-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Fri July 23 2004 15:07, s. keeling wrote: > Incoming from Dave Bourassa: > > Neil Bower wrote: > > >I found another good use for the Knoppix disk. > > > > > >If you, or a friend, have a computer, which is running Win98, that has > > >gotten infected with a virus or trojan, you can use your Knoppix disk to > > >clean the Win98 disk. > > > > Sounds like a good project for a prezzy, Neil. (???) > > Why? What's it got to do with Linux? :-P > > I always thought Windows malware was a terrific way to get Windows > users so disgusted with Windows, they'd be amenable to reason. Using > Linux to fix the damn thing is a step in the wrong direction. If > they want anti-virus products for their proprietary systems, they > should be willing to pay for it like all their other proprietary > software. If they think that's unreasonable, then they should be > screaming at the schmucks who are selling them their brittleware.
Using Linux to fix any computer is not a step in the wrong direction. First thing I like to point out is that they did have proprietary antivirus software running, but it got infected before it could do it's job as I had mentioned: "This was very helpful in saving a computer that was taken over by a trojan/virus. The antivirus software and the personal firewall on the computer got hit before they could do their job." The point I was making is that if you're the one having to fix the computer, then there are options out there that will save you time and headaches in the long run. If it is something that can be done with Linux, then all the better. Things like this give Linux credibility in the eyes of the "non-believers". I also have a CD that you boot with to give you the ability to reset passwords on an XP box. The CD boots up into linux and can write to the NTFS partition and password file. The only other option available in this case would have been to do a re-install of the OS. Being that neither boxes were my own, I could not just install Linux on them. If it was my choice then both boxes would be running linux. These people have a particular preference to run Windows and that is their choice. I was able to save their systems without having to do a re-install - a task that I was able to do with Linux and something that usually cannot be done with Windows. This was something I mentioned to the people concerned. Another case that Linux helped out and arose above MS was an XP box that was infected to the point that it would not boot. The PC tech told the owner that nothing could be recovered from the disks. I had the owner bring over the disks. I mounted them in my linux box, recovered his data, and made sure the files were scanned. I gave him back his disks and a couple CDs with his data, at which time he was able to perform his re-install and still retain his data. These are just a few personal experiences where Linux has prevailed and I was glad that I use it on a regular basis. Neil - -- Neil Bower Registered User # 323470 ( http://counter.li.org ) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.3 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFBAelmL5PebEz22pURAo1zAJ9wN+MHBSpP5Y8LZ8MM3QMtZ8H8NQCfRxAs jnRMeD1rDS2dSWfrl+6pT/Y= =0jjG -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
