Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!linus!nixbur!nixpbe!peun33!mboen From: mboen@nixdorf.de (Martin Boening) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: TOS 2.0 Keywords: TOS NEODESK DCDESKTOP ROMS Message-ID: Date: 13 Nov 90 22:11:45 GMT References: <35495@cup.portal.com> <1238@digi.lonestar.org> <1990Nov06.213749.13906@ecst.csuchico.edu> Sender: news@nixpbe.nixdorf.de Lines: 32 In <1990Nov06.213749.13906@ecst.csuchico.edu> ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen) writes: >rgoseweh@digi.lonestar.org (Roy Gosewehr) writes: >- Differing Opinion: >- >- - I happen to like having TOS in ROM. The machine boots faster and >- is less susceptible to viruses. (This is a MAJOR benifit, IMHO.) > >I agree. I thought this was one of the advantages of having the OS >in ROM: fewer viruses. Isn't this why there are so many in the Mac >and IBM world? Well, you'd better NEVER power up with any disk in drive A. If the boot sector is executable, it'll be executed. And that's with a ROM OS! If the boot sector is a virus, you'll get hit by a virus. That's all there is to a boot sector virus. It's true though, that there probably won't be many link viruses infesting command.com, cause there's no command.com. Up to now, I haven't been hit by viruses (viri ? Argh, not again. :-) even though I use PCs with disk based OSes and STs with ROM based OSes, so in my opinion the danger is exaggerated. So much for safety arguments. Bye bye data, Martin -- Email: in the USA -> mboening.pad@nixdorf.com outside USA -> mboening.pad@nixdorf.de Paper Mail: Martin Boening, Nixdorf Computer AG, SNI STO SI 355, Pontanusstr. 55, 4790 Paderborn, W.-Germany (Phone: +49 5251 146155)