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Document ID: DSET-3FCK4C |
Aptiva - Can a virus infect a write-protected diskette?
Applicable to: World-Wide
A diskette can be made write-protected by sliding the plastic tab up (on the back side of the diskette) so that it exposes the hole. When a diskette is write-protected in this manner, there is no way that anything can be written on the diskette by a virus or any other program, unless the drive itself is defective.
On occasion, you may hear of a virus that is able to infect a write-protected diskette. Until and unless this contention has been proven and confirmed, the likelihood of having a virus infection of a write-protected diskette is very small and virtually impossible. If a virus has been detected on a write-protected diskette, the cause is more likely to have been that the virus was on the disk prior to protecting it.
Some viruses can remain undetected for a very long time, and a file containing the virus may have been copied to the diskette and then the diskette was write-protected. Another possibility is that the diskette came from another system, where an older virus checking program was used that was unable to recognize the virus. However, when the diskette is checked or used in PC-DOS, you may see a warning that a virus is present, which may cause you to doubt the warning if the diskette is write-protected or you had scanned the diskette on another system.
The recommendation for any virus detected on a diskette is to treat it immediately. Start up the IBM AntiVirus program and check the diskette. The AntiVirus program will offer to clean the virus from the diskette, and you will need to slide the tab down on the diskette so that the program can clean it properly. Afterward, slide the tab back up again to protect the diskette once more.
Note, too, that the IBM AntiVirus program is often able to detect more viruses than other virus programs. You can order regular updates to the IBM AntiVirus program so that your system will continue to be up-to-date when checking for viruses.
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Hint Category |
General Information, Diskette Drives | |
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Date Created |
20-03-97 | |
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Last Updated |
18-02-99 | |
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Revision Date |
18-02-2000 | |
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Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
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Product Family |
Aptiva, PS/1 | |
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Machine Type |
2134, 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2142, 2144, 2153, 2159, 2161, 2162, 2168, 2176, 2011, 2121, 2123, 2133, 2155 | |
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