Date: Sun, 31 Dec 2000 19:03:20 -0800 (PST)
From: David Chien <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Off topic: BIOS boot problems
> > Check HD.
>
> Huh :-P The HDD that was originally in the system with the natas.mp virus
> I had to execute "FDISK /MBR" to clear the virus, but I think the MBR was
> never right after that, and switching the drive to slave pounded the last
> nail in its coffin.
Plug the baby into a desktop with a 2.5" to 3.5" IDE converter ($10), then
use Partition Magic, Ranish Partition Manager, Linux, or any other good HD
low-level MBR formatter to get rid of that messy MBR, restore it to normal, and
format the entire HD.
There should be no way on earth a virus can affect the HD unless the HD has
flash BIOS and the virus has changed that.
All of the Major HD makers should have a low-level program that'll nuke a
messed up MBR and restore the HD to working condition. Also, some icky HD
makes actually have a program that'll find all the bad sectors/HD problems on
the HD, mark them as bad, then make magic and give the HD back to you as 'good
as new'. I think a Maxtor HD I had once had this odd problem -- bad sectors
until I ran their program, then good as new (but I was still oddly worried).
As for the other components, viruses can't affect any solid state components
-- thus RAM can't be affected. MB, CD-ROM, CD/RW, DVD, HDs, video cards, a few
rare sound cards, modem cards, etc. all have flash bios's on them nowadays, and
a good virus can nuke them into nonoperational status just by nuking the flash.
In some cases, the HW will be perfectly fine, but because there's no good flash
bios, and on some, no way to get a good flash bios back inside, you either have
to return to maker or toss away.
d =)
=====
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