
H8915726@hkuxa.hku.hk

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
From: jenk@microsoft.com (Jen Kilmer)
Subject: Re: Viruses & unwriteable disks (was Re: A Frank Discussion on Piracy (Flames, Anyone? : -P )
Date: 30 Dec 92 05:32:30 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Distribution: usa

In article <1hqgguINNdaj@agate.berkeley.edu> tchnd-au@garnet.berkeley.edu (Yuval Oren) writes:
>In article <1992Dec29.192353.1308@microsoft.com> jenk@microsoft.com (Jen Kilmer) writes:
>>And, btw, viruses are not the "real" reason microsoft moved to unwriteable
>>disks - at least not for ms-dos - it's because of the number of folks who
>>"accidently" trashed their originals, then needed to reinstall. Special
>>drives which can write to a "write-protected" disk obviously exist (like
>>our duplicators) but most folks don't have them.
>
>If you got the software on 3.5's, couldn't you just put that little
>tab thing in from another disk, put a virus on it, then take the tab
>out?

Yup. Just like you could cut a notch into a 5.25". It doesn't guard
against determined and deliberate damage - just accidental infection
or damage.

(I bet you could alter tylenol capsules and reseal those packages too...)

-jen
 my name isn't Bill and I'm not very very rich and I'm not speaking for msft