Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: alarky@aragorn.csee.lehigh.edu (Dr. Arthur Larky-84068) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: re: is this a virus? (pc) Message-ID: <0008.9010101940.AA05706@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 7 Oct 90 16:54:11 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 65 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu It's not a virus. >From: dsndata!conslt04@zeus.unomaha.edu >Subject: Could this be a virus? (PC) > I'm a novice at computer viruses, and need some information. I >have a tandy computer with a 1200 baud modem, now the problem comes >with the modem. I can't get it to make the final connection to a >remote computer. I as using procomm 2.4.2, and it did work for a >period of time. I've had the computer and modem in to be checked out >for clitches, nothing was found to be wrong with the hardware. Has >anyone heard of a virus that can do this? If so what can I do to kill >it? Thanx for any info. >Todd Call your local phone company. I have 2 phone lines which I have been using with modems for 10 years. Aug 30th, they both became un-usable even though they worked fine as phones. So I: tried 1200 instead of 2400 baud - ng tried a different serial port - ng tried a different cpu board - ng tried a different serial board - ng tried a Hayes modem at 1200 - ng tried a different Hayes modem - ng tried 300 baud - ng connected, but could not talk ran a line directly from my computer to the incoming terminal block - ng tried calling a friend - ng discovered that he could call me and I would answer, but he would get a 300 baud connection when I was at 1200. called the phone company "You haven't paid for line maintenance". They sent a guy out who tested my lines and said they had a problem outside somewhere that affected 50 lines. He never came back. A day later they called me, "You don't have an inside line maintenance agreement" Finally, they replaced a couple miles of main cable and all was well. One week later, one line would not work at all, and the other only worked at 1200 baud. So I called them again: "You don't have an inside line maintenance agreement". Another guy came out and tested my lines and said the problem was outside. He came back several hours later and said he couldn't even find my line. Finally, I got to talk to someone who knew what a modem was: "We don't guarantee 2400 baud, just 1200". Two days later, they fixed it. It seems that after they put in the new cable, they re-connected me to the old one so there was a mile and a half of antenna on my line. The moral is: the phone company guarantees 1200 baud will work. If it used to work and stopped all of a sudden, the phone company broke it. If you persist, they will fix it, but you have to find someone there who has heard the word "modem" before. Art Larky Prof CSEE Lehigh University Disclaimers re: Lehigh University, Bell Telephone, etc., apply.