From: ghoffman@digi.lonestar.org (Gene Hoffman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: PKZIP V3.05 problems
Date: 4 Jan 93 18:45:16 GMT
Organization: DSC Communications Corp, Plano, TX

Do NOT use PKZIP V3.05!

I downloaded the file from a bulletin board.  It was packaged as a self
extracting EXE.  The documentation was very good, appearing as if it was a
legitimate release.  I ran the latest McAfee SCAN on it.  No virus was
detected.  I ran some preliminary tests, comparing the size of the compressed
file with that generated by the current official version of PKZIP (V1.1) and
the size of the compressed file generated by other compression utilities.  The
utility seemed to be performing as advertised, so I copied the file to a floppy
and also installed it on my notebook PC.

The next evening, when I powered up my desktop PC, I was not able to boot from
the C: drive.  The ROM startup messages were displayed, but then the system
hung.  No error messages were displayed or beeps sounded.  I checked the setup
(AMI BIOS) and found that everything was correct.  Just to check, I selected
the option which forces the factory defaults.  No help.  If, however, I booted
from the A: drive, I could successfully access the C: drive.

My desktop PC is a no-name 486 DX50.  The unit was still under warranty, so I
took it to the shop.  The technician reported that the problem got worse while
he was working on the PC - such that he could no longer boot from the A: drive. 
They fixed the problem by replacing the motherboard.

The next day a co-worker (who had also run PKZIP V3.05) reported that he had
the same problem - that he could no longer boot from his C: drive, but that
everything seemed OK if he booted from his A: drive.  His desktop PC is also a
no-name 486 clone.  In his case, the technician reported that the disk
controller was bad.

My laptop (Toshiba 2200SX) at first appeared to not have any problems.  I could
successfully boot from the C: drive.  However, I later found COM problems.  I
regularly use PROCOMM Plus to connect to a minicomputer.  I use a direct
connect, thus there are not any modem restrictions.  I have regularly run at
38.4 KB with no problems.

Now, however, I am unable to successfully operate at any rate above 2400.  The
UART appears to be randomly tossing characters.  Screen displays which normally
are lined up in columns are now scattered, with characters missing.  Also I can
not successfully download files using ZMODEM protocol.  The download aborts
almost immediately due to errors.

I emphasize that these problem occur only if I have booted from the hard disk. 
If I boot from a floppy, there are no problems.  The floppy contains identical
versions of AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.  I have verified that the hidden
system files (IBMIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM) are identical.  The BIOS settings are
correct.  In either case, the PROCOMM software is run from the hard disk.  I am
not running a separate version from a floppy when it works.

I'm told that the tech's preliminary report for the laptop was that he could
not find any problem.  This is the holidays, and I didn't get to talk to the
tech, so I asked them to be sure that they had booted from the hard disk, per
the detailed symptom sheet I'd submitted.  I don't have an update on this.

First, I'd suggest that you take this as a definite warning NOT to use PKZIP
V3.05.  I called PKWare, hoping they could give me some insight into the
problem.  All they would say is that V3.05 is definitely a "hacked" version.

I've seen a few net messages about PKZIP V3.05, but none reported any hardware
problems.  Please report any experience you've had, and any explanations for
the problems.  I didn't think software could cause hardware problems, but
my recent experience seems to state otherwise.
-- 
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Gene Hoffman    ghoffman@digi.lonestar.org   OR   digi!ghoffman@uunet.uu.net
DSC Communications Corporation   Addr: MS 121, 1000 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc